Is IELTS in Taiwan on paper or on computer?
On computer. IDP Taiwan's page on paper-based IELTS is headed as a discontinued service and says paper-based IELTS is no longer available in Taiwan from 1 February 2026, with computer IELTS the only choice. British Council Taiwan's IELTS page carries a notice that the British Council and IDP will no longer offer IELTS on paper in Taiwan and that IELTS on computer remains available. That notice gives no start date, but the Traditional Chinese version of British Council Taiwan's dates, fees and locations page says that from February 2026 paper-format tests are no longer provided; 1 February 2026 is the exact date IDP gives.
ielts.org's article Updates to IELTS test delivery announced that from mid-2026 IELTS would no longer be a paper-based test, with exact timelines varying by market, and that existing paper results stay valid to the end of the recommended two-year period.
One point is not fully settled. In October 2026 some IDP Taiwan pages still carried paper-era wording, including paper labels on part of its venue list, and British Council Taiwan's Traditional Chinese test-day page still mentions paper-based tests. These look out of date next to IDP's own statement and the British Council notice, so confirm the format and venue on the session you book. This page covers IELTS Academic and General Training; ielts.org says UKVI tests will be available only in the fully digital format, so ask the provider about IELTS for UKVI.
Writing on Paper and IELTS Online: confirm with the provider
Writing on Paper. ielts.org describes IELTS on computer (Writing on Paper), where only the Writing is handwritten, as announced for selected countries from mid-2026. It does not name Taiwan, and the IDP Taiwan and British Council Taiwan pages read for this guide do not mention it, so ask the provider before assuming you can handwrite.
IELTS Online. ielts.org says IELTS Online is the at-home test, currently for Academic only and offered in some countries, with Speaking by video call with an examiner; it does not name Taiwan. IDP Taiwan's test types and formats page (Chinese) still describes IELTS Online as a third format taken at home, and its Chinese home page mentions online IELTS among its options, but the English version of the formats page mentions only computer-delivered and paper-based tests. The Chinese pages also still list paper, which IDP Taiwan says has ended, and the IDP Taiwan test dates page read for this guide lists test centres and no IELTS Online session, so it is not confirmed that IELTS Online can be booked from Taiwan. Ask IDP Taiwan, and British Council Taiwan if you book there, before assuming either way.
Computer or paper: is it the same test?
IDP Taiwan says content, question types and time allocation match paper, and its comparison with paper adds the same 9-band scale and equally wide acceptance by universities, employers and government bodies. ielts.org says the move to computer does not change the skills assessed, the test construct or how institutions should interpret results. This page makes no claim that either format is easier or scores higher. With paper gone in Taiwan, the practical task is getting used to the screen.
Section by section: what changes on computer
| Section | Time and parts | What changes on computer |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes, 4 parts, 40 questions; recording played once | Questions on screen; you enter your answers on the computer. IDP Taiwan says you may make notes on paper during Listening. |
| Reading | 60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 questions | Questions on screen; you enter your answers on the computer. |
| Writing | 60 minutes, 2 tasks | Typed on the computer. Task 1 is at least 150 words (about 20 minutes) and Task 2 at least 250 words (about 40 minutes). |
| Speaking | 11 to 14 minutes, 3 parts | With an examiner rather than on screen. IDP Taiwan describes a face-to-face session, and ielts.org's ways-to-take-IELTS page says the same for IELTS on computer at a test centre. British Council Taiwan's Academic and General Training pages describe a face-to-face interview with an examiner but also say that some of its test centres deliver Speaking by video call at the test centre, without naming them. ielts.org's Guide for Test Takers says face to face or via video call, and ielts.org says IELTS Online, where offered, uses a video call with an examiner (see the IELTS Online note above). These pages do not all describe the same format, so check your booking. |
IDP Taiwan says the on-screen system has note-taking and highlighting functions, and its English test-day page says you can try these functions in the familiarisation tests. Its English FAQ says you can highlight sections of the test and make notes on the section you have highlighted, and its Traditional Chinese FAQ also lists adjustable font size and volume, a countdown clock and moving back and forth between questions. Try the features in a practice test before the real one.
What changes on test day: length, Speaking slot and ID
- A long sitting. British Council Taiwan says to keep a full day available, and that Listening, Reading and Writing run on the same day without breaks.
