Last Updated: February 11, 2021
IELTS Exam Result
IELTS Result Availability
IELTS conducts exams in different modes. The availability of your result depends upon the mode in which you have written the examination.
Paper-Based Test: For a paper-based test, you will be able to view your test report 13 days after your test date. 13 days is the longest it can take to get your report no matter what mode you have taken your exam in.
Computer-delivered: The computerized version of the test, which is gaining prominence over the paper-format, lets you receive the result in 3 to 5 days. The days are calculated from the day you have taken the test.
IELTS for UK Visa and Immigration:If the test has been taken for availing a UK Visa and clear Immigration processes, you will be able to view the results only 13 days after the date of your test.
IELTS for Life Skills:This is a test taken to prove speaking and listening skills as part of a visa/ immigration process and is a new UK-government approved version of the IELTS. It is often referred to as SELT. The results for this will be available within 7 days after you have taken the test.
Facts about IELTS Results
- IELTS results are available within 13 days no matter what mode you take it in.
- Results can be viewed online at https://results.ielts.org/ for 28 days.
- Test Center can also post results after 13 days (you can even pick them up from the test center).
- You get only one copy of the result so save it in a secure place.
- You can have copies of your Test Report automatically sent to five institutions free of charge.
- In case if you want to send it to more colleges/universities you may do so for an additional fee.
- There are no minimum passing marks in the IELTS exam. All scores are awarded on a 9-band scale (from 1, the lowest, to 9, the highest). Universities/colleges or immigration agencies may have their minimum requirement like 5.5/6 etc.
- Test report is valid for two years.,m
IELTS Bands 1-9
The IELTS 9-band scale has each band corresponding to a level of English competence. All parts of the test and the Overall Band Score can be reported in whole and half bands, eg 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, etc. where the maximum score you can get is a 9. Attaining the highest score would imply that you are an expert user of the language whereas the lowest score would imply that you can only use random English words and is not a good speaker. An average score required to get admission and visas would be around 6. Anything above a 6 would be considered a plus.
Band 9: | Expert user | Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. |
Band 8: | Very good user | Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
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Band 7: | Good user | Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
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Band 6: | Competent user | Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
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Band 5: | Modest user | Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
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Band 4: | Limited user | Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
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Band 3: | Extremely limited user | Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
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Band 2: | Intermittent user | Cannot communicate any further than basic information. Difficulty understanding and communicating in English.
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Band 1: | Non-user | Can use only a few isolated words |
Band 0: | Did not attempt the test | No assessable information provided. |
Each band corresponds to a level of English competence. All parts of the test and the Overall Band Score can be reported in whole and half bands, e.g., 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0.
Sending the Test Report
Test-Reports that are sent to colleges should be original copies since institutions do NOT accept photocopies of the report. You can choose to send 5 additional copies of the TRF to universities, immigration offices. To do this, you are supposed to include the addresses while booking the test.
Include the full postal address of the place since then the IELTS Verification Service can check whether the place has access to view the result if submitted electronically. In case they do not accept electronic submissions, the result will be sent by post.
Reviewing IELTS Result
You can request a reevaluation of your result if you are not satisfied with it. This is done through a system called EOR (Enquiry on Results). The request must be made within six weeks after you have taken the test and you can choose to either re-evaluate the entire test or the different sections in the test. This will require payment of an additional sum as the inquiry fee that will be refunded to you if there is a change in your band score.
Once you have applied for revaluating your score, an experienced senior examiner will be responsible for assessing your performance. They will not be made aware of your previous score and the new score will be communicated to your test center if the score has changed. You will receive a new Test Report Form (TRF).
The re-evaluation result will be made available in between 2-21 days. But you are free to contact your test center if you haven't received any information after 28 days.
Re-taking IELTS
IELTS can be taken as many times as you want. There are no restrictions for the same. But it is estimated that the score is not likely to increase by a large margin unless efforts have been made to learn the language in all four aspects of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
To do this, you may attend practice tests, watch movies with subtitles, read comprehensive passages, works of fiction and non-fiction, etc. Re-doing practice tests after every attempt to learn the language can help improve your scores.