As we all know, there are two forms of IELTS: paper-based and computer-based.
On January 23, the BC Test Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia suddenly announced that the IELTS paper-based test format will be cancelled from March 1, 2024, and only the computer-based test format will be retained!
This policy change applies not only to BC, but also to IDP, another IELTS test organiser. This means that from 1 March, candidates who choose to take the test in Malaysia will no longer be able to take the paper-based IELTS test.
In response to this change, netizens have speculated that it is caused by the frequent cheating in Southeast Asia. In order to reduce the occurrence of face-to-face teaching, only this kind of computer-based test that can randomly select questions is left, which basically eliminates the possibility of leaking questions in advance.
According to this trend, following the abolition of paper-based IELTS tests in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Australia and other places may be the next batch of regions to stop paper-based IELTS tests.
1.IELTS officials are vigorously increasing the number of computer-based test centers and test sessions, which shows that IELTS computer-based test has become the trend of the times, after all, compared with paper-based test, computer-based test is more convenient and stable.
2.There are more cities and test centers, and more test seats. There are 300+ exam dates throughout the year, and exams are held multiple times a week and multiple times a day. It can solve some candidates who commute long distances for an IELTS test, and solve a difficult situation.
3.Time is free. There are sessions on weekdays and weekends, and you can even take IELTS in the evening, with three options for morning, afternoon and night sessions, and the two adjacent exams only need to be separated by 3 days.
4.The registration time is short and the score is fast. For candidates who have decided to take the exam within a week, it is friendly to candidates who are in a hurry to brush up on the scores. Points can be awarded in 3 days. Starting from April 1, 2023, the registration deadline for the computer-based IELTS test will be shortened to 3 days before the test, thus achieving an ideal closed-loop cycle of 7 days from registration to score.
5.The exam is well equipped. Each test seat is equipped with professional computer equipment, high-speed and stable exclusive broadband, sound-canceling partitions, professional noise-canceling headphones and ergonomic chairs. Each test seat has a service bell, so you can ask the invigilator to help you at any time. For underage candidates, we also provide exclusive services for full supervision, and the examination room is equipped with barrier-free facilities.
6.Better test experience. Reading articles and questions are on the same screen, fill-in-the-blank questions can be copied and pasted, writing has word count and copy paste, and is equipped with countdown time reminders, highlighting highlights, taking notes and other functions, which are convenient for candidates to answer questions.
1.**Unanimous.
The computer-based IELTS test and paper-based test are the same, both of which cost 2170 RMB (Category A).
2.The difficulty is consistent.
The computer-delivered IELTS test provides a new test mode, but it is completely consistent with the current paper-based mode in terms of test content, question types and scoring criteria, test difficulty levels, and test question types. The spoken language has not changed much, and it is still in offline mode.
3.The environment of the examination room is different.
The paper-based test room is generally 30 people, while the computer-based test room is generally 15 people, and each test seat is equipped with professional computer equipment, high-speed and stable exclusive broadband, sound-canceling partitions, professional noise-canceling headphones and ergonomic seats, so that the test environment is more comfortable and there is no surrounding interference.
4.Exam schedules are different.
The computer-based test is more flexible and convenient to register. The paper-based test can usually only be taken once a week, and the results are slower than the computer-based test.
5.There is a difference between the individual test sessions.
1) Listening: 30 minutes + 10 minutes for the paper-based test and 30 minutes + 2 minutes for the computer-based test. The duration of the listening audio is the same, but the computer-based IELTS listening reduces the 10 minutes of transcribing the answers to the answer sheet and gives the test taker 2 minutes to check the answers.
2) Reading: You can read the paper back and forth to compare the original text and questions with the paper-and-pencil test, and you can directly mark the key points with a pen on the test paper. Compared with the traditional layout of the written test, the online presentation of the computer-based test is "the left question, the right answer area", which is clearer to view, and the "highlight" and "annotation" functions also allow you to easily mark the keywords and question points.
3) Writing: The number of words in the paper-and-pencil test should be counted by yourself, and the writing should be as neat as possible. The computer-based writing is easier to modify, and the text you enter can be copied and pasted, saving a lot of time. There is a word count display on the page, so you can accurately control the remaining time and the length of the article. In addition, there is no need to worry about the ugly font or the problem of making the paper too ugly, so there is no pressure to write.
At present, only Kuala Lumpur has released this news, and there is no news from the mainland, so everything must be subject to official information. However, it is still recommended that you take precautions and be more familiar with the computer-based test, after all, the computer-based test is fast and efficient, which is the trend of the times.