IELTS One Skill Retake Availability 2026: Countries, Centres, and How to Book

Where is IELTS One Skill Retake available in 2026?

One Skill Retake (OSR) is available in 50+ countries as of May 2026, but availability is operator-specific — British Council and IDP roll out OSR independently in each market. This guide is a country-availability reference. For eligibility, fees, and which skill to retake, see the IELTS One Skill Retake complete guide.

Last updated: May 2026. Availability listed below reflects current public information from British Council and IDP test-centre dashboards. Where 2026 status is uncertain, the table flags it as "check operator dashboard" rather than fabricating a confirmation.

What is the difference between OSR availability and OSR eligibility?

Availability is a centre-level question (does this country offer OSR?). Eligibility is a candidate-level question (do you qualify for it?). Both must be true to retake a single section. You qualify if you took a computer-delivered test, are within the 60-day booking window, and book through the same operator.

If you do not meet eligibility, country availability is irrelevant — you must do a full retake. See the IELTS new rules 2026 for the underlying rules.

IELTS One Skill Retake availability by country

The table below summarises availability by country and operator. "Available" means OSR is bookable through that operator's standard test-centre network in 2026; "check operator dashboard" means the latest 2026 status is not publicly confirmed and you should verify with the centre before relying on it.

Country	British Council	IDP	Notes
United Kingdom	Available	Available	Major cities — London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham. UKVI OSR may have additional restrictions; check operator dashboard.
Australia	Available	Available	Computer-delivered centres in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide.
Canada	Available	Available	Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary. IRCC accepts OSR results.
India	Available	Available	Widest OSR network — both operators run computer-delivered + OSR sittings in most state capitals.
United Arab Emirates	Available	Available	Dubai and Abu Dhabi centres.
Saudi Arabia	Available	Available	Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam. Female-only sittings available — check operator dashboard for OSR slot frequency.
Vietnam	Available	Available	Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang.
China (mainland)	Check operator dashboard	Check operator dashboard	OSR rollout has been gradual; confirm at the specific centre before booking.
Hong Kong SAR	Available	Available
Singapore	Available	Available
Pakistan	Available	Available	Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad.
Nepal	Available	Available	Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Bangladesh	Available	Available	Bangladesh discontinued paper-based IELTS in February 2026, so OSR is the standard retake path here.
Sri Lanka	Available	Available
Philippines	Available	Available	Manila, Cebu, Davao.
Indonesia	Available	Available	Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali.
Malaysia	Available	Available
Thailand	Available	Available
Germany	Available	Available	Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg.
France	Available	Available	Paris and Lyon centres.
Spain	Available	Available
Italy	Available	Available
Netherlands	Available	Available
Ireland	Available	Available	Dublin and Cork.
Turkey	Available	Available	Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir.
Egypt	Available	Available	Cairo, Alexandria.
Nigeria	Available	Available	Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt.
South Africa	Available	Available	Johannesburg, Cape Town.
Kenya	Check operator dashboard	Available	IDP Nairobi confirmed; British Council OSR rollout — check operator dashboard.
New Zealand	Available	Available
United States	Not available	Not available	OSR is not offered in the US as of May 2026. Full retake is the only option.
Brazil	Check operator dashboard	Check operator dashboard	Verify at the specific centre before booking.
Mexico	Check operator dashboard	Check operator dashboard
Argentina	Check operator dashboard	Check operator dashboard
Russia	Check operator dashboard	Check operator dashboard

If your country is not listed, assume "check operator dashboard" rather than assuming OSR is unavailable. Both operators publish authoritative city-level lists in their respective booking portals.

Why is IELTS One Skill Retake not available in the United States?

As of May 2026, neither British Council nor IDP offers OSR through US test centres. The official explanation is operational — the US market runs different scheduling logistics. If you tested in the US, the only option is a full four-section retake. You can travel to a country that offers OSR, but your retake must still go through the same operator that delivered your original test.

Are British Council and IDP OSR results interchangeable?

Yes. The OSR Test Report Form is an official IELTS document accepted equally regardless of operator. What is not interchangeable is the booking — you must book your OSR through the operator that delivered your original test. If you originally tested with British Council, you cannot OSR through IDP, and vice versa.

Which countries added OSR most recently?

OSR has been a phased rollout since its initial launch. Markets that came online during 2025 include parts of the EU, additional Middle East centres, and several African capitals. Earlier-launch markets (UK, Australia, India, Canada) have the densest OSR slot availability. Newer markets typically run fewer OSR sittings per week — book early in your 60-day window.

How to book IELTS One Skill Retake in 2026

The exact UI varies between operator dashboards, but the steps are the same:

1. Receive your original IELTS results. Computer-delivered results arrive in 3-5 days. OSR is only available after computer-delivered tests.
2. Log in to the same operator's booking portal (British Council or IDP — whoever delivered your original test).
3. Locate the "One Skill Retake" option under your existing test record. Some portals label it "Retake one section" or "Single skill retake."
4. Confirm eligibility — the portal checks your test date is within 60 days and that you have not already used your one OSR.
5. Choose the section to retake (Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking). Use our band score calculator to model how each scenario affects your overall band before deciding.
6. Select a centre and date. Some centres run OSR sittings on specific weekdays only — book at least 1-2 weeks ahead.
7. Pay the OSR fee. Typically 25-35% of the full test fee; see the OSR complete guide for country-by-country fee ranges.
8. Sit only the chosen section at the centre on test day.
9. Receive your updated Test Report Form in 3-5 days. The new TRF replaces your original — your retake score replaces the original score for that section even if it is lower.

How long do I have to book my OSR after the original test?

60 days from your original test date. The 60-day window starts on the test date, not the results-release date. If you took the test on 1 May, your last bookable day is 30 June. After day 60, OSR is closed and the only option is a full retake.

Sitting the OSR can happen after day 60, but the booking confirmation must be in by day 60.

Can I take the OSR in a different country than my original test?

Yes, as long as the country offers OSR through the same operator that delivered your original test. For example, if you tested with British Council in India, you can take your OSR with British Council in the UK or Australia — but not with IDP anywhere. Cross-country OSR is useful for candidates who relocate during the 60-day window or whose home country is on the "check operator dashboard" list.

Confirm cross-country OSR with both the booking centre and the original centre before purchasing flights.

What if my country shows "check operator dashboard"?

Treat it as unconfirmed and verify directly with the test centre before relying on OSR. Three quick steps:

1. Open the British Council and IDP booking portals for your country.
2. Search for "One Skill Retake" or "single skill" in the centre's available test types.
3. If unclear, contact the centre directly and ask: "Do you offer One Skill Retake for computer-delivered tests in 2026?"

If neither operator confirms OSR, plan for a full retake instead. Avoid travel-based OSR unless you can confirm the destination centre's slot availability before flying.

OSR availability vs full retake — quick decision rule

If OSR is available in your country and eligible for your test, it is almost always cheaper and faster than a full retake. If OSR is unavailable (US, unconfirmed markets) or ineligible (paper-based test, past the 60-day window), full retake is the only path. See the OSR complete guide for the OSR-vs-full-retake decision framework.

Want a clean band estimate before deciding which section to retake? Start a free trial and get instant Speaking and Writing feedback aligned to the 2026 band descriptors.