IELTS Online & Video Call Speaking: How They Work

"Can I take IELTS Speaking online?" The answer is yes, but there are two very different versions, and mixing them up can cost you a visa application:

1. IELTS Online: you take the whole IELTS Academic test, including Speaking, from home or another private place. It is not accepted for immigration.
2. Video Call Speaking (VCS): you go to a test centre as normal, but your Speaking examiner joins you by video call from another location.

This guide explains both, who each is for, and how to prepare for speaking to an examiner through a screen.

Version 1: IELTS Online (at home)

From ielts.org, checked on 2 October 2026:

• What it is: "the new way to take the IELTS Academic test" at home or in a private location with a stable internet connection.
• Speaking: "conducted online via video call with a certified IELTS Examiner." It's a live conversation, not a recording.
• Test types: "currently only available for the Academic test." General Training is not available this way.
• Immigration: "IELTS Online is not currently accepted for immigration purposes." Check that your university or organisation accepts it before booking.
• Equipment: a laptop or desktop with one screen only, Windows or macOS, a webcam, microphone, speakers, and a stable internet connection. You also need a private, well-lit room where you won't be interrupted.

Who it's for: university applicants whose institution accepts IELTS Online, and who can't easily reach a test centre.

Who it's not for: anyone using IELTS for a visa or immigration application, and anyone who needs General Training.

Version 2: Video Call Speaking (at a test centre)

From IDP's official IELTS Australia site:

• You sit in a private test room at your test centre.
• The examiner is elsewhere and joins you through a high-definition video call.
• "All aspects of the Speaking test will remain the same, including the question types, timing and marking."

Who it's for: candidates at centres that use video-call examiners. It's the same test, delivered differently. Your test centre will tell you if your Speaking test uses VCS.

What stays the same in both versions

Whether the examiner is in the room or on a screen, the Speaking test is the same:

• 11–14 minutes, in three parts: an interview, a 2-minute long turn with 1 minute of preparation, and a discussion.
• A certified human examiner, live, not a recording.
• The same four criteria: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. See the band descriptors explained.

See the full IELTS Speaking test format.

Tips for speaking to an examiner on a screen

Video adds a few small challenges. They're easy to handle if you practise for them:

• Look at the camera when you speak, not only at the examiner's face. It feels more natural to them.
• Expect a tiny delay. Leave a short pause after the examiner finishes before you start, so you don't talk over them.
• Don't be afraid to ask for a repeat. "Sorry, could you repeat the question?" is perfectly normal, especially if audio breaks up.
• Keep your volume and pace steady. Microphones flatten mumbling and very fast speech. Clear stress and pauses help the examiner follow you.
• For Part 2 at home, follow the instructions you're given about notes and materials exactly. Remote tests have strict rules about what's on your desk.
• Practise on video beforehand. Do a few full mock tests over a video call with a friend, or with an AI tutor, so the format isn't new on the day.

FAQ

Can I take IELTS Speaking from home? Only as part of IELTS Online, which covers IELTS Academic and is not accepted for immigration.

Is IELTS Online accepted for visas? According to ielts.org, IELTS Online "is not currently accepted for immigration purposes".

Is Video Call Speaking easier or harder than face to face? Neither, officially. IDP says the question types, timing and marking are all the same. Some candidates find a screen less intimidating; others find it less natural. Practising on video removes most of the difference.

Is the IELTS Speaking test ever done by AI or a recording? No. In all of these versions, you speak with a certified human examiner in real time.

Can I take IELTS General Training online? Not as IELTS Online. ielts.org says IELTS Online is currently Academic only.

Practise speaking to a screen

Sprechify is a live voice AI tutor built only for IELTS Speaking. You practise Parts 1, 2 and 3 and full mock tests by voice through your device, so speaking to a screen feels routine by test day. You get feedback on all four Band Descriptors. See the 30-day course.

Related reading: IELTS vs TOEFL Speaking · IELTS Speaking anxiety · How to register for IELTS