IELTS announced on 12 December 2023 that Immigration New Zealand has approved IELTS One Skill Retake as an accepted English test result. People applying to study, work or migrate to New Zealand can now use a result that includes a single retaken section.
Key facts
- Announced 12 December 2023
- Approved by Immigration New Zealand
- Use Study, work and migration
- Available Selected centres in more than 110 countries
How One Skill Retake works
If you miss your target in one of the four skills, you can retake just that section, Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking, instead of the whole test. At the time of the announcement, the option was offered at selected IELTS centres in more than 110 countries. Under the current rules on ielts.org, the retake must be booked and taken within 60 days of the original test and can be used once per original test. You then receive a new Test Report Form and can choose which form to use.
Later developments
In October 2024 IELTS said all New Zealand universities also accept One Skill Retake for admission.
What this means
If you need IELTS for a New Zealand visa and fall short in one skill, a One Skill Retake can be quicker and cheaper than a full resit. Before relying on it, check that it is offered at your centre and, on the current ielts.org page, which original test formats are eligible. Read the English language page for your specific visa on the Immigration New Zealand website, since the score needed varies by visa, and keep both Test Report Forms in case you are asked for the original as well as the updated result.