🖥 Computer-delivered IELTS (CDI) vs. 📄 Paper-based IELTS (PBT)

General
- In CDI, results of the test are announced within 3-5 days, while in PBT it is 13-14 days (sometimes 12)
- It takes you about 3-4 hours to finish the test in CDI, but 4-6 hours in PBT
- CDI is less stressful than PBT, because there is always fewer candidates in the exam room in CDI than in PBT. (For example, there were only 4 candidates in the room when I had the test)

Listening
- There is no underlining in CDI, but you can highlight the keywords plus you can write notes if you wish. In PBT, you can do whatever you want with a pen and paper. 
- At the end of the listening test, you are given 10 minutes to check your answers and transfer them to an answer sheet in PBT. In CDI, however, you are given 2 minutes only to check your answers. You type the answers into the boxes, so there is no need to transfer the answers to another sheet.

Reading
- The same thing in terms of underlining and highlighting. 
- In PBT, you are given 1 hour to answer the questions AND transfer your answers to another sheet. In CDI, by contrast, the same time you are given. The only difference is that you don't need to transfer the answers, which is an advantage. 

Writing
- 1 hour is given for both Task 1 and 2 in both CDI and PBT
- In PBT, if you want to add some words into your answer, you have to erase the whole sentence, which is time-consuming. In CDI, you just have to press the BACKSPACE button, or just select and drag the words that you want to delete, and do anything at the push of a single button, which is a benefit. 
- In PBT, you have to count the words by yourself, but in CDI, the Word Count is labelled right below the textbox on your screen, which is great! 

Speaking
- In PBT, you have the test in-person with the examiner. In CDI, it is either in-person or a video call on a computer (candidates cannot choose in IDP) 

❗️NOTE: The difficulty of the test in both formats is the same. 

P.S: If your typing speed is fast enough to type anything without looking for some keys (of a keyboard), then I highly recommend you to take CDI as it is comfortable and modern 👍