IELTS on Computer in Nigeria: What Changes and How to Prepare for It
IELTS in Nigeria is now taken on computer. The questions, timing and marking are the same as the old paper test. What changes is how you answer: you type, you get two minutes instead of ten to check Listening, and your results come back in days.
When the paper test was still around, a lot of candidates told me they would never take IELTS on a computer. Now that it is the only option, the same candidates usually find it easier than they feared. The trick is to practise in the format you will actually sit.
In this guide
What stays the same
The content of IELTS on computer is identical to the paper test: the same four skills, the same question types, the same timing and the same marking. Your result looks the same and is accepted by the same universities and immigration authorities.
So there is no "easier version". The difference is entirely in how you work through the test, and that is something you can practise.
Listening on computer
This is the biggest change. On paper, candidates wrote answers on the question booklet and then had ten minutes at the end to transfer them. On computer you get only two minutes to check, so you must type each answer as you hear it.
- Read ahead during the pauses, as you would on paper.
- Type short answers straight away; do not plan to "come back".
- Watch spelling. A correct answer spelt wrongly is still wrong.
Reading on computer
The passage and the questions sit side by side on the screen, and you can highlight text and make notes. Many candidates find this quicker than flipping pages. The risk is scrolling: practise finding your place again quickly in a long passage, and use the highlighter for names, dates and key words.
Writing on computer
You type both tasks, and a word counter shows how much you have written, so you no longer need to count. There is no spell check, though, so spelling and punctuation still count against you. Typing speed matters: if you type slowly, you lose minutes you need for planning and checking.
Practise timed essays on a laptop with spell check switched off. If you can type a 250 word essay in under 30 minutes, you are in good shape for Task 2.
Speaking
Speaking does not change. You still speak with a trained examiner, usually face to face, sometimes by secure video call. It may be on the same day as the other three parts or on a different day close to it, and your booking confirmation tells you when.
Faster results
Computer results usually come out within 3 to 5 days, compared with 13 days for the paper test. That matters if you are close to an application deadline. Our guide on IELTS results in Nigeria explains how to check them and how your band is calculated.
How to prepare for the computer format
- Do practice tests on a computer, not just in books. The official IELTS websites have free computer based practice tests.
- Build typing speed with short daily drills if you are slow on a keyboard.
- Sit a computer mock under real timing at least once before the test. At Mafit, a free mock CBT is included with registration.
- Know the screen. Learn how to highlight, move between questions and flag the ones you want to revisit.
More on the format on our computer delivered IELTS page.
Sit a free mock CBT first
Register for IELTS with Mafit and get a free computer based mock under real conditions, plus classes in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt or online. ₦279,000 with code MAFIT.
Common questions
Is IELTS in Nigeria on paper or on computer?
The British Council now runs IELTS in Nigeria on computer. The paper test is no longer offered.
Is IELTS on computer easier than on paper?
No. The questions, timing and marking are the same. Some candidates find computer easier for Reading and Writing, but Listening gives you only two minutes at the end to check answers instead of ten.
Is the Speaking test done on the computer?
No. Speaking is still a conversation with a trained examiner, usually face to face, sometimes by secure video call.
How fast are IELTS computer results?
Usually within 3 to 5 days of the test, compared with 13 days for the paper test.
Is there a word counter in IELTS Writing on computer?
Yes, there is a word counter, but no spell check, so spelling still counts.