IELTS said on 5 March 2026 that the paper-based test is being withdrawn. From mid-2026, IELTS will be delivered on computer, with the exact switch-over date depending on the country or territory.
Key facts
- Announced 5 March 2026
- From Mid-2026, date varies by market
- Option Writing on Paper in selected markets
- UKVI SELT tests fully digital
- Old paper results Remain valid for the usual two years
What stays the same
The content of the test does not change. The four skills, the question types, the timing and the way institutions read band scores all stay as they are. IELTS says its research found scores from the paper test and from Writing on Paper to be comparable, both overall and at each band.
Writing on Paper
In selected markets, candidates can still handwrite the Writing section while doing Listening and Reading on screen. IELTS has not listed those markets on its announcement, so check the booking page for your location. One Skill Retake is offered for Writing on Paper, but the retake must use the same mode: if you wrote by hand the first time, you retake Writing by hand.
UKVI tests
The Secure English Language Test version, IELTS for UKVI, will only be available in the fully digital format.
What this means
If you have a paper IELTS result, it is unaffected and stays usable for the normal two-year recommended period. If you are preparing now, practise typing your Writing answers and reading long texts on screen, since that is the format you are most likely to get. Check your test centre’s booking page for the last paper date in your country before you plan around it, and ask whether Writing on Paper is offered there if you strongly prefer to handwrite. Access arrangements such as large print, braille and lip-reading support continue.