Computer-Based IELTS Writing: Format, Tips and Practice

Computer-based IELTS Writing is the same test as the paper version. The tasks, the time limit, the marking criteria and the band scale are the same. What changes is the mechanics: you read the task on a screen and type your answers instead of handwriting them. Typing makes some things easier and adds a few traps, and most of the traps come from not having practised on a screen.

This guide covers what the computer-delivered Writing test gives you, what it takes away, how to split your 60 minutes, and how to practise so test day feels familiar. For the general method behind Task 1 and Task 2, see how to prepare for IELTS Writing. This post sticks to what is different on a computer.

Computer-based IELTS Writing at a glance

• Two tasks in 60 minutes. Task 1 is at least 150 words, Task 2 is at least 250 words.
• Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing score.
• You type your answers. The task appears on screen and a word counter shows your length as you go.
• Marking criteria are the same as paper: task achievement or response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy.
• Results for IELTS on computer are typically available within 1 to 5 days, according to IDP. Paper results take 13 days (7 in India), according to IELTS.

Last verified against IELTS and IDP pages on 5 October 2026. Check the current rules for your test centre before you rely on any detail here. Formats and options differ by country, and the official sites are the final word.

Computer-based vs paper-based Writing

Computer	Paper
How you answer	Type	Handwrite on an answer sheet
Word count	Shown on screen	You count lines yourself
Editing	Cut, copy and paste	Cross out and rewrite
Spellcheck	None	None
Handwriting	Not marked	Examiner has to read it
Results	Typically 1 to 5 days	13 days (7 in India)

The two rows people get wrong are word count and spellcheck. The counter really is there, which removes a chore. But there is no spellcheck, grammar check or thesaurus. IELTS says candidates who use a computer as an access arrangement must not use these functions either, in its access arrangements guidance. Spelling and grammar are part of the marking, so the test doesn't fix them for you.

Some centres also offer IELTS on computer with Writing on paper. You read the Writing task on screen and write your answer by hand. If you are choosing between modes, IELTS lists the options. Everything in this post about typing applies only to the fully computer-based version.

What the screen gives you

I'm describing the general layout of computer-delivered Writing, not copying any one centre's software, so check the official familiarisation material for your test centre.

You read the question on screen and type into a text box. A live word count shows when you've passed 150 or 250 words. Treat it as a check, not a target: a Task 2 of 260 clear words beats 340 words of padding.

You can cut, copy and paste within your answer (Ctrl+X, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V), so you can move a sentence or paragraph without crossing it out and rewriting it. That is the biggest practical advantage over paper. For planning, IDP says IELTS on computer has a note-taking and highlight function, and you can also write notes on the login details sheet you get at the start of the test, so you don't need to plan in the answer box. There is an on-screen timer, but keep your own time plan too, because it's easy to forget the clock while you type.

SmoothMock's Writing practice uses a similar on-screen setup: the task on one side, a typing box on the other, a countdown timer and a live word count that shows your minimum. It's built for practice, not as a copy of the official software, but it gives you the same habit of reading, planning and typing against a clock. You can try it from the public Writing practice test.

A 60-minute time plan

You don't have a separate clock for each task. Both tasks share the 60 minutes, so decide in advance where the minutes go.

Task	Plan	Write and type	Check	Total
Task 1	3 min	14 min	3 min	20 min
Task 2	5 min	30 min	5 min	40 min

Do Task 1 first, since it is shorter and worth less. Don't let it run past 20 minutes. Every extra minute there comes out of Task 2, which counts double.

Typing changes the "write" slice. Most people type faster than they handwrite, so you may finish a Task 2 draft with minutes spare. Spend them on checking, not on adding more. A short, accurate essay with time to proofread usually scores better than a long one with typos.

Task 1 on a computer

The tactics for Task 1 are the same as on paper: describe the main trends, open with an overview, and pick out the key figures instead of listing every number. The computer changes three things.

• Plan in your notes, not in the box. Use the note-taking function or your login details sheet for the two or three main trends and the figures you'll quote before you type a word. It takes three minutes and stops you rewriting the opening twice.
• Don't chase the counter. The minimum is 150 words, so aim a little above it, around 160 to 190, and stop. Extra detail rarely adds marks.
• Use copy and paste for reorganising. If your overview ends up in the wrong place, move it. Don't retype it.

