IELTS computer test tools and keyboard shortcuts

The tools are on screen in Listening, Reading and Writing. Speaking is a live conversation with an examiner, so it has no on-screen tools. For how the whole test works, read our guide to computer-delivered IELTS.

The table lists the tools that IDP and the British Council describe. They are two of the organisations that run IELTS. This page is about the real test only. Our own practice screens have a timer, and a word count in Writing, but no highlight or notes tool that you can use yourself.

To highlight, hold down the left mouse button and drag over the words. Then right-click and choose Highlight. To add a note, select the words in the same way, right-click and choose Notes. This is how the British Council tutorial explains it.

IDP says you can use highlighting and notes in Reading and Listening. In Reading, the passage is on the left and the questions are on the right. Mark only the words you will need, such as names, dates and key words from the questions.

Yes. IDP says you can write notes on the login details sheet that you get at the start of the test. IDP Bangladesh also says you may use the rough paper provided to take notes in Listening.

IDP suggests copying words from the Reading passage into gap-fill answers. A gap-fill question asks you to complete a sentence with words from the text. This helps you avoid spelling mistakes.

In Writing, IDP says basic editing such as copy and paste is available. Be careful: the band descriptors, the guide examiners use to mark Writing, say any copied rubric, meaning the wording of the task, must be discounted (not counted). See how words are counted in IELTS.

The word count is in the lower-left corner of the Writing screen, IDP says. IELTS does not explain how it counts numbers or short forms such as “don’t”. To check a practice answer, use our IELTS word counter.

A clock at the top of the screen shows how much time is left in each part. In Reading and Writing, it turns red and flashes when 10 minutes and 5 minutes are left. When the time ends, the test stops and your answers are saved.

In Listening, all 40 question numbers are at the bottom of the screen. The Review button marks a question you want to check again. At the end, you get 2 minutes to check your answers.

The Help button explains the task you are doing. The Settings button changes the text size and the background colour. In Listening, a volume bar at the top right changes how loud the recording is. If you need a toilet break, IDP says the Hide button hides the questions until you press Resume test.

We found no official list of keyboard shortcuts for IELTS on computer. IDP’s time advice names three basic shortcuts: Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+V to paste and Ctrl+Z to undo. Ctrl is the Control key on your keyboard.

Other shortcuts, such as Ctrl+X (cut) or Ctrl+A (select all), are not named on the IDP or British Council pages we checked. Do not plan to rely on them. Instead, check what works in the official familiarisation test.

This page is about the computer test at a test centre. IELTS Online is different: IELTS says you take it at home or in another private place. If you book it, read the IELTS Online information from IDP or the British Council.

Highlight the key words in the questions and in the passage, so you can find the important details again. IDP India suggests this for Reading and Listening.

In Reading gap-fill questions, copy words from the passage instead of typing them, so the spelling is right. In Writing, IDP Nepal says copy and paste can help you move your points into a better order. But do not overuse it: IDP Nepal warns that repeated phrases can lower your score.

Do not spend too long on one hard question. IDP India suggests marking it and coming back if you have time. In Listening, the Review button does this.

A familiarisation test is a free practice version of the computer test. It shows you the screens and the tools. IDP offers Listening, Academic Reading and Academic Writing familiarisation tests. The British Council offers versions for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

IDP says its familiarisation tests are not timed. It also says the timing, highlighting and notes work differently from the real test. So use them to learn the screens, not to practise your timing.

For timed practice, write full answers with a clock running. Typing speed matters too, so check yours with our free IELTS typing test.

Listening takes about 30 minutes, and on computer there is no extra time to copy answers to an answer sheet. Reading takes 60 minutes. Writing takes 60 minutes: about 20 for Task 1 and about 40 for Task 2.

Speaking takes 11–14 minutes with an examiner, so it is not in the chart. For ways to plan each part, read our IELTS time management guide.