Three strong scores and one that missed by half a band used to mean sitting the whole test again. One Skill Retake changes that, with conditions.
The conditions are strict, and most of the people who cannot use it find out too late.
What it is
One Skill Retake lets you resit one of the four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking. The retake is the same format and timing as that skill in the full test.
Afterwards you receive a second Test Report Form. It shows your new score for the retaken skill and your original scores for the other three, with a new overall band. You choose which form to use.
Who can use it
All of these must be true.
| Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| You took a full test | The retake attaches to a complete IELTS test you have already sat |
| It was IELTS on computer | A paper-based test does not qualify |
| The centre offers the retake | Not every centre does. Check before booking the full test |
| Within 60 days | The retake must be taken within 60 days of the original test day |
| Once only | One retake for each original test |
The second and third rows are the ones to settle before your first test, not after it. If there is any chance you will need the retake, book your full test on computer at a centre that offers it.
What it costs
Less than the full test, and the price is set locally. IELTS itself says only that prices vary and to ask your test centre.
Where official pages publish the figure, it was roughly 60 per cent of the full fee in October 2026:
| Country | Full test | One Skill Retake |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | THB 8,860 | THB 5,150 |
| Bangladesh | BDT 31,100 | BDT 18,600 |
| Vietnam | VND 4,664,000 | VND 2,940,000 |
Full fees for twelve countries are in IELTS fee by country.
How it works
- Sit the full test on computer.
- Get your results. Decide quickly, because the 60 days are already running.
- Check that your organisation accepts One Skill Retake. Do this before you pay.
- Book the retake for one skill at a centre that offers it.
- Sit it within 60 days of the original test day.
- Receive your new Test Report Form, usually in three to five days.
Will it be accepted?
This is the question that decides everything, and the answer is not the same everywhere.
IELTS recommends that you check with the organisation directly before booking. Acceptance has grown, and UK Visas and Immigration accepts One Skill Retake for IELTS Academic and General Training on computer in selected locations, but individual universities, professional bodies and immigration programmes set their own rules.
Ask the organisation one direct question: do you accept an IELTS result that includes a One Skill Retake? Get the answer in writing.
When it is worth it
It suits you if one skill is half a band short, the other three meet the requirement you were given, and you have a clear idea what went wrong. A Writing 6.0 against a required 6.5 with the other skills at 7.0 or above is the classic case.
It does not suit you if:
- two or more skills are short. You can retake only one
- the gap is a full band or more. Sixty days is rarely enough to move Writing or Speaking that far, and you have one attempt
- your original test was on paper
- your organisation does not accept it
Using the 60 days
You have at most two months, and in practice less, because results and booking take time. That is enough to fix a specific weakness and not enough for general study.
- Writing or Speaking: find out which of the four criteria held the band down, and work on that one. The writing checker scores each criterion separately, and how IELTS Speaking is scored explains the speaking criteria.
- Listening or Reading: count your errors by question type. The Listening and Reading band score charts show how many more correct answers you need, which is usually two or three.
A retake taken without changing anything usually returns the same score.
Sources
- IELTS One Skill Retake Official eligibility rules: a full IELTS on computer test at a centre that offers the retake, one retake per original test, taken within 60 days, results in three to five days, and a new Test Report Form.
- IDP IELTS Bangladesh: exam fee Published One Skill Retake fee in Bangladesh.
- IDP IELTS Vietnam: fees Published One Skill Retake fee in Vietnam.
Last reviewed October 5, 2026. See our editorial policy for how guides are checked and corrected.
Frequently asked questions
- What is IELTS One Skill Retake?
- It is a way to retake one of the four skills, Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking, instead of the whole test. You keep your other three scores and receive a new Test Report Form showing the new score beside them.
- How many times can I use IELTS One Skill Retake?
- Once for each original test. If the retake does not give you the score you need, the next step is a full test. You cannot retake a second skill from the same original test.
- How soon must I take the One Skill Retake?
- Within 60 days of your original test day. The retake has to be sat inside that period, not just booked, so decide quickly once your results arrive.
- Can I use One Skill Retake after a paper-based IELTS test?
- No. The original test must have been IELTS on computer, taken at a centre that offers One Skill Retake. Check that your centre offers it before you book your full test.
- What happens if my One Skill Retake score is lower?
- You are not forced to use it. You receive a new Test Report Form, and you can choose whether to use the original form or the new one.
- Do universities and visa offices accept One Skill Retake?
- Many do and some do not. IELTS recommends checking with the organisation directly before you book. Do this first, because a retake result that your organisation will not accept is money and time lost.