What happened?
IELTS has identified a technical issue that has led to some test takers receiving incorrect results. All affected test takers have been contacted by email.
Are all results affected?
No. Over 99% of test takers remain unaffected. Those who were affected have been emailed. If you have not heard from us, your result is not affected. If you have any questions not answered in this FAQ, please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page.
When will IELTS have notified all test-takers impacted by this issue?
All test takers affected by this issue have now been contacted.
Has everyone impacted by this issue (either a component score change or band change) been contacted by IELTS?
Yes, all affected test takers have been contacted by IELTS with further information on how to access their revised scores. If you have not been contacted, your results are not affected.
Will this issue affect future IELTS tests?
No. The identified issue has been fully resolved, and additional safeguards are now in place to prevent it from happening again.
I saw a post on social media about incorrect results. What does this mean?
IELTS has identified an issue that has led to some test takers receiving incorrect results. Over 99% of test takers remain unaffected with those who were affected having been contacted via email. If you have not heard from us, your results are not affected. If you need further support, please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page.
The email I received looks suspicious. Is it a scam or genuine communication?
Please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page. and our team will be able to confirm if your email is genuine.
I no longer have access to my registered emails. How do I know if my score has been impacted?
To check if your score is impacted please log into your Test Taker portal. If you no longer have access to your registered email please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page and they will be able to provide further support on how to access your scores and change your email address.
Is the notice available in my language?
Please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page to request translated materials.
Is the notice available in a different format (e.g. large print, braille)?
Please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page and they will look into your request further.
Was my personal data shared incorrectly?
This issue was an internal technical system issue causing incorrect scores which have been corrected. All affected test takers have been contacted directly by IELTS, with any personal data being shared in accordance with our data policy.
When you say technical issue, do you mean a cyber security breach? Is my data safe?
The technical issue was internal and was not caused by any cybersecurity breach. Your personal data remains secure and protected against unauthorised use or access.
What changes were made in my record?
All affected test takers have been contacted directly by IELTS with information about the issue and how they can access their revised scores.
Is this related to the Test Centres?
No, this issue is not related to your Test Centre or your experience on test day. It was caused by an internal technical issue within IELTS, which has now been fully resolved. Your Test Centre and test-day arrangements were not involved in this matter.
How will I receive my corrected scores?
You can access your revised scores in your Test Taker portal. A link to the portal was shared in the email you received about this issue. If you have any further questions, please contact your relevant partner via our Contact Us page and they will respond to your request.
What are my new scores?
You can access your revised scores in your Test Taker portal. A link to the test taker portal with a link provided in the email you received about this issue. If you have any further questions, please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page and they will respond to your request.
Why has my score gone down after correction?
All affected test takers have been contacted directly by IELTS with information about the issue and their revised scores. If you have any further questions, please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page.
Can I keep my original higher score?
All test takers affected by this issue have been contacted directly with their revised scores. These scores are final. If you have any further questions, please contact your relevant partner organisation via our our Contact Us page.
My result has been corrected — how do I confirm it’s now final?
All affected test takers have been contacted directly by IELTS with information about the issue and their revised scores have been posted to the results portal. These scores are final. Please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page if you need further clarification.
Can I have written confirmation that the new score is accurate?
All affected test takers have been contacted directly by IELTS with information about the issue and their revised scores. If you require a letter for an employer, university or immigration authority, please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page.
Why is my corrected result delayed when others already have theirs?
Please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page and they will look into this for you.
Why is my result not available online?
Please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page and they will look into this for you.
I did not receive a notification, but my result has changed. What does this mean?
Please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page and they will be able to provide further assistance.
Why didn’t you contact me at the time if my result was wrong?
At the time of your test, we were unaware of the error. As soon as the issue was discovered, IELTS launched a thorough investigation into the cause and the full impact of the issue to ensure no current or future test takers would be affected, and to rectify the issue for those impacted.
I have taken multiple IELTS tests. How do I know which test is affected?
All affected test takers have been contacted directly by IELTS with information about the issue. You can access your revised scores in your Test Taker portal. You can find the link to the portal in the email you received.
Will I receive a new Test Report Form (TRF)?
All affected test takers will receive a new official Test Report Form which will be available in your test taker portal, reflecting the corrected score. This will replace your previous version. Please refer to the details in your notification email on how to view and download them.
I received two TRFs with different scores — which one is correct?
Please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page if you need additional information on your scores and TRFs.
My score has changed but can I still use my old Test Report Form?
No. If your score has changed you will need to use your new Test Report Form, as the original one will no longer be valid. You can access this via your Test Taker portal.
I have changed my name. Can you update my name on my new TRF?
No, it is IELTS policy that name changes cannot be made to TRFs. They must be issued in the name of the identity document that was used when registering for the test to comply with government, institution and authorised partner requirements.
I took a One Skill Retake test before I received the notification. What happens now?
Please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page and they will provide further guidance.
My results are currently being withheld. Is it because of this issue?
If you have taken a test after September 2025 and you are experiencing an issue with your results, please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page.
How long will my corrected score be valid for?
IELTS partners recommend your test results are usually valid for two years (which would be the date from your test). This is because your language skills can change over time.
However, each organisation is different. You should ask the organisation you are applying to how long they accept IELTS scores after your test.
To learn more about the two-year recommendation, please visit IELTS | Research report - Review of Recommended 2-year Limit on IELTS…
I’ve already sent my result for a university/visa/work application. What do I do?
You should contact the organisation that you submitted your original application to. If you need any supporting documentation or a letter explaining what’s happened for an institution or authority, please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page and they will provide further support.
Can you help with my university/visa/work application?
Whilst we are unable to directly assist with your university/visa/work application, we can offer assistance by providing you with a formal letter advising of the issue and the impact to you. Please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page and they will provide further assistance.
Does my university/employer/immigration authority already know about this issue?
If you have shared your result with a recognising organisation, they would have received a formal notification about this issue. Please contact your university/immigration authority/employer directly if you wish to discuss your application further.
My university/employer/immigration authority has already seen the wrong score. Can you send a correction?
If you have shared your result with a recognising organisation, they would have received a formal notification about this issue. Please contact your university/immigration authority/employer directly if you wish to discuss your application further.
Can I get an official statement confirming the issue?
Please contact your relevant partner organisation via our Contact Us page and they will be able to provide a letter you can send to your institution outlining the error, if required.
Who is accountable for this?
This was an internal IELTS issue. IELTS launched a thorough investigation to determine the cause and full impact and to ensure that no current or future test takers would be affected. We have also worked to resolve the issue for those who were affected.
Why should I trust IELTS?
We follow strict quality control procedures and integrity management practices to ensure every IELTS test is fair and accurate. This includes checking for any mistakes in how tests are handled or scored, which is how this issue was identified. Please be assured that we have handled this matter with the highest level of care and priority and have taken all necessary steps to prevent this issue from happening again.