IELTS in Mainland China Fully Transitions to Computer-Delivered Format: Test Day Procedures, Score Release Times, and One Skill Retake

2026-10-04 · Guides

Starting September 1, 2026, both the IELTS and IELTS for UKVI in mainland China will be fully computer-delivered; the latter has already suspended paper-based testing since July 1. Based on official guidelines, this article outlines the computer-delivered test day procedures, the 1–5 day score release and electronic Test Report Form, the conditions and fees for the One Skill Retake, and the necessary adjustments for test preparation.

Bottom line: Starting September 1, 2026, IELTS in mainland China will be computer-delivered only. An announcement on the British Council's official Chinese website states that the paper-based IELTS in mainland China will be discontinued from September 1, while IELTS for UKVI will stop paper-based testing even earlier, from July 1. The test content, question types, difficulty, and scoring criteria remain unchanged; what changes are the test delivery method, score release speed, and Test Report Form (TRF) format.

This adjustment is not a decision made solely for mainland China. IELTS officially announced on March 5, 2026, that starting from mid-2026, paper-based tests will be phased out globally, and all IELTS tests will transition to computer-delivered format, with specific timelines varying by region.

Timeline

Date	Change
2026-03-05	IELTS officially announces: Paper-based IELTS will no longer be offered globally from mid-2026, and IELTS for UKVI will be available exclusively as a computer-delivered test.
2026-07-01	Paper-based IELTS for UKVI is discontinued in mainland China; all tests are computer-delivered.
2026-09-01	Paper-based IELTS is discontinued in mainland China; all tests are computer-delivered. Computer-delivered test takers can now download their e-TRFs.
2026-10-01	Starting from tests on this date, paper TRFs are no longer provided for full IELTS and One Skill Retake tests.

According to media reports, the last batch of paper-based tests in mainland China was scheduled for July–August 2026, with the final test on August 29. Paper-based testing has now ended, so students who haven't taken the test yet should prepare directly for the computer-delivered format.

It is important to note that IELTS Life Skills for UKVI is a different test. The official guidelines state that it will continue to provide paper TRFs and will not offer e-TRFs for the time being.

Computer-Delivered vs. Paper-Based: What's the Same and What's Different

The British Council has clarified that the computer-delivered and paper-based tests remain identical in content, question types, difficulty, assessment dimensions, and scoring criteria. The main differences are as follows:

Test Delivery: The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are completed directly on the computer.
Speaking Format: Conducted via a live video call with a real examiner. The examiner interacts with the candidate on screen, and the candidate wears headphones throughout. The Part 2 cue card is displayed on the computer screen, with the same preparation and speaking times as the in-person test (1 minute to prepare, up to 2 minutes to speak).
No 10-Minute Transfer Time for Listening: The paper-based test allows 10 minutes after Listening to transfer answers to the answer sheet; the computer-delivered test provides 30 minutes of test time plus 2 minutes to check, with answers typed directly while listening.
Reading Interface: The passage and questions are displayed side-by-side. You can use the Highlight and Notes features to mark text, and the font size is adjustable.
Writing: Typed entirely on the keyboard, allowing easy edits. The system tracks the word count in real time and saves automatically.
Test Duration: Listening is 30 minutes (plus 2 minutes to check), Reading is 60 minutes, and Writing is 60 minutes.

IELTS has also mentioned that some regions offer a "handwrite your Writing test on paper" option for the computer-delivered test. As of October 4, 2026, we have not seen this option available in mainland China on the British Council's official Chinese website, so please prepare to type your Writing responses.

Test Day Procedures

The following is summarized from the "Test Day Procedures" page on the British Council's official website. Actual arrangements are subject to your admission ticket and on-site notifications on the test day.

Registration: Registration closes 3 days before the test and is completed on the Ministry of Education Education Examinations Authority IELTS registration website (ielts.neea.cn).
Print Admission Ticket: Computer-delivered test takers must log in to their personal account on the registration website 2 days before the written test date to print their admission ticket and check their candidate number, speaking test time, and test center address.
Arrive at the Test Center: Arrive at 8:00 AM for the morning session, 1:00 PM for the afternoon session, or 5:00 PM for the evening session.
Check-in: Present the ID used during registration for identity verification and fingerprint scanning, and put on a paper wristband. Except for one bottle of water with the label removed and necessary medication, no other items are allowed in the test room. Electronic devices such as watches must be turned off and stored away.
Entry Deadline: 8:30 AM for the morning session, 1:30 PM for the afternoon session, and 5:30 PM for the evening session. Latecomers will not be admitted and cannot transfer, cancel, or get a refund for their test.
Written Test: Follow the invigilator's instructions to log in using the username and password on your login slip, verify your personal information, adjust the screen color and font size, and test your headphones before everyone clicks "Start Test" together. The login slip can be used as scratch paper and will be collected after each section.
Speaking: The speaking test is usually scheduled on the same day as the written test or as close to it as possible. Candidates must arrive at least 30 minutes before the speaking test starts, and the entry cutoff is 15 minutes before the test. Nearsighted candidates must bring their glasses, as the Part 2 questions will be read from the screen.

