Not getting the expected IELTS score? Have a read and see how you might be able to change that with IELTS Remark.
What is IELTS Remark?
An IELTS remark refers to the appeal process you can request if you think you should have received a higher mark (or received an incorrect mark). This could be due to yourself believing you have done better in the exam, or the examiner had unfairly marked you for various reasons. In short, if you are not happy with your IELTS scores, you can ask the examiners to mark it again with a fee.
You can expect three different results from an IELTS Remark: Increased score, same score, or lowered score.
However, realistically speaking, only about 1% of IELTS remark resulted in lowered score, so students can expect either their score to increase or stay the same.
When should I consider an IELTS Remark?
1. You have spent time to become well-prepared, but the score is lower than last time.
If you have put real efforts to improve your IELTS skills such as using our free tests, and could see that your mock exam scores are raising, then you should consider doing a remark if your IELTS test did not give you an improved score.
2. You feel you have done well during the exam, and the result is just lower than expected.
You could have had a wonderful session with the speaking examiner and both of you laughed and enjoyed the time. Your speaking was fluent, no major grammatical errors, logic was clear, use of words and sentences were correct. You have asked others to look at your writing before taking the exam and you felt very comfortable when writing the essay. Your mock exams in other areas were pretty good as well. If you are still getting a lower mark than expected, ask for a remark!
3. Big differences in scores between the 4 modules.
If you have prepared your IELTS evenly in the 4 modules (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing), then you should not see a gap between the highest and lowest score being larger than 2. For example, your reading is 7, but writing is 4.5. Improving one area should almost always indirectly improve the other three areas, so if this is you, requesting a remark might be worth it.
3 Things you should know before the Remark
1. How much does it cost?
Different test centres will have different fee for the IELTS Remark, so check with the centre where you have taken the exam.
The price is the same for remarking one module and four modules, so it is best to request to remark all four. If any of the score of your modules changes, your remark fee will be refunded.
2. When can you request a remark?
The deadline for requesting a IELTS remark is within 4 weeks after receiving your IELTS scores. It will then take up to 6 weeks for the examiners to complete the remark.
3. What does the process look like?
a. After receiving your IELTS score, apply the remark online.
b. Wait up to 6 weeks for the examiners to finish the remark.
c. Receive new IELTS result, with one of two outcomes: increased score, or same score (or in the unlikely event, lowered score).
d. If your score has changed, you will receive a new IELTS certificate, and the remark fee will be refund to you.
One more thing to consider
Although requesting a remark and having the possibility for a higher score sounds like a no brainer, you still need to consider the time cost.
You cannot use your IELTS score to apply for universities or visa during the remark period. So if you need to use your IELTS score pretty soon, don't apply for the remark. Delaying a few weeks to get a new IELTS score could mean missing the chance to go to your dream university.
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Hope you can achieve your target score in the upcoming exam! If you need a little boost to improve your IELTS skills, check out our premium service page where our IELTS examiners can provide one-to-one tuition service:
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