One factor that you need to consider when doing the IELTS test is whether to do the paper-based text (PBT) or the computer-based test (CBT). Although both tests are the same (i.e. same questions in the reading, listening and writing) test, there are number of reasons why you might prefer to do one over the other.
For me, probably the biggest consideration is time. Firstly, if you are in a rush to get your results back, then doing the CBT test would be better as you get your results back in 3-5 days versus up to 14 days for the PBT. However, perhaps a more important factor related to time is how long it will take you to read and write in a CBT versus the PBT, especially given how much time pressure you are likely to experience during the IELTS exam.
Obviously, there is no simple answer to this as the time it takes will depend on each individual, but it has generally been accepted that reading on paper is faster than reading on a screen (Thompson, 2019). However, this may be changing due to better screen quality and people being more used to reading on screens nowadays. Perhaps more importantly though, especially when doing tests like the IELTS, is that it seems reading on paper leads to better understanding of a text compared to reading on a screen (Barshay, 2019). Therefore, although it may not be 100% clear, it seems that reading on paper might offer an advantage over reading on a screen.
However, when it comes to writing, the opposite is likely to be true. For most people, typing will be faster than writing by hand, but this again depends on a number of factors. For example, if you are more used to writing by hand than typing in your second language, then there might not be such a big difference in speed. Also, there are other factors that might come into consideration, such as the number of typos (which will take more time to check and correct), being able to edit more easily on a computer as well as the words being counted automatically for you. Again, there is no easy answer, but it seems like the CBT may be better for most people when it comes to the writing test.
In the end, the only way to really know which test is better for you is to try both of them, maybe time yourself and see which one you feel more comfortable with. Both test providers (IDP and British Council) offer a practice online test, so it’s worth trying the online test a couple of times before deciding whether to do the CBT or the PBT.
For more information about the CBT, you can view these helpful YouTube videos:
There is also a useful summary of advantages and disadvantages of both the PBT and the CBT in the following article:
https://ieltsliz.com/computer-delivered-ielts-pros-cons/
References:
Barshay, J., 2019. Evidence increases for reading on paper instead of screens. [online] The Hechinger Report. Available at: <https://hechingerreport.org/evidence-increases-for-reading-on-paper-instead-of-screens/> [Accessed 11 October 2021].
Thompson, A., 2019. Study: Paper Reading More Effective Than Screen Reading. [online] VOA. Available at: <https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/study-paper-reading-more-effective-than-screen-reading/4876473.html> [Accessed 11 October 2021].
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