Siddharth scored 7.5 in Listening and Reading but 5.5 in Writing — a full band below his recent examiner-marked practice essays. His first thought was to request an IELTS revaluation. Is he right?

An Enquiry on Results is a paid re-mark of one or more skills by a senior examiner. You must apply within 6 weeks of your test date, and the fee is refunded if your score goes up. It is most worth considering when one skill — usually Writing or Speaking — is clearly below your consistent level.

What Is an Enquiry on Results?

In India, candidates often call this process revaluation, but the official name is Enquiry on Results (EOR). You can ask for a single skill or any combination of the four to be re-marked.

IELTS says senior examiners re-mark without knowing your first marks. IDP India says a re-marked result is final.

Incorrect: “Revaluation always increases the score.”

Correct: The score can be confirmed or changed; it is not a guaranteed upgrade.

When an Enquiry on Results Is Worth It

A re-mark makes sense in these cases:

  • Writing or Speaking is the outlier: These skills are marked by trained examiners against the band descriptors, so a different result is more plausible.
  • One skill is 0.5 short: The other skills already meet your requirement, and half a band more in this skill would meet it too.
  • Practice evidence is clear: If examiner-marked practice essays consistently came out at Band 6.5, a 5.5 is out of line.

Incorrect: “Listening re-marks often change the result.”

Correct: Listening and Reading are marked objectively, so they are less likely to change.

When You Should Avoid a Re-mark

An Enquiry on Results is unlikely to help if two or more skills fall short, or if the result matches your recent practice scores. Answer sheets are confidential, so a re-mark will not show you what went wrong.

Timing also matters: IELTS says a re-mark result normally takes 2 to 21 days. If your deadline is days away, waiting carries risk. Our guide to IELTS results and validity explains when scores arrive.

Enquiry on Results vs One Skill Retake

If you took computer-delivered IELTS, you can choose between a re-mark and retaking one skill.

Enquiry on Results One Skill Retake
Best when You think the marking was wrong Your performance was the problem
What happens Senior examiner re-marks your test You sit one skill again
Deadline Within 6 weeks of the test Within 60 days of the test
Cost ₹14,250, refunded if score rises ₹12,650
Available for All IELTS tests Computer-delivered only

Those are IDP India’s October 2026 fees for IELTS on Computer; confirm them before paying.

If your performance was the problem, for example you ran out of time on Task 2, an IELTS One Skill Retake is more likely to help than a re-mark. Check first that your organisation accepts retake results; IRCC, for example, does not accept One Skill Retake for Express Entry. You can retake only once per original test.

If Academic Writing is your weak skill, our guide to describing graphs, charts and tables covers Task 1.

Tip

Before paying, check your Writing or Speaking performance against the four marking criteria and ask a trainer for an honest opinion.

A 3-Question Decision Checklist

Before applying, ask yourself three questions:

  1. Is one skill clearly out of line with your usual level?
  2. Is that skill Writing or Speaking?
  3. Can your schedule wait up to three weeks for the result?

Three yeses mean an Enquiry on Results is worth considering. With a “no”, a retake may be the better route.

Siddharth answers yes to the first two. The third depends on his deadline.

Key Takeaways

  • Apply for an Enquiry on Results within 6 weeks of your test date.
  • IDP India refunds the fee if your result changes to a higher band.
  • Writing and Speaking are more likely to change than Listening or Reading.
  • Scores can be confirmed or changed, but are not guaranteed to rise.
  • A re-marked result is final.

The bottom line: Consider an Enquiry on Results when one skill, usually Writing or Speaking, is clearly below your usual level and your deadline can wait for the result.