Is IELTS in mainland China computer-delivered?
The providers' mainland China pages say it is. British Council China's Chinese IELTS site (chinaielts.org) says all its IELTS tests use computer mode, and its announcement page says IELTS and IELTS for UKVI are entirely computer-based in mainland China. IDP's China site (idpielts.cn) also describes computer testing. ielts.org, which calls this format IELTS on computer, says IELTS is no longer offered as a paper-based test, with timelines varying by market. This page covers mainland China only.
One point is not fully settled. A British Council China page (britishcouncil.cn/exams/ielts) still says candidates can choose computer or paper, and some other provider pages carry paper-era wording, so confirm the format on your own booking.
Two providers, so check which one you booked
British Council China's home page calls British Council currently the only IELTS provider in mainland China approved by the Ministry of Education, yet IDP China runs its own site, registration channel and mainland test centres. Check which provider and centre your booking is with.
Test types differ too. British Council China lists Academic, General Training, IELTS for UKVI and UKVI Life Skills, while IDP China says it currently offers only Academic in mainland China. The computer-only statements cover IELTS and IELTS for UKVI: British Council China's test-types page lists UKVI Life Skills as a person-to-person Listening and Speaking test, not a computer test.
What changes from paper, section by section
Compared with paper, you answer Listening, Reading and Writing on a computer rather than an answer sheet, so there is no separate time for transferring Listening answers (IDP China says computer IELTS has none). Writing is typed, the China providers describe Speaking as a video call at the centre, and ielts.org gives paper results within 13 days. ielts.org says the skills assessed and the way results are interpreted do not change.
Section lengths are ielts.org's (IDP China's pages vary slightly); delivery details come from the China provider pages.
| Section | On computer in mainland China | Where pages differ or say little |
|---|---|---|
| Listening (about 30 minutes) | Questions and answers on screen; headphones provided by the centre. | British Council China lists 2 minutes to check answers; IDP China, no extra transfer time. |
| Reading (60 minutes) | Passage and questions side by side. Highlight and Notes tools (select text, right-click). Adjustable font size and screen colour. | British Council China also lists an on-screen Help option. |
| Writing (60 minutes, two tasks) | Typed and freely editable, with an automatic live word count. | No China provider page used here mentions ielts.org's Writing on Paper option, so do not assume handwriting. |
| Speaking (11 to 14 minutes, three parts) | Video call with a live examiner in a separate room at the test centre (not from home), normally the same day as the written parts. | ielts.org says face to face. British Council China says format and timing match the on-site interview exactly; only the screen, the headphones and the on-screen Part 2 card differ. |
Speaking, results, pens, scratch paper and centres
Is Speaking marked by a real person?
Yes, according to these sources. ielts.org says certificated IELTS examiners assess Speaking against four criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. British Council China's fairness page says video-call examiners come from around the world and have no way of knowing where the candidate is, and that every Speaking test is audio-recorded. IDP China's FAQ describes a one-to-one video call with a professionally qualified examiner, recorded in audio and video.
How soon do results arrive, and where do I check?
Both China providers give 1 to 5 days; IDP China calls this an estimate that can run longer around holidays or if checks are needed. British Council China says the earliest check is after 22:00 on the first day after the test, on the registration site (ielts.neea.cn); IDP China has its own results page. Globally, ielts.org says most computer results arrive within about 2 days. All of these are typical, not promised.
Do I need a pen, and is there scratch paper for Listening?
You do not bring a pen: neither provider's list of what may be taken into the room includes one (British Council China allows your ID, one bottle of water with its label removed and necessary medicine; IDP China, your ID, unlabelled drinking water and medicine handed to the invigilator). Scratch paper is provided, Listening included: British Council China says each section's computer login sheet can be used as scratch paper and is collected afterwards, and IDP China says the centre prepares paper for notes. What you write with is not stated; follow the centre's instructions.
Where are the test centres?
British Council China says it has close to 100 computer test centres in more than 40 mainland cities, with the centre lookup on the registration site. IDP China's test-centre page lets you search by province and city; in October 2026 it listed centres in Beijing, Hebei, Liaoning, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan, Chongqing, Sichuan and Shaanxi. The ielts.org test-centre finder also covers China.
Test day in outline
Computer-test procedures only; order and timing vary by booking.
- Check-in. Bring the same original ID you registered with. IDP China lists a resident identity card or PRC passport for mainland candidates, and a passport or foreign permanent-residence ID for foreign candidates; British Council China's page lists none, so check when you register. British Council China describes an ID check, fingerprint verification, an on-site photo and a scan for banned items; IDP China describes a photo, a fingerprint scan and video recording throughout. British Council China says late arrivals are refused entry, with no transfer or refund.
- Belongings. Phones and watches are not allowed in the room; British Council China says devices must be switched off and stored in a designated area. IDP China says breaking the rules means disqualification, and you may not bring your own headphones.
- Listening, Reading and Writing. One sitting on a computer, with no scheduled breaks. British Council China says your ID stays on the desk and the on-screen timer flashes 10 and 5 minutes before Reading and Writing end. Log-in differs (a sheet per section at British Council China, one login with tutorial videos before each section at IDP China), so follow the room instructions.
- Speaking. British Council China mentions a technical check beforehand, headphones worn throughout, a call button for help, and paper and a pen provided for Part 2; IDP China says the Speaking slot is chosen at registration.
Check your own test centre and booking confirmation. Provider pages differ on details such as arrival times and drinking water, so your booking confirmation and your centre's instructions are what apply.
Where private coaching fits, and where it does not
Band Booster IELTS is a private tutor, not the exam board or a test centre. Sessions are one-to-one with Mike over Google Meet, taught in English, and cover Listening, Reading, Writing (marked against the public band descriptors) and Speaking (Parts 1 to 3 in the real test format, with feedback in the moment). No band is promised; progress depends on your starting point and the work between sessions.
Mike holds the Cambridge CELTA (July 2017), has taught English and IELTS for more than twelve years in Vietnam, Turkey and Iran, and has taught more than 500 one-to-one sessions. His own IELTS result is 7.5 overall with 8.5 in Speaking (more about Mike).
In mainland China, check Google Meet before you book. Google services, including Meet, may not open there (UK government travel advice lists Google as blocked). Check that it opens before booking, and message Mike first if you are unsure: mkcenter007@gmail.com or +84 383 390 963 (also on Zalo, WhatsApp and Telegram). Do not assume another platform will be available.
The booking page shows times in your own timezone and prices in your own currency before you pay (renminbi for visitors in mainland China; regional pricing applies). A 30-minute trial is available once, on your first booking, and payment options are shown there. See Speaking coaching, Writing feedback or online IELTS tutoring.
Registration, fees and dates
Register directly through British Council China's IELTS site (which points to the registration site) or IDP China's site. Fees and dates change, so this page quotes none. Testing in Vietnam? See computer-delivered IELTS in Hanoi.