IELTS gave an update on 30 November 2022 on its new One Skill Retake option. It allows a candidate who did not get the score they wanted in one of the four skills to retake only that skill. IELTS presented it as a fairer option for people whose performance on one section did not reflect their real ability.
Key facts
- Announced 30 November 2022
- What Retake one of Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking
- First available Limited cities in Australia
- Rollout Wider rollout planned; details to follow
Where it started
At the time of the update, One Skill Retake was available only in a limited number of Australian cities. IELTS said it planned to roll the option out more widely and would share more details nearer the time. The update did not give fees, the time window for booking a retake or the eligibility rules.
What happened next
Over the following two years, governments and universities began to accept the results. UK Visas and Immigration approved it for IELTS for UKVI in October 2023, Immigration New Zealand in December 2023, and all New Zealand universities by October 2024. Australia’s Department of Home Affairs accepts it for most visa subclasses. Today the IELTS booking page says the retake must be taken within 60 days of the original test, once per test, on computer at centres that offer it.
What this means
One Skill Retake can save time and money if you narrowly miss your target in one skill. Before you rely on it, check three things: that your centre offers it, that the university or visa authority you are applying to accepts it, and that you can fit a retake within 60 days of your test and before your deadline. Ask your centre for the retake fee, which varies by location.