Insider's Journey

Not satisfied with the result of the first test, I decided to register to retake an IELTS skill test (OSR).

Candidates practice speaking skills via computer with foreigners

Even though I have the opportunity to improve my IELTS score without having to retake all 4 skills, I can't help but worry because there is still a possibility that my score will not change or even decrease.

Retake because of the possibility of increasing the score

Compared to the first IELTS test in October, the re-test for speaking skills in early December was somewhat easier because I only had to prepare for the speaking test, instead of reviewing all 4 skills. However, during the 2 months of reviewing for the re-test, I practiced speaking almost continuously, even on topics that I was not interested in, leading to a feeling of boredom every time I practiced.

In general, the process of retaking an IELTS skill (OSR) is almost the same as taking the 4 skills test, the only difference is the registration process and paying a lower fee. The rest of the process, from arriving at the test center to completing the procedures until taking the test, is the same as the first time. And less than 2 days after retaking the test, I received the results via email. In addition to the old score sheet, I was also given a new score sheet, including the retake score for the speaking skill and the scores for the remaining 3 skills from the first test.

Just need to increase 0.5 points in one skill in the retake to meet the requirement and I have reached the desired mark. OSR helps me improve my score in a particular skill, and my overall score in general.

Similarly, seeing the possibility of increasing her score, Ms. Vo Thuc Phuong, Director and Founder of Roomie Study Foreign Language Center (HCMC), retook the speaking test in May. "Because I was only 0.125 points short of achieving 8.0 IELTS, I chose to take the OSR test to help increase my overall score and save money. I chose the speaking test because I made some mistakes the first time I took the test, such as stumbling and my mentality was affected...", Ms. Phuong said.

After retaking the test, Ms. Phuong achieved 7.5 in speaking skills and 8.0 in IELTS.

To prepare for the speaking test, Ms. Phuong said she only reviewed what she had learned instead of learning new knowledge. Ms. Phuong added: "The day before the test, I did relaxing things like watching movies and watching English shows like The Ellen Show . On the day of the test, I imagined myself as the character and Ellen Degeneres as the judge, so I could speak comfortably."

Ho Thanh Thao, an English language student at Ton Duc Thang University, scored 7.5 in her retake of the reading test, which also increased her IELTS score to 7.5, compared to her initial score of 7.0. Thao chose to retake the reading test because she "could master this test better".

"For example, with the listening part, the recording is played only once, requiring candidates to concentrate and react quickly; moreover, the speaking speed in the IELTS listening test is quite fast, making it easy for me to miss important information. Meanwhile, I can be more proactive when doing the reading skills test, such as adjusting my reading speed and re-reading difficult passages," Thao shared.

Candidates take IELTS practice test on computer, familiarize themselves with the exam room environment

What is the best way to improve IELTS score?

Master Pham Nguyen Quynh Anh, Academic Director at The IELTS Workshop, said that candidates should retake a skill if they do not achieve the desired score, in which the skill score they want to retake is 0.5-1.0 lower or when the IELTS score is 0.5 lower than the target or ability.

In the case of a test score of one skill being 1.5 points away from the target, candidates should think carefully, or consider retaking all 4 skills, according to Master Quynh Anh. "Research on IELTS shows that with a normal study frequency of about 2 hours/day, it takes learners 3 months to increase 0.5 points in any skill; while those who spend more time studying than usual can increase 1.0 points. Meanwhile, the time allowed to retake the test is 60 days. To be able to increase 1.5 points in any skill in 2 months is challenging," said Master Quynh Anh.

Meanwhile, Master Khuu Hoang Nhat Minh, CEO of Minh Khuu Academy, an IELTS test preparation expert in Ho Chi Minh City, said that for speaking and writing skills, candidates should consider re-examining before retaking a skill.

"Before the review, candidates need to present their performance on the exam day to the teacher and ask them to evaluate the possibility of increasing their score. Candidates should only retake the exam if the teacher suggests that they cannot increase their score after the review, or if they have reviewed and their score has not increased," said Master Minh. According to Master Minh, the results of listening and reading skills are usually less error-prone, so if the scores of these skills are not as expected, candidates can choose to retake the exam.

Candidates talk with experts at IELTS festival in March

In addition, regarding the resubmission of a skill test result, Master Minh noted: "Some universities in the world still do not accept the OSR test results. Candidates need to check this information on the official website of the school they want to apply to before submitting the re-test result. In addition, candidates also need to consider the cost issue."

Things to know about retaking an IELTS skill

IELTS One Skill Retake, or OSR, is a feature that allows candidates to retake a skill, first launched in Australia in late 2022 and will be available worldwide in 2023. In Vietnam, the Ministry of Education and Training approved this feature and allowed co-owners of the IELTS test in Vietnam to deploy it from April. The OSR test fee is VND 2,940,000.

According to the co-owners of IELTS, after completing the OSR test, candidates will receive a new test result form that displays information about the skills they have retaken, along with the new results of the retaken skills and the results of the 3 previous skills in the first test. The time to receive this new test result form is 3-5 days, similar to the time to receive the results if choosing to take the IELTS test on a computer.

To register for the OSR exam, candidates must also meet all three requirements: having taken the exam at a testing center that provides OSR services; having taken all four skills in the computer-based format and having received official results; and only registering for the OSR feature within 60 days of the first test. Candidates can only retake the exam once, not four times for four different skills.

Ngoc Long

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thi-lai-mot-ky-nang-ielts-hanh-trinh-cua-nguoi-trong-cuoc-185241216073638249.htm