A large-scale new study examining the outcomes of IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) has found that the option is helping test takers address unexpected underperformance in a single test component while maintaining score patterns comparable to traditional IELTS retesting.
The study, published in Language Testing, analysed the results of more than 20,000 IELTS One Skill Retake test takers from almost 100 countries, alongside survey responses from 578 candidates about their experiences.
The findings provide new evidence about how test takers use One Skill Retake and the role it can play in helping candidates demonstrate their English language ability when circumstances on test day may not reflect their true skill levels.
Why One Skill Retake is important
Many education institutions, professional bodies and migration authorities require both an overall IELTS score and minimum scores in individual skills. This means a candidate may achieve a strong overall result but still miss a requirement because of a lower score in a single component.
Introduced in 2022, IELTS One Skill Retake allows eligible test takers to retake one component, either Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking, within 60 days of their original test. The new score replaces the original score for that skill, while the remaining three component scores remain unchanged.
The research explored whether One Skill Retake functions as intended: providing candidates with an opportunity to demonstrate their ability again if factors such as anxiety, illness or fatigue affected their performance in one skill.
Most candidates retake their lowest-scoring skill
The study found that candidates use One Skill Retake in a highly targeted way.
More than 90% of test takers chose to retake the skill in which they received their lowest score, while only a small proportion selected their highest-scoring component. Writing and Reading were the most frequently retaken skills globally.
The findings suggest candidates are primarily using One Skill Retake to address a score they believe does not accurately reflect their performance, rather than attempting to maximise already strong results.
Anxiety, stress and fatigue influence performance
When asked why they believed they had not achieved their desired score in their original test, candidates most commonly cited insufficient preparation, stress and anxiety, and fatigue or lack of focus.
These findings reinforce previous research showing that test performance can be influenced by temporary factors that are not directly related to underlying language proficiency.
For many candidates, One Skill Retake was viewed as an opportunity to provide a more representative demonstration of their ability under improved circumstances.
Meaningful improvements in retaken skills
Across all four skills, average One Skill Retake scores were higher than the corresponding scores achieved in the original test. The largest average increase was seen in Listening, followed by Reading, Speaking and Writing.
The study also found that just over half of surveyed test takers reported achieving their desired target score through One Skill Retake, with Listening candidates reporting the highest success rates.
Importantly, most candidates chose to retake relatively quickly after their original test rather than waiting close to the full 60-day period available. On average, candidates completed their retake within a month.
Supporting fairness while maintaining confidence in scores
A key finding of the research was that overall IELTS score changes for One Skill Retake candidates were similar to those observed among candidates who retook the full IELTS test within a comparable timeframe. Both groups recorded an average increase of around 0.15 bands in their overall score.
This suggests that One Skill Retake does not produce unusually different outcomes from traditional retesting while offering a more targeted and efficient pathway for candidates who narrowly miss a requirement in a single skill.
The researchers conclude that the findings are broadly consistent with the rationale behind One Skill Retake: providing a fair way for candidates to address underperformance in a single component while preserving confidence in the interpretation and use of IELTS scores.
About the research
The study, Outcomes of One-Skill Retakes in a Four-Skills Proficiency Test: Evidence from Large-Scale Test Data, analysed operational IELTS data from the launch of One Skill Retake through to Spring 2024, covering more than 20,000 test takers globally. The research also included surveys and interviews with candidates who had used the One Skill Retake option.