- Speaking may be a separate slot. IDP Taiwan's English Speaking preparation, computer-based IELTS and test-day pages say that if you take IELTS on computer, Speaking is taken on the same day, before or after the other three parts. Two other English lines are more general: the Speaking preparation page says that at some test centres Speaking can be on the same day or up to 7 days before or after your test date, and its English FAQ says it might be scheduled on the same day or a different date. IDP Taiwan's Traditional Chinese pages say the four parts are normally on the same day (its Chinese Speaking preparation page says all Speaking tests are scheduled on the same day) and that, for computer IELTS, Speaking can come before or after the other sections, depending on the centre; its Chinese computer IELTS page adds that if the centre cannot offer Speaking on the same day, IDP will arrange another date with the candidate as soon as possible. British Council Taiwan says Speaking may be on the same day or within about a week of the written test, and that the centre may change the Speaking slot you chose. The providers word this differently, so your booking confirmation applies.
- ID. IDP Taiwan's registration notes say only a valid passport may be used, at registration and on test day, and that without it a candidate may lose the place with no reschedule or refund. British Council Taiwan's booking page says a valid ID document is uploaded at registration, so check what your booking needs.
Where in Taiwan can you take IELTS on computer?
The two providers do not list the same cities. IDP Taiwan's test dates page asks you to pick one of four cities for computer IELTS: Taipei, Taichung, Tainan or Kaohsiung. British Council Taiwan's dates, fees and locations page lists Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung. Venue lists change, so this page names none.
How long do computer-delivered IELTS results take?
ielts.org says usually 1 to 2 days, with a longer published range of 1 to 5; British Council Taiwan's results page allows 1 to 8. None is a promise, so leave a margin before any deadline.
| Source | What it says about computer results |
|---|---|
| ielts.org | 1 to 5 days after test completion (ways to take IELTS); usually 1 to 2 days (fast results page). |
| IDP Taiwan | Session listings say results in 1 to 5 days; its IELTS on computer page says 1 to 3 working days. |
| British Council Taiwan | Typically 1 to 2 days on its main IELTS page, typically 1 to 5 days on its dates page, and 1 to 8 days on its results page, including for downloading the electronic Test Report Form. |
One Skill Retake in Taiwan
Both IDP Taiwan and British Council Taiwan offer it: after a full IELTS on computer test at a centre that offers the retake, you can retake one of the four skills within 60 days of the original test date. British Council Taiwan adds that it is once per original test; ielts.org says availability depends on region and test centre, so check your venue before booking the full test. To compare it with a full retake, read IELTS One Skill Retake or a full retake.
Computer-based IELTS tips: how to practise for the on-screen test
- British Council Taiwan offers an IELTS on computer familiarisation test, provided at no charge: a full sample of Listening, Reading and Writing for Academic and General Training. The page has a Register now button and also says there is no need to book or register in advance. Unlike the real test, it lets you finish a section early.
- IDP Taiwan's practice tests page offers computer practice questions that let you try the on-screen interface.
- ielts.org publishes sample test questions, with computer-delivered tasks and a Speaking sample.
A teacher's general advice (not guidance from the providers)
- Type both Writing tasks in one 60-minute sitting under a timer, with a word counter running. Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1, so plan about 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 for Task 2.
- Practise entering Listening answers on a keyboard while the recording plays once; IDP Taiwan says you may also make notes on paper.
- Read whole Reading passages on a screen, not only on paper.
- Practise Speaking aloud with another person in the three-part format.
How one-to-one lessons with Mike can help, and what they are not
Band Booster IELTS is a private tutoring service, not a test centre or the exam board, and a lesson is practice, not the test. Mike is a Cambridge CELTA-certified teacher based in Hanoi who teaches every session himself, one-to-one and live on Google Meet, in English rather than Chinese. His own IELTS result is 7.5 overall with 8.5 in Speaking (about Mike).
- Typed Writing under a timer. Practise typing a Task 1 or Task 2 answer under a timer before the session and bring it; Mike marks it against the public band descriptors, with feedback during the lesson. See IELTS Writing feedback.
- Three-part Speaking. You practise Parts 1, 2 and 3 in the real test format, with feedback in the moment. See IELTS Speaking coaching.
The Writing feedback, Speaking coaching and about Mike pages quote Vietnam prices; your own price appears on the booking page before you pay.
Taiwan (UTC+8) is one hour ahead of Hanoi (UTC+7) all year. In the IANA time zone database neither has a current daylight-saving rule, so 20:00 in Taipei is 19:00 in Hanoi.
The booking page shows each time in your own time zone, plus your regional price in your own currency and the payment options before you pay. A paid 30-minute trial can be taken once, on your first booking. No band is promised: progress depends on your starting point and the work between sessions. For how booking works from Taiwan, see online IELTS tutor for Taiwan.
Registration, fees and dates
Register with the providers directly, through IDP Taiwan or British Council Taiwan's booking page. Fees and test dates change, so this page quotes none.