The official website also reminds candidates to watch the computer-delivered test tutorial videos on the official IELTS Chinese website before the test to familiarize themselves with the interface.

Score Release and e-TRF

Score Release Time: According to the British Council, computer-delivered test scores are available 1–5 days after the test. The earliest you can check your scores is after 10:00 PM on the first day after the test by logging into the IELTS registration website.
e-TRF: Starting from 10:00 AM the day after the scores are released, you can log in to the registration website to download the e-TRF, which has the same validity as the paper TRF. It can be downloaded repeatedly within its validity period (2 years).
Paper TRF Discontinued: Starting from tests on October 1, 2026, paper TRFs are no longer provided for full IELTS and One Skill Retake tests.
Enquiry on Results: If your score changes after an enquiry, a new e-TRF will be generated, and the original TRF will be invalidated simultaneously.
Tests Taken Before September 1: For paper-based or computer-delivered tests taken before September 1, 2026, you cannot apply for an e-TRF.

For the university application season, fast score release is a tangible advantage: it gives you more flexibility to retake the test close to deadlines. However, test availability and score release times are still subject to the registration website, so don't plan your schedule too tightly.

One Skill Retake

One Skill Retake is a feature many candidates are concerned about following the full transition to computer-delivered tests. The British Council's official website clearly outlines the arrangements for mainland China:

Item	Official Details
Applicable Tests	IELTS and IELTS for UKVI, Academic and General Training
Eligible Candidates	Candidates who have taken the full computer-delivered IELTS in mainland China and received their TRF
Time Limit	You can register and take one One Skill Retake within 60 days from the test date on your original TRF
ID Requirement	Use the same ID as your previous full computer-delivered test
Fee	Registration fee is ¥1,400; cancellation or transfer fee is ¥380
Test Centers	13 test centers across 8 cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Changsha, Ningbo, and Shijiazhuang
Registration Channel	WeChat Mini Program "IELTS Official Service Platform"

After the retake, you will receive a new TRF: the retaken skill will have the new score, while the other three skills will retain their original scores. The overall band score will be recalculated, and the retaken skill will be marked on the TRF. Candidates can choose whether to use the original or the new TRF.

Most importantly: Before registering, check with your target universities or institutions to confirm if they accept One Skill Retake scores. The official website states that nearly 3,000 institutions globally recognize it, but not all schools accept it. You also need to verify acceptance separately for UK visa and immigration purposes.

Compared to the full test fee of ¥1,990, the One Skill Retake fee is lower, but it can only be used once within 60 days. If you miss the target score in more than two of the four skills, it is usually more appropriate to retake the full test.

How to Adjust Your Preparation

Since the question types and scoring criteria remain unchanged, you don't need to overhaul your core preparation. The main adjustment needed is adapting to "answering questions on a computer."

Practice Typing for Writing: You will need to type two essays on the keyboard within 60 minutes during the test. Practice writing directly on a computer, and it is recommended to turn off spell check and auto-correction to get used to checking your own spelling. If you type slowly, work on improving your typing speed first.
Monitor Word Count: The system displays the word count in real time, which is helpful, but don't just focus on hitting the word count. Structure and argumentation remain key to scoring well.
Type While Listening: The computer-delivered Listening test has no 10-minute transfer time, only 2 minutes to check. Answers must be typed directly while listening. Practice at this pace during your preparation, paying special attention to spelling and singular/plural forms.
Adapt to the Screen for Reading: Staring at a screen for a long time is more tiring than reading on paper. Practice full Reading tests on a computer and get used to using the highlight and notes features instead of underlining on paper.
Adapt to the Video Format for Speaking: The examiner is on the screen, and you wear headphones. You can do a few mock tests via video call with someone to get used to speaking to a screen. If you can't hear clearly, you can ask the examiner to repeat.
Take the Official Computer-Delivered Mock Test: The official website provides a free computer-delivered mock test (IELTS Familiarisation Test), covering Listening, Reading, and Writing for both Academic and General Training. Take it at least once before the test to familiarize yourself with the interface and operations.
Plan Your Test Attempts: With more test sessions, faster score release, and the One Skill Retake option, you can plan your application season more flexibly. It is recommended to leave enough buffer time for your first test, keeping a window of under 60 days for a possible One Skill Retake or full test retake.

Need Help?

If you are preparing for IELTS and want to know how to prepare for the computer-delivered test or whether the One Skill Retake is right for you, check out our IELTS training courses, or book a one-on-one consultation. We will help you plan based on your target universities' requirements.