IELTS One Skill Retake: how it works and who accepts it
IELTS One Skill Retake lets you re-sit one of Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking within 60 days of an IELTS on computer test, once per full test. The new Test Report Form shows the retaken score with your three original scores. UK Visas and Immigration and Australia's Home Affairs accept it; IRCC does not accept it for Express Entry.
Verified against the linked official sources on 22 September 2026.
What is IELTS One Skill Retake?
If you miss a target in one module, you can retake just that module instead of the whole test. It is available for Academic and General Training, but only when the original test was IELTS on computer; paper tests are not eligible. You must book and complete the retake within 60 days of the original test date, and you get one retake per full test. Results come in three to five days. Full rules are on ielts.org.
How much does One Skill Retake cost?
Pricing is set per country. Published fees we verified: AUD 310 in Australia (IDP, updated March 2026) and INR 12,650 in India (IDP India). In Nepal, IDP offers it in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan without publishing the fee online. For the UK and other countries, check your test centre; ielts.org says prices vary by location.
Is One Skill Retake accepted for UK, Australia and Canada visas?
United Kingdom: yes. The UK government approved One Skill Retake for Secure English Language Test purposes in October 2023, for Academic and General Training on computer in selected locations (IELTS news).
Australia: yes. The Home Affairs approved-test list reads "IELTS Academic, including One Skill Retake" and the same for General Training, for eligible visas (Home Affairs, updated February 2026).
Canada: no for Express Entry. IRCC states it does not accept One Skill Retake for Express Entry; it is accepted only for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (IRCC). Study permits depend on what your designated learning institution accepts.
New Zealand: all universities accept it, per an IELTS announcement in October 2024.
What the new Test Report Form looks like
The retake TRF has a new number, is marked "IELTS One Skill Retake", flags the retaken skill, and recalculates the overall band from the four scores. It keeps the original test date at the top, so the two-year validity does not restart. You choose whether to use the original or the retake TRF. Organisations verify either through the IELTS Results Service (details).
Is it worth it?
It is worth it when one skill is clearly below the others and the gap is half a band. It is not a substitute for preparation: you get one attempt inside 60 days, at roughly two-thirds the price of a full test. Take a scored mock of that one module first so you know the gap is closable before you pay.
Know your target? Check where you stand
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Start a free scored IELTS mockFrequently asked questions
Can I do One Skill Retake after a paper-based IELTS?
No. Only IELTS on computer tests are eligible.
How many times can I retake one skill?
Once per full IELTS test, within 60 days of the original test.
Does IRCC accept IELTS One Skill Retake?
Not for Express Entry. IRCC accepts it only for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot.
Does the retake give me a new IELTS validity period?
No. The new TRF keeps the original test date, so validity still runs from the first test.