How to send IELTS scores to universities
Sending IELTS scores to universities: how your test centre sends the Test Report Form, how many recipients you can nominate, extra TRFs, and online verification.
You don't post your own copy. When you register you nominate recipient organisations — often up to five — and your test centre sends each an official Test Report Form, by post or electronically. Afterwards you can request additional copies for a fee, and many universities verify your result online instead.
You never post your own IELTS result to a university — your test centre sends it, or the institution verifies it electronically. When you register you nominate the organisations that should receive your Test Report Form, and after results you can send more. Here is exactly how the process works, and what to check before you rely on it.
How to send your IELTS scores, step by step
The order matters: nominating recipients when you book is free, while chasing copies afterwards costs time and a fee.
Check each university's method
Read the course admissions page and note whether it wants a TRF sent by the centre, accepts your own copy, or verifies results online.
Nominate recipients when you register
List your target organisations on your booking so the test centre sends each an official TRF at no extra charge — commonly up to five.
Wait for results to be issued
Recipients cannot receive anything until your result is released; electronic recipients typically see it sooner than posted copies arrive.
Request additional TRFs if needed
For universities you didn't nominate, ask your test centre to send extra forms; an administration fee applies and the centre delivers them directly.
Share your details for online verification
Give recognising organisations your TRF or candidate number so they can confirm your score through the official verification service.
Send within the validity window
Results are usually valid for about two years; make sure you send or verify before your result — or the institution's own recency rule — expires.
How your results reach a university
IELTS results are reported on a Test Report Form (TRF), and the official copy that counts is the one your test centre issues — not a scan or photocopy you make yourself. When you register for the test you can nominate recipient organisations, and the centre sends each of them a TRF on your behalf. Most candidates can list a set number of recipients — commonly up to five — at no extra charge, so add your target universities before test day rather than after.
Delivery is by post or, where the recipient is set up for it, electronically. Increasingly, universities and immigration bodies do not wait for paper at all: they check your result directly through the official IELTS online verification service, using your candidate details. That means for many institutions you simply quote your TRF or candidate number and they confirm the score themselves.
Requesting extra copies after your results
If you did not nominate a university when you registered, or you decide to apply somewhere new, you can ask your test centre to send an additional TRF. The centre posts or delivers it to the institution directly; you are not usually issued more copies of your own personal TRF to forward yourself. An administration fee is normally retained for each additional form, and the exact amount is set by your test centre — check it at source.
There is a window for this. Results are typically valid for about two years, and additional TRFs can usually be requested while the result is still current. Institutions may also set their own recency rule — some want a result from within the last year or two — so confirm the deadline that applies to you before assuming an older score will be accepted.
Check what each university actually requires
The safest first step is to read the admissions page for your specific course. Some universities want the TRF sent directly by the test centre; some accept your personal copy; many now prefer or require electronic verification and will not process a posted form. Choosing the wrong method can delay an application, so let the institution's instructions decide how you send the score, not a general assumption.
Because the recipient allowance, delivery methods and fees are set by your test partner — the British Council, IDP or their local centre — and by the institution itself, treat this page as the stable structure and verify the live details on the official sources below.
How your result can reach an institution
Four routes, and what each asks of you. The recipient allowance, fees and delivery options are set by your test partner and the institution — verify the live details officially.
| Route | What happens | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Nominated at registration | Your test centre sends an official TRF to each organisation you listed when booking — by post, or electronically where the recipient accepts e-delivery. | List your target universities (commonly up to five) on your application before test day. |
| Additional TRF after results | You ask the centre to send a further official TRF to a university you did not nominate; it is delivered to the institution, not to you. | Request it from your test centre while your result is valid — an administration fee is retained. |
| Online verification | Many universities and immigration bodies confirm your result directly through the official IELTS verification service. | Give the institution your TRF or candidate number; often no posted copy is needed. |
| Your personal copy | You receive one TRF for your own records. | Check the institution's rules before sending it yourself — many require the centre to send or verify officially. |
The number of free recipients, delivery methods and any fees are set by your test partner (British Council or IDP) and the receiving institution — always confirm the current details at source.
Common questions
How many universities can I send my IELTS results to for free?
When you register you can usually nominate a set number of recipient organisations — commonly up to five — and your test centre sends each an official TRF at no extra charge. The exact allowance is set by your test partner, so confirm the current number when you book.
Can I send my IELTS scores after I receive my results?
Yes. If you did not nominate a university at registration, ask your test centre to send an additional Test Report Form. The centre delivers it to the institution directly, an administration fee is normally retained, and you can usually request it while your result is still valid.
Do universities accept a photocopy of my Test Report Form?
Often not on its own. Many institutions require the TRF to be sent by the test centre, or verify your result electronically, precisely to confirm it is genuine. Some accept your personal copy — always follow the admissions page for your specific course rather than assuming.
How do universities verify IELTS scores?
Many recognising organisations check results directly through the official IELTS online verification service, entering your candidate or TRF details to see the authenticated score. For those institutions you simply provide your number, and no posted copy is needed.
How long can I use my IELTS result to apply?
IELTS results are typically valid for about two years, and you can usually send or verify scores throughout that period. Individual universities may apply a stricter recency rule, so check both the general validity window and the institution's own 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.