Checked in October 2026 on ielts.org and the organisers' Japan sites; confirm with the organiser before you book.
Is IELTS in Japan now only on computer?
Eiken, British Council Japan and JSAF's booking page say yes. British Council Japan says the paper test has been discontinued, Eiken says it was phased out between June and August 2026, and JSAF's booking page says its paper test ended in August 2026. ielts.org announced on 5 March 2026 that from mid-2026 all IELTS tests will be delivered on computer, with timelines varying by market.
One point is not fully settled. Some Japan pages still carry paper-era wording. None of the IDP Japan pages read in October 2026 says paper has ended, and its paper-based page, results page and how-to-book guide still describe paper. British Council Japan's "which test" pages still say you can choose paper or computer, and JSAF's English FAQ still says it provides both. Eiken, British Council Japan's IELTS home page and JSAF's booking page say paper has ended, so plan on computer, and check the format on your booking.
IDP Japan says Academic and General Training are both available on computer. This page covers those two; IELTS for UKVI and UKVI Life Skills have their own rules, so ask the organiser. Still choosing? See Academic versus General Training.
Computer versus paper: the same test, delivered differently
IDP Japan says the format, question types, timing and content are the same on computer as on paper. Eiken says the content, scoring and timing are the same, difficulty does not differ, and the Test Report Form does not record whether you sat the paper or the computer version. The practical difference is reading questions on screen and entering answers on the computer. Whether that feels easier or harder is personal, so try a practice test (below).
Where IELTS on computer is held in Japan
The organisers' Japan venue lists differ, so this page names cities only; use your organiser's page for your venue.
| Organiser | Cities named | Where listed |
|---|---|---|
| Eiken Foundation of Japan | Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Fukuoka, Hiroshima | British Council Japan's test-dates page |
| A second operator | Tokyo, Nagoya | The same page |
| JSAF (Japan Study Abroad Foundation) | Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto | JSAF's computer-test page |
Eiken's own venue page also lists Sendai, which British Council Japan's list did not show when checked. IDP's Japan site says its tests there have run under JSAF since February 2026, and its test-dates page lists the same three cities as JSAF's computer-test page: Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. None of these pages says whether other organisers exist, so the table may be incomplete.
What changes on the day, section by section
Section lengths follow ielts.org's format pages, and pages differ slightly on the total sitting time, so follow your booking confirmation. Test-day rules (ID, what you may bring, check-in) are not covered here; your organiser's booking confirmation and test-day information set them.
| Section | Format | On computer in Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes, 40 questions, recording played once | Questions on screen; answers entered on the computer. |
| Reading | 60 minutes, 40 questions | Questions on screen; answers entered on the computer. |
| Writing | 60 minutes: Task 1 (at least 150 words), Task 2 (at least 250 words) | Answers entered on the computer; see the keyboard tip below. |
| Speaking | 11 to 14 minutes, three parts | A live interview with a trained examiner; you do not type or click your answers. See below. |
ielts.org says Writing on Paper is available in selected countries. The Eiken, British Council Japan and JSAF pages read for this page do not mention it, and IDP Japan's site mentions it in general content (an article teaser and a note about its familiarisation tests) without saying whether it is offered in Japan, so plan to type unless your organiser says otherwise.
Speaking: format and day
The pages differ on how Speaking is held. Eiken describes the three-part interview as one-to-one and face to face, and so do JSAF's home page and FAQ, although a JSAF page on its policy for under-18 test takers says that JSAF holds Speaking face to face in the same room as the examiner in principle but sometimes as a video-call test. British Council Japan's English "IELTS on Paper or Computer" page says face to face or by video call, but its Japanese version of that page does not say how Speaking is held. IDP Japan's Japanese computer-test page says face to face or by video call, and its Japanese booking guide says the test centre decides and you cannot choose; its English computer-test page describes only a face-to-face interview, while its English Speaking page says the test is delivered in person or through video call. On ielts.org, the ways-to-take page says face to face for IELTS on computer, and the Guide for Test Takers says face to face or via video call.
The day differs too. Eiken says Speaking is on the same day as the other three papers in Japan, and that you choose the time when you book and cannot change it. JSAF's English FAQ says it depends on the test centre (up to 7 days either side) and is usually the same day at JSAF. British Council Japan's booking page says the same day or up to a week before or after, with notice in advance.
