When will I get my IELTS results?

You won’t have to wait long for your IELTS test results.

If you have taken the IELTS on Paper test, you will be able to preview your results after 13 calendar days from the test date. If you have taken the IELTS on Computer test, you will be able to preview your results after 1 to 5 calendar days from the test date. Check your results on the Test Taker Portal

If you have taken IELTS Online or IELTS on Computer, you should download the electronic version (eTRF) from your Test Taker Portal 3-6 days after your test. We will not issue an additional paper Test Report Forms. You can print your electronic Test Report Form (eTRF) to send it to the organisations you are applying to, or you can send it via email. Alternatively, you can send your results direct to the organisation through the Test Taker Portal.

If you lose your Test Report Form or forget your test results, please contact your test centre.

When will I get a physical copy of my result?

We will send out a paper copy of your IELTS test score the Test Report Form (TRF), via courier to the address you provided during registration. This is done on the day results have been released online. Please allow at least seven working days for the delivery.

IELTS results will not be disclosed over the phone or through email.

We’ll send your Test Report Form (TRF) directly to the institutions you’re applying to, whether you have taken a computer-delivered or a paper-based test.

Institutions need original copies of your Test Report Form. Photocopies will not be accepted.

We can send up to five additional copies of your TRF directly to institutions you are applying to (for instance universities, immigration officers, etc.). If you would like us to do this, please include the relevant addresses when you book your test.

Please do not forget to give the full postal address of the institution. Without the complete address, we are not able to check whether the institution has access to the IELTS Test Report Form Verification Service that allows it to view your results after we have submitted them electronically. In case they do not access this service, we will send your TRF by post.

Can I get additional copies of my IELTS results?

If you want us to send another copy of your TRF to a recognising organisation in addition to the five copies we provide, you will need to pay an administration fee:

To send it via electronic dispatch: no extra charge

To send to international destinations via courier (payable by bank transfer):

Our international mailing charges are as follows:

  • Australia, Asia & New Zealand: NGN41,880
  • Ireland & UK:  NGN24,240
  • Ghana: NGN25,800
  • Middle East & Eastern Europe: NGN38,760
  • West Africa, Finland & Rest of Europe: NGN29,040
  • Rest of Africa: NGN37,080
  • USA & Canada: NGN32,280
  • South Africa: NGN35,520
  • South America: NGN27,534

This process applies to both IELTS on Computer and on Paper.

To order additional test report forms, please download the Online Additional TRF service Easy-Step guide in the Downloads section. You will need to log in to your Test Taker Portal and provide the institution’s address. We will then send the TRF directly to the institution. 

If you sat for an IELTS for UKVI test, please click here to apply for the Additional TRF service.

Please note that an additional Test Report Form takes up to 10 working days to be processed. Additional TRF requests that require payment are processed only when the British Council receives evidence of your payment.

What does my IELTS score mean?

You will be awarded an IELTS band score from 0-9 for each test section, which reflects your proficiency in English.

Your TRF shows a score for each of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking), as well as an overall band score. You can score whole band scores (for example 5.0, 6.0, 7.0) or half band scores (e.g. 5.5, 6.5, 7.5) in each section of the test.

Find out more about what your score means here

How long are my IELTS results valid?

Whether you have taken paper-based or computer-delivered IELTS, organisations will usually not accept your results if they are more than two years old, unless you provide evidence that you have actively maintained or tried to improve your English since taking the test. The IELTS Partners cannot confirm the validity of test results that are more than two years old.

How can I get my IELTS test re-marked?

If you did not receive the score you expected, you can apply for your test to be re-marked.

This is called an Enquiry on Results (EOR). You can choose which test sections you want to be re-marked and will need to request this through the test centre where you took your test. You need to apply for a re-marking no later than six weeks after the test date.

IELTS on Computer, IELTS on Paper, and IELTS for UKVI on Computer:

To apply for a Standard IELTS re-mark, please download the 'How to Apply for Online EOR' guide from the downloads section below. Follow the instructions provided to submit and pay for an Enquiry on Results (EOR) through the Test Taker Portal

IELTS for UKVI on Paper, and Lifeskills:

If you have taken an IELTS for UKVI on Paper or Lifeskills test and would like to apply for an Enquiry on Results, please click here (https://bit.ly/BCremark).

The fees for this service are:

  • NGN 133,000 for Standard IELTS on Computer
  • NGN 128,250 for Standard IELTS on Paper
  • NGN 142,500 for IELTS UKVI (Computer-delivered or Paper-based)
  • NGN 124,500 for Life Skills

You may choose to pay online with your debit/credit card or pay by bank transfer. Once you complete the online EOR form and choose to 'pay another way', bank transfer payment instructions will be sent to your registered email address.

The Enquiry on Results fee will be refunded if your score is increased for any section of the test.

The outcome of an Enquiry on Results can become available on the same day as your application and up to 21 days after your application. The time it takes depends on several factors, including the number of sections you have asked us to re-mark. If you have not received a response after 21 days, please contact your test centre.

It is not possible to have qualitative feedback on the test or see the test.

Can I re-take my IELTS test?

There are no restrictions on re-taking IELTS. You can book a test as soon as you feel you are ready to do so.

Please note that your score is unlikely to increase unless you make a significant effort to improve your English before re-taking the test. Visit the preparation section to take a practice test and assess your level.