Your IELTS results – when and how to get your IELTS score

Please note: Paper copy of the TRF cannot be collected in person at the test centre

For IELTS on Paper: We will send your TRF by courier within 7 days to the mailing address in your profile. There is no electronic TRF available for download.

For IELTS on Computer: We encourage you to download your electronic TRF from the Test Taker Portal. No paper TRF will be sent to you by default unless you have previously requested it. Thank you for helping to reduce paper usage and support the environment. If your schools, institutions, or recognizing organizations requires a paper TRF, you may request for the delivery service as described in the below section. However, If you still wish to have a paper TRF and did not request one before, please submit a delivery request here within 2 days from your result releases, and we will send it to the mailing address in your profile.

Test Taker Portal

Regardless of whether you attended IELTS on Paper or Computer, you can request to send your TRF to Schools/Institutions/Recognizing Organizations in paper or electronic format within 2 years. You can place the request in the Test Taker Portal. The first 5 paper TRF copies are free of charge, while electronic TRFs are free, allowing organizations to check your score instantly via the IELTS verification system.

For free printed copies, we will send them out by regular local or air mail (without tracking numbers provided). 

Our Exams Office will process all requests within five to seven working days. 

Test Taker Portal

Administrative fee for additional TRF or sending with a courier tracking number:  

Electronic copy	Free of charge
Printed copy to local Hong Kong addresses	HKD$150 per copy
Printed copy to overseas addresses	HKD$300 per copy

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 so you get an IELTS Listening score, an IELTS Reading score, an IELTS Writing score and an IELTS Speaking score. You also get 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 IELTS score means here.

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.

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:

You can submit and pay for an Enquiry on Results online from the Test Taker Portal.

The fee for this service is HK$1,200, which will be refunded if your score is increased for any section of the test.

An administrative fee would apply for the courier service of sending a new Test Report Form, depending on the delivery 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. 

Test Taker Portal

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.

IELTS One Skill Retake is a new feature designed to help you get your desired test score without retaking the full test. If you want to improve your score on one test skill, you can retake any of the four IELTS components – Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking. 

IELTS One Skill Retake is available for  

• IELTS Academic and General Training on computer
• IELTS for UKVI (Academic and General Training) on computer. 

Conditions to book IELTS One Skill Retake  

• You can book the test if you’ve recently completed a full test – IELTS on Computer or IELTS for UKVI on computer.
• You must also have received your results from a test centre that offers IELTS One Skill Retake. 
• You can only retake one skill once per original test, and you must sit the IELTS One Skill Retake within 60 days of your original test.

Please refer to https://www.britishcouncil.hk/en/exam/ielts/one-skill-retake for more information