According to press reports, paper-based IELTS tests have been suspended in Uzbekistan. This comes amidst concerns about test questions leaking ahead of certain administrations of the IELTS in that country. Test takers who have already registered for a paper-based IELTS have been offered refunds and free transfers to a computer-based administration.
Regular readers will know that the IELTS partners have made several changes to paper-based testing policies in recent months. Earlier this year, a policy was instituted requiring test takers opting for a paper-delivered test to have legal residency in the country of testing. This change came after analysis by the IELTS partners linked non-resident test takers to fraudulent test-day activity, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
The paper format was completely eliminated in Vietnam at the end of March and later this month IELTS for UKVI in Bangladesh will no longer have a paper-based option.