Reviewed by the finduni team · Last verified 15 September 2026 · Sources: IDP Nepal: IELTS on paper, IDP Nepal: IELTS Writing on Paper
What is IELTS Writing on Paper?
Writing on Paper is a way of taking IELTS where only the Writing section is handwritten. Listening and Reading are on computer, Writing is handwritten on paper, and Speaking is face to face with an examiner.
It is not the old paper-based IELTS under a new name. IDP has announced that paper-based IELTS is no longer offered in Nepal after 27 June 2026. Source: IDP Nepal, paper-based IELTS. IDP describes the option in its article on IELTS Writing on Paper.
How it differs from IELTS on Computer
The two options differ in one section only. Compare them side by side:
| Option | How each section is taken |
|---|---|
| IELTS on Computer | Listening, Reading and Writing are on computer, and Speaking is face to face with an examiner. |
| Writing on Paper | Listening and Reading are on computer, Writing is handwritten on paper, and Speaking is face to face with an examiner. |
Listening, Reading and Speaking are taken the same way in both. The difference is whether you type your Writing answers or write them by hand.
What stays the same
- The test itself: the same sections, the same question types and the same band scoring.
- Acceptance: universities and immigration authorities accept the result the same way whichever option you choose. There is no easier version and no version they prefer.
- Speaking: a face-to-face interview with an examiner in both options.
For a fuller comparison of the two, including how to practise for each, read IELTS on Computer vs Writing on Paper in Nepal.
Who might choose Writing on Paper
- Slow or error-prone typists: if you lose time hunting for keys or correcting typing mistakes under pressure, handwriting can leave more of the Writing time for ideas.
- Students who plan on paper: if you think best by sketching an outline and drafting with a pen, handwriting keeps that habit.
- Students who prepared by hand: if months of timed essay practice were handwritten, switching to a keyboard close to the test adds something new to get used to.
It may suit you less if your handwriting becomes hard to read when you write quickly, or if you like to move sentences around and rewrite as you go, which is easier on a screen.
How to decide
Write one timed essay by hand and one on a keyboard, under the same time limit. Then compare them honestly:
- Which one did you finish with time left to check?
- Which one has fewer errors that you would not normally make?
- Which one could an examiner read without effort?
Choose the option that produced the better essay, then keep practising Writing in that same way until test day.
Before you book
Confirm with IDP that Writing on Paper is offered at the centre and on the date you want before you pay, and check the expected result date IDP gives for your format against your university or visa deadline. The options finduni.ai books are listed on the booking page, and the IELTS test dates guide explains how to plan around a deadline.