About IELTS

Ways to take IELTS

You can take IELTS your way, with options to take IELTS on computer or IELTS on computer with Writing on Paper at our test centre.

IELTS on Computer

Take the test via computer at our official test centre. Questions for the Listening, Reading and Writing sections will be given on-screen and you’ll input your answers directly onto the computer. Your Speaking test will be live with an examiner. Results typically arrive within 2 days.

IELTS on Computer (Writing on Paper)

Writing on Paper is a new option for the IELTS on Computer test and allows you to take the Writing section with a pen and paper. If you choose Writing on Paper, your Writing component tasks will be shown on screen, but you’ll complete the tasks in pen on an IELTS Writing Answer Sheet.

Official IELTS 'Writing on Paper' page(Opens in a new tab/window)

	IELTS on Computer	Writing on Paper
Total test time	2 hours, 45 minutes	2 hours, 45 minutes
Results	1-5 day	1-5 days
Retakes	One skill retake available	One skill retake available

There are two main types of IELTS test:

IELTS Academic

Tests the English skills you’ll need in a learning environment like a university or college.

IELTS General Training

Tests the everyday language skills that you use at work or while socialising.

Thinking about working or studying in the UK?

Book your test with a British Council Test centre.

You might need to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT), such as IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) (Academic and General Training) or IELTS Life Skills.

Find out which test is right for you(Opens in a new tab/window).

We are an approved British Council IELTS test centre for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training exams and we are running these exams several times a month.

Our building is located in Clifton (see map,) which is served by many bus connections and Clifton Down train station so we are confident that you will easily find a suitable public transport option to get to your IELTS exam.

As a long-standing provider of exams, including Cambridge English Qualifications, OET & ACCA, we guarantee the exams will be run professionally with friendly and diligent staff.

IELTS Academic & IELTS General Training:

Level	Grades 1-9 (CEFR A1-C2) - see CEFR(Opens in a new tab/window)
Skills	Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking
Number of sections	4: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking
Written length	About 2 hours and 45 minutes
Speaking length	About 15 minutes
Fee	£225

Why take Writing on Paper?

IELTS on computer (Writing on Paper) will allow you to enjoy many of the benefits of our computer-based test, along with the comfort of writing by hand:

Write your way

Complete the Writing section by hand using pen and paper

Improve your score with One Skill Retake

If you don’t get the result you need, resit one skill, not the whole test

With flexible ways to sit the test, a comfortable test day experience and faster results, we’ll help you to perform at your best on test day.

Writing on paper is a new option for the IELTS on computer test and allows test takers to take the Writing section with a pen and paper.

If you choose Writing on Paper, you will sit at a computer desk and work your way through the Listening and Reading sections of the test. When you come to the Writing section, you will see your tasks on screen, but you will be provided with an answer sheet and a pen to complete your responses.

	IELTS on Computer	Writing on Paper	Time Allocation	Sections/Tasks
Listening	On computer	On computer	30 minutes	4 sections
Reading	On computer	On computer	60 minutes	3 sections
Writing	Typed on computer	Handwritten on paper	60 minutes	2 tasks (150 & 250 words)
Speaking	With an examiner	With an examiner	11-14 minutes	3 tasks

The IELTS Academic test is designed to measure your English language proficiency and to assess if it is suitable for an academic environment. The test reflects aspects of academic language and evaluates whether you’re ready to begin training or studying in English.
Take IELTS Academic if you want to:
- study at an undergraduate or postgraduate level in an English-speaking country
- apply for Student Route visa (Tier 4) to study at a UK university that is a Student Route (Tier 4) Sponsor
- work for a professional organisation in an English-speaking country.
The IELTS General Training test is designed to measure your English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The test reflects both workplace and social situations.
Take IELTS General Training if you want to:
- train or study below degree level
- work or undertake work-related training in an English-speaking country
- emigrate to an English-speaking country
- get another job in your own country where a recognised proficiency in the English language is required.
If you need to take an IELTS exam for immigration purposes, then you will need to take an IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) exam at a registered Secure English Language Test centre. Please follow this link(Opens in a new tab/window) to book IELTS for UKVI at another centre, or to find out more information about the exam.