CD IELTS: what computer-delivered IELTS is, and how to practise for it
The same IELTS test, taken on a computer — what changes, what does not, and how to prepare.
CD IELTS stands for computer-delivered IELTS: the same IELTS test — same questions, timing, marking and band scale — taken on a computer at an official test centre instead of on paper. You type your Listening, Reading and Writing answers; Speaking is still face to face with an examiner. Results arrive in 1–5 days, against about 13 days for the paper test.
Try the CD IELTS format now
A free practice test in the real on-screen layout, marked the moment you finish.
CD IELTS vs paper-based IELTS
| Computer-delivered | Paper-based | |
|---|---|---|
| Test content and marking | Identical | Identical |
| Results | 1–5 days | About 13 days |
| Listening answers | Typed while the audio plays | Written on the question paper |
| After the Listening audio | 2 minutes to check | 10 minutes to transfer to the answer sheet |
| Reading | Passage and questions side by side; on-screen highlight and notes | Paper booklet; pencil notes |
| Writing | Typed, with a live word count | Handwritten |
| Finding skipped questions | Question palette shows every unanswered item | Your own job |
| Speaking | Face to face with an examiner | Face to face with an examiner |
| Test dates | Far more frequent, often several a day | Fewer fixed dates |
Neither format is easier. The biggest single factor is whether you type faster than you handwrite. How to decide which format to book
What each module looks like on screen
Listening
Questions are on screen and you type or select answers as the recording plays, once only. There is no answer sheet, so instead of 10 minutes' transfer time you get 2 minutes at the end to check what you have typed — spelling has to be right the first time.
CD IELTS Listening practiceReading
The passage sits on one side of the screen and the questions on the other, each scrolling on its own. You can highlight text and add notes, and a palette at the bottom shows which of the 40 questions are answered or flagged.
CD IELTS Reading practiceWriting
You type both tasks in a plain text box with the word count always visible. Editing is fast, but a slow typist loses planning and checking time — worth measuring before you book.
CD IELTS Writing practiceSpeaking
Unchanged: a live, face-to-face conversation with a trained examiner, the same as on the paper test.
CD IELTS Speaking practiceHow CD IELTS is scored
Exactly as the paper test is: Listening and Reading are 40 one-mark questions converted to a band, Writing and Speaking are marked by examiners against four criteria each, and the overall band is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band. See the IELTS band score chart for the correct answers each band needs.
Booking CD IELTS
You book through the official test provider for your country and choose the computer option when you select the test. Academic, General Training and IELTS for UKVI are all offered on computer at many centres.
How to prepare for CD IELTS
- Do your timed practice on screen once you are within a month of the test.
- Type Listening answers while the audio plays; the 2-minute check is for spelling, not for blanks.
- Use the highlighter on one deciding phrase per Reading question, not whole paragraphs.
- Measure your typing speed on a 250-word answer before you decide between computer and paper.
- Check the question palette before each section ends — a blank answer can never score.
CD IELTS questions
What is the full form of CD IELTS?
CD IELTS stands for computer-delivered IELTS, also called IELTS on computer or computer-based IELTS. It is the same test as paper-based IELTS, with the same questions, timing, marking and band scores, taken on a computer at an official test centre.
Is CD IELTS easier than paper-based IELTS?
No. The content, timing and marking are identical. What differs is the medium: if you type faster than you write by hand, the computer version usually suits you better, and if you do not, paper may.
Is the Speaking test done on a computer in CD IELTS?
No. Only Listening, Reading and Writing are taken on screen. Speaking is a face-to-face interview with an examiner in both formats.
How long do CD IELTS results take?
IELTS says computer-delivered results arrive in 1–5 days, compared with about 13 days for the paper test. Your test centre confirms the exact date when you book.
Can I practise CD IELTS online for free?
Yes. The practice tests on this site use the same on-screen layout as the real computer-delivered test — typed answers, the question palette, one-play audio and a timed clock — and you can start a free test without paying.
Is CD IELTS available for Academic, General Training and UKVI?
Yes. IELTS Academic, General Training and IELTS for UKVI are all offered on computer at many test centres. Choose the computer-delivered option when you book.
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