Overview
- IDP Education announced on Thursday, July 16 that paper-based IELTS will end in India after August 2026 and that final paper test dates are July 25, August 6 and August 22.
- From September candidates will choose between two computer-delivered options: a full computer test for Listening, Reading and Writing or a hybrid that uses a computer for Listening and Reading while the Writing section remains on paper.
- The Speaking test will continue to be conducted face-to-face with a certified IELTS examiner, the organisation confirmed in its release.
- IDP says the move does not change question types, difficulty or scoring and adds features such as typing, easy on-screen editing, navigation tools, on-screen timers and headphone audio to speed processing and reporting of results.
- The shift follows a wider trend to digital testing and could help applicants meet tight admissions or visa deadlines, while raising practical concerns for test takers with limited typing skills or digital access that the hybrid option aims to ease.