How to apply for an IELTS re-mark (Enquiry on Results)
How to apply for an IELTS re-mark: request an Enquiry on Results through your centre within six weeks, choose the sections, and reclaim the fee if a band rises.
An Enquiry on Results (EOR) is IELTS's official re-mark. Apply through the test centre that delivered your test, within about six weeks of your test date, choosing which sections to re-check. You pay a re-mark fee up front; if any queried band goes up, the fee is refunded in full.
If your IELTS result came in just below the band you needed, you do not have to resit the whole test straight away. IELTS offers an official re-mark — an Enquiry on Results, or EOR — where a senior examiner reviews the marking of the sections you nominate. Here is how the process works, what the fee-and-refund rule really means, and when a re-mark is worth requesting.
How to apply for an IELTS re-mark, step by step
The route is the same wherever you sat: you apply through your own test centre, not through a central website. Move quickly, because the deadline is tied to your test date.
Check your bands first
Read your Test Report Form and work out exactly how far each section is from what you need. A re-mark is worth it when you are within a half-band of a required score.
Apply within the deadline
Contact the test centre that delivered your test and submit its Enquiry on Results form within about six weeks of your test date.
Choose which sections to re-mark
Nominate the module or modules you want re-checked — Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking. You need not query the whole test.
Pay the re-mark fee
Pay the fee up front. It is held while the review runs, not spent — you get it back if a queried band goes up.
Wait for the outcome
A senior examiner re-marks the sections you nominated. This takes a set window, typically a few weeks, published by your test partner.
Receive the result
If any queried band increases, a corrected Test Report Form is issued and your fee is refunded. If nothing changes, your original result stands.
What an Enquiry on Results actually is
An Enquiry on Results, usually shortened to EOR, is a re-mark of the test you already sat — not a new test. You do not answer any new questions; a senior examiner re-assesses the work you produced on the day, whether that is your Listening and Reading answers, your Writing scripts, or the recording of your Speaking interview. It is the formal route for challenging a band you believe was marked too low.
That makes it different from a retake. A retake — or a One Skill Retake, where your test partner offers it — means sitting a module again from scratch and having a fresh performance marked. An EOR keeps your original performance and simply has it looked at again by a more senior examiner. Choose an EOR when you think the marking, rather than your performance, cost you the band.
Which modules to send for re-marking
When you apply you nominate which sections to re-mark — one, several, or all four. There is no obligation to query the whole test, and it is usually wiser not to: query only the sections where you are genuinely within a half-band of the score you need.
It helps to know how each module is marked. Listening and Reading are scored against a fixed answer key, so a re-mark mainly checks for a clerical or data-entry slip rather than a matter of judgement. Writing and Speaking are marked by an examiner against the band descriptors, which leaves more room for a second senior examiner to reach a different view. That is why re-marks are most often requested — and most often make a difference — on Writing and Speaking.
The fee, the refund and the timeline
A re-mark carries a fee, and you pay it when you apply. Treat it as a deposit rather than a charge: if the enquiry raises any of the bands you queried, the fee is refunded to you in full and a corrected Test Report Form is issued. If no queried score changes, your original result stands and the fee is retained as an administration cost. Because the amount is set by your test partner and can change, check the live figure on the official EOR page rather than relying on a number you saw elsewhere.
The review takes longer than the original result wait — a set window published by your test partner, typically a few weeks rather than days. You apply through the test centre that delivered your test, using its Enquiry on Results application form, and you must do so within about six weeks of your test date. Miss that deadline and the option closes, so decide quickly once your result is out.
What the re-mark outcome means for your score and your fee
The logic is simple: the fee is only kept if nothing changes. This structure is stable — the exact fee and the review window are set by your test partner, so confirm both on the official EOR page.
| If the re-mark finds… | Your result | The re-mark fee |
|---|---|---|
| A higher band in a section you queried | That score is raised and a corrected Test Report Form is issued | Refunded in full |
| No change in any section you queried | Your original scores stand | Retained as an administration fee |
You can nominate one section or several; the fee covers the enquiry. The amount and the exact turnaround are set by British Council or IDP and change over time — always check the current figures on the official EOR page before applying.
Common questions
Can my IELTS score go down after a re-mark?
In practice the reported outcomes of an Enquiry on Results are that a queried band is raised or left unchanged, which is why the fee is refunded only when a score increases. The exact terms are set by your test partner, so confirm on the official EOR page before you apply.
How much does an Enquiry on Results cost, and do I get it back?
A re-mark fee is charged up front and refunded in full if any section you queried scores higher; it is retained as an administration fee if nothing changes. The amount is set by your test centre and changes over time, so check the current figure on the official EOR page rather than any third-party quote.
How long does an IELTS re-mark take?
Longer than the original result — a set window published by your test partner, usually a few weeks rather than days, because a senior examiner re-marks each section you nominated. The exact turnaround is set by British Council or IDP, so treat any timeframe as something to verify at source.
Should I request a re-mark or retake the test?
Request a re-mark when you were within a half-band of what you needed and believe the marking under-scored you, especially on Writing or Speaking. If you need a larger improvement, a retake — or a One Skill Retake where it is offered — is the better route, because it marks a fresh performance rather than reviewing the old one.
Which modules should I ask to re-mark?
You can nominate any or all of the four. Because Writing and Speaking are judged against descriptors, they shift on re-mark more often than the key-marked Listening and Reading. Query only the sections where you are close to a required band, so the enquiry is focused where it can actually help.
How do I apply for an IELTS re-mark?
Through the test centre that delivered your test, using its Enquiry on Results application form — the process runs via your centre, not a central website. Submit it within about six weeks of your test date and pay the fee at that point. The official IELTS pages link you to the right form and deadline.
Official sources
Confirm the current figures — fees, dates and exact policies — on the official sites, which set them.
Prepare for the test itself — full timed mocks in the real computer-delivered interface.
Start a mock testReviewed 10 September 2026. Procedures follow the official IELTS partners; always confirm current fees and dates on the sources above.