Do I still get a separate 10-minute answer transfer period in the IELTS Listening test?
A separate 10-minute answer transfer period only exists for the paper-based IELTS Listening test, and that format is being phased out from mid-2026 onward depending on your test location. If you sit the computer-delivered version, you type answers directly as you listen, with no extra transfer window.
Whether you get a 10-minute transfer period depends on which IELTS format you take. This extra time only belongs to the paper-based Listening test, and that format is being phased out from mid-2026, with the exact date varying by test centre location.
Transfer Time by Test Format
| Format | Answer Transfer Time |
|---|---|
| Paper-based (being phased out) | Separate 10-minute transfer period at the end |
| Computer-delivered | No separate transfer period, answers typed directly |
What This Means for Your Preparation
If you are booked for the computer-delivered test, you will type each answer straight into the system while the recording plays, so you need to practise typing accurately under time pressure rather than relying on a later transfer window to fix mistakes.
My Advice
Confirm with your test centre which format you are registered for well before test day, since your answer strategy changes depending on whether you get that extra transfer time or not.
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