OSR Strategy Kit: Smart Use of IELTS One Skill Retake
One Skill Retake, OSR, lets you re sit a single IELTS skill, Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking, instead of the whole test. It is available for IELTS on Computer at selected centres, including in Bangladesh, and must be taken within 60 days of your original test date. You get a new Test Report Form for the retaken skill and can still use your original scores if you prefer. Acceptance varies by organisation, so you must check first.
Checklist with do and avoid lists
Eligibility and timing
Do
- Confirm you sat IELTS on Computer at a centre that offers OSR. IDP IELTS India
- Book within 60 days of your first test date. Set a calendar alert for day 45 as a safety buffer. British Council
- Use the same valid ID you used for the original test. If it will expire, schedule OSR before that date. British Council
Avoid
- Booking OSR after you request a remark, EOR. If you file EOR on the full test, wait for the result before registering OSR. IDP IELTS India
- Assuming every university accepts OSR. Always verify on the official acceptance list or with admissions. British Council+1
Acceptance and booking
Do
- Check whether your target university or body accepts OSR. Use the published acceptance pages. British Council+1
- Log in to your Test Taker Portal. Click Retake next to the skill you want. You can book OSR once per full test. British Council
- Expect the format and timing to match the normal module for that skill. Prepare accordingly. British Council+1
Avoid
- Counting on a specific fee. Prices vary by location and provider. Check your centre’s price before you plan. IDP IELTS India
- Switching skills after booking without checking rules. You may need to cancel then rebook. British Council
Two week tune up plan, Bangladesh friendly
Goal: add the missing half band by targeted practice, not volume.
Days 1 to 3
- Diagnose precisely. Re do one timed set for the weak skill and list three repeat errors.
- Create a 10 item fix list, for example articles and plural endings in Writing, map logic in Reading, number traps in Listening, or cleaner endings in Speaking.
Days 4 to 7
- Run daily 30 minute focused drills.
- Listening, Section type you missed, underline totals, negatives, and units before audio. Target plus 3 raw answers.
- Reading, map the passage first, title then first and last lines, then answer ordered types in order.
- Writing Task 2, use claim plus reason plus example plus limit. Keep to 250 to 290 words.
- Speaking Part 2 and 3, use a hook plus one example plus a clear end line.
Days 8 to 10
- Full module rehearsal twice. Same timing as the real test.
- Add one measurable upgrade per run, for example one number or condition line in Writing, or one fewer repeated linker in Speaking.
Days 11 to 14
- Light review and sleep routine. One short rehearsal two days before OSR, then rest.
Small case, Dhaka candidate
Samiha sat IELTS on Computer in Dhaka. Scores, L 7.5, R 7.0, W 6.0, S 7.0. Her university needs Overall 7.0 with Writing 6.5. She checks the acceptance page, confirms OSR is fine, and books Writing OSR in her portal on day 32. For two weeks she drills task response and articles, and practises two essays under 35 minutes. She scores Writing 6.5 in OSR, downloads the new electronic TRF, and submits it while keeping the original scores unchanged for the other skills. British Council
Quick wins by skill
- Listening: write in capitals, confirm units, skip if lost and rejoin at the next question group.
- Reading: spend 60 to 90 seconds mapping, then go straight to the question type order.
- Writing: one clear claim per body paragraph plus one number or condition line.
- Speaking: answer with CIRCLE, claim, reason 1, reason 2, example, limit, end line.
Benchmarks
- Aim for plus 2 to plus 4 raw answers in L or R compared with your first test.
- Aim for one cleaner paragraph structure in W and one tighter ending in S.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until day 58 to book. Centres can fill. Book by day 30 to 45. British Council
- Assuming OSR is available for paper based tests. OSR is for computer delivered tests at selected centres. British Council+1
- Forgetting that acceptance varies. Some bodies accept OSR, others do not. Always verify. IDP IELTS India
Edge cases
- ID expired after the first test: you cannot take OSR with an expired ID. Book OSR before the expiry. British Council
- Switching providers: you must book OSR with the same provider brand as your original test, for example IDP to IDP. IDP IELTS India
- EOR plus OSR: if you request EOR, wait for the outcome before booking OSR against the same test. IDP IELTS India
OSR vs full retake, quick table
| Item | OSR | Full retake |
|---|---|---|
| Skills tested | One skill | All four |
| Time window | Within 60 days of original test | Any available date |
| Availability | Selected computer centres | Paper or computer, wider |
| TRF result | New TRF for retaken skill, old three unchanged | New TRF for all four |
| Acceptance | Organisation specific, must check | Widely accepted |
Sources for rules, timing, format, and acceptance checks. British Council+1
Mini glossary
- OSR: One Skill Retake. Re sit one IELTS skill within 60 days. British Council
- TRF: Test Report Form. Your official score report. OSR issues a new TRF for the retaken skill. IDP IELTS India
- EOR: Enquiry on Results. Formal remark request on the full test. It may affect OSR timing. IDP IELTS India
- IELTS on Computer: Computer delivered test format, required for OSR. British Council