Your booking confirmation is what applies to you. The organisers' pages differ on several of these details.
How long do computer-delivered IELTS results take in Japan?
British Council Japan, Eiken, JSAF and ielts.org's page on ways to take IELTS give 1 to 5 days for IELTS on computer. IDP Japan's own pages word it differently: its results page says 1 to 5 days, its computer-test page says usually 1 to 5 business days, and its home page says most computer results can be viewed 24 to 48 hours after the test. These are typical ranges, not promises. ielts.org's fast-results page says about 80% of computer results worldwide arrive within 2 days (global data, May to June 2024, not a Japan figure).
For IELTS for UKVI, British Council Japan's results page says up to 13 days but its UKVI page says 1 to 5, so ask your organiser.
One Skill Retake and IELTS Online
ielts.org says One Skill Retake is only for people whose full test was IELTS on computer, and Eiken warns that some receiving organisations do not accept a retake score. Our One Skill Retake page explains how to choose.
IDP Japan's site describes a separate option, IELTS Online, taken at home (Academic only, Speaking by video call, age 18 or over; check that the receiving institution accepts it). Eiken's FAQ says its computer-delivered test cannot be taken at home, and ielts.org says the Test Report Form indicates when a test was taken online. The Japan tutoring page has more on both.
Practising for the computer format
The first three items below are sample versions of the computer test.
- British Council Japan's familiarisation test covers Academic and General Training Listening, Reading and Writing (2 hours 30 minutes of questions). Its page says no booking or registration is needed, but Eiken's FAQ tells candidates to register first, so follow the page you use.
- IDP Japan's familiarisation tests cover Listening, Academic Reading and Academic Writing. They have no time limit and are not automatically scored.
- JSAF's sample tests cover Listening, Reading and Writing, with tutorial videos and a keyboard page. They do not save your answers.
- Eiken's support page links to online sample questions for the four skills; the link goes to a British Council site.
- ielts.org publishes sample test questions and answers for Academic and General Training.
Tips for the computer format: general advice from a teacher
This is general teaching advice based on how the format works, not guidance from any organiser, and it promises no band.
- Writing: practise both tasks in one 60-minute sitting on a computer, decide your order beforehand and leave time to re-read. Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1.
- Listening and Reading: the Listening recording is played once, so practise reading ahead and typing short answers while it plays, and practise a whole 60-minute Reading paper on a screen.
- Keyboard: JSAF's practice pages say its test centres use a US layout; ask your own centre which layout it uses and practise on the same one if you can.
- Speaking: practise aloud with someone and time Part 2. ielts.org says you have one minute to prepare and should structure your talk so that you keep talking for 2 minutes.
How one-to-one lessons with Mike fit in
Band Booster IELTS is a private tutoring service, not a test centre: it does not register candidates, set exam fees or provide exam software. Mike holds the Cambridge CELTA and is based in Hanoi. He teaches every session himself, one-to-one and live on Google Meet, in English. His own IELTS result is 7.5 overall with 8.5 in Speaking (about Mike). Lessons cannot reproduce a test centre's screen, so use the practice material above. They can help with:
- Writing timing. Mike marks Task 1 and Task 2 against the public band descriptors and can help you plan how to split the 60 minutes. See Writing feedback.
- Three-part Speaking. Parts 1, 2 and 3 in the real test format, with feedback during the session rather than days later. See Speaking coaching.
Japan is two hours ahead of Hanoi all year. NICT, which determines Japan Standard Time, gives UTC+9. The IANA time zone database lists summer-time rules for Japan only for 1948 to 1951, and puts north Vietnam, where Hanoi is, at UTC+7 with no daylight saving. The Japan tutoring page has a conversion table. The booking page shows each slot in your own time, your price in your own currency before you pay, and the payment options. A paid 30-minute trial is available once per student, on a first booking. No band is guaranteed: progress depends on your starting point and the work between sessions.
Registering, fees and dates
You register with an organiser, not with Band Booster. Fees and dates are set by the organisers and can change, so this page quotes no fee and no exam date. Check Eiken's test information page, British Council Japan's booking page, JSAF's booking page or IDP Japan's test-dates page. Testing elsewhere? See Hanoi and mainland China.