For a worked overview example, see the Task 1 section of the writing guide.

Task 2 on a computer

Task 2 is where the screen helps most, because you can restructure an argument without a mess.

• Spend the first five minutes on a plan. Position, two body-paragraph ideas with an example each, and a conclusion. Planning is where you catch an answer that drifts from the question.
• Type paragraph by paragraph. Press Enter between paragraphs. A clear four-paragraph shape helps coherence, and it is easy to see on a screen.
• Move, don't rewrite. If your strongest point is buried in paragraph three, cut and paste it up.
• Save the last five minutes for checking. Read the essay once for sense and once for slips: plurals, articles, verb forms, missing words.

For practice questions, use the model prompts in IELTS Writing topics for 2026.

Typing and keyboard tips

IELTS doesn't set a minimum typing speed. But typing speed sets how much thinking time you keep.

• Know your speed. Take a one-minute typing test. At 30 words per minute, 250 words takes about eight and a half minutes of pure typing. At 45, it is under six. Either is workable in a 30-minute window, but slow typing with no spare time is where candidates get squeezed.
• Practise without spellcheck. Turn off autocorrect and red underlines when you practise. If your essays only look clean because your software fixes them, your first test-day draft will be a surprise.
• Watch the usual typos. Fast typing produces missing letters, doubled words and wrong word endings. These count as spelling and grammar errors. Your proofreading pass should target them.
• Get used to the keyboard. Practise on a standard external keyboard if you normally use a laptop or phone, and learn where Ctrl, Shift and Backspace are.
• Learn the shortcuts. Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V and Ctrl+Z. Don't discover on test day that you have to move your hand to the mouse.

Common mistakes

• Writing to the counter. Stopping at exactly 250 words and moving on, even when the answer isn't finished. Or padding with filler to reach 300.
• No proofreading time. With no spellcheck, typos stay in your answer.
• Planning in the answer box. A planning list that you forget to delete costs you words and clarity.
• Skipping paragraphs because formatting "isn't marked". Layout isn't a scored criterion, but clear paragraphs help the examiner follow your logic, which feeds coherence and cohesion.
• Only practising on paper. You may be fast with a pen and slow on a keyboard, or the other way round. Practise in the mode you'll sit.

How to practise

• Do a full timed attempt on a screen. Task 1 then Task 2, 60 minutes, no pausing. The free plan includes one Writing attempt a day, so use it on a real attempt and read the feedback properly.
• Check your length. The IELTS writing word counter is a quick way to see how long a draft really is.
• Review your errors by criterion. Feedback is only useful if it changes your next attempt. How AI grading changed my IELTS prep explains how I used it.
• Turn Writing into a band. The band score calculator shows how your Writing score feeds into your overall result.
• Add full mocks later. When Writing is steady, move to a full mock test or a free practice test with a score.

If you want the practice with feedback attached, try a computer-based Writing practice test on SmoothMock. For the full list of Writing resources, see the IELTS Writing module guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IELTS Writing on computer easier than on paper?

It's not easier or harder in marking terms, because the criteria and band scale are the same. Many people find it more comfortable because they type faster than they write and can edit cleanly. If you type slowly, paper may suit you better.

Is there a spellcheck in computer-based IELTS Writing?

No. IELTS guidance says candidates must not use spellcheck, grammar check or thesaurus functions, and spelling and grammar are part of what is marked.

Is there a word counter in computer-based IELTS Writing?

Yes, the computer-delivered test shows a word count as you type. Use it to confirm you've passed the 150-word and 250-word minimums.

Can I copy and paste in the IELTS Writing test on computer?

Yes, you can cut, copy and paste within your own answer, so you can rearrange sentences.

How long does it take to get computer-based IELTS results?

IDP says results for IELTS on computer are typically available within 1 to 5 days. IELTS lists paper-based results at 13 days, or 7 days in India.

Can I take notes to plan my answer?

Yes. IDP says IELTS on computer provides a note-taking function, and you can write notes on the login details sheet you receive at the start. Rules can vary by centre, so confirm when you book.

How should I practise computer-based IELTS Writing?

Take timed attempts on a screen, with no spellcheck, in the same 20/40 split you'll use on the day. Review each attempt by criterion so the next one changes something.