Why, how often does it happen and what to do?

According to observations, experts say there are many reasons why candidates have their IELTS test scores 'detained', but this case is very rare and most candidates are given their results back after the investigation is completed.

An email notifying candidates that their IELTS test scores were "detained"

Recently, a candidate reported to Thanh Nien that after taking the IELTS test at IDP, his IELTS score was "held", for 7 weeks now, and he was not informed of the reason in detail. This is also not the only case where the IELTS test organizers, the British Council and IDP, have held his score for investigation, according to many experts, and there have been candidates whose scores have been permanently held.

Why are candidates' scores "detained"?

Mr. Dinh Quang Tung, Academic Director of YSchool, said the probability of having scores "detained" is "very, very low", because in nearly 10 years of teaching, the male teacher has only witnessed 2-3 similar incidents out of thousands of students. "Having scores 'detained' will happen when the examination board suspects something is wrong with the test. A significant increase in scores after 1-2 months could be the reason, but IELTS partners have never confirmed this," Mr. Tung said.

Agreeing, Mr. Phan Anh Kiet, a teacher at K Learning Hub ( Dong Nai ), acknowledged that having his IELTS score "detained" is a rare situation, and "most people will receive the results after 3-5 months". "This depends entirely on the feelings and perspective of the examination board, it could be due to an increase of 1-1.5 total points in a short period of time, or the skill scores are very high, such as listening score of 8.0 but writing score of only 4.5, making the board skeptical about his ability", Mr. Kiet shared.

However, the male teacher also said that the "delay" of this exam will not affect the next exam, and in case of urgent IELTS results, candidates can register to retake the exam on the computer to get the certificate soon. "The "delay" of scores only depends on the exam that day, or it is the working order of the examination council to periodically check," Mr. Kiet shared.

Master Khuu Hoang Nhat Minh, CEO of Minh Khuu Academy (HCMC), presented a different perspective. According to Mr. Minh, increasing 1-1.5 points between two exams 1-2 months apart is completely possible if candidates invest in intensive and intensive review, or decide to study at a center instead of just self-studying. This can also come from objective factors such as health and psychological problems... that affect performance.

"Therefore, it is difficult to conclude that a rapid increase in total score within 1-2 months will lead to having the degree 'detained'," said Master Minh.

Candidates practice speaking skills with foreigners at the IELTS festival in March

Based on personal experience, the male teacher believes that there are two cases where IELTS will return scores late or not return scores. First, it is because the Cambridge University Examination Board - the co-owner of the IELTS exam - is conducting quality control of the exam. "Usually a series of exams will be returned a little late and there will be an email notification," said Mr. Minh, adding that this was also mentioned in the exam regulations beforehand.

According to Mr. Minh, if the council believes that the test results do not accurately reflect the candidate's ability, the candidate is at risk of having their score permanently "held". "This situation has rarely happened in history and this is the decision of the Cambridge University Examinations Council, the unit responsible for the professionalism of the IELTS exam. The exam distribution units will not know the reason why the council withheld the score," said the male teacher.

"I have also heard of situations where scores were 'withheld' due to violations of exam regulations such as having someone else take the exam for me or detecting irregularities. There have been cases where I was banned from taking the IELTS exam for 3 years or permanently," said Master Minh. "When switching to the computer-based exam format, the situation of having my score withheld is much rarer than before."

Notes to get IELTS test scores

Teacher Quang Tung instructed that if their scores are "held", candidates can send a complaint to the Cambridge University Examination Board to urge this organization to return their IELTS test results as soon as possible. "In the email notifying of their scores being held, Cambridge will provide some information such as the email address, the content to be written and the time to complain. In most cases that I know of, candidates get their scores back," the male teacher shared.

Regarding the content of the complaint letter, Mr. Tung advised candidates to emphasize to the council that their exam participation was completely normal, without any suspicious signs. To increase persuasiveness, candidates need to send some more evidence showing their preparation in the time before the exam, information about the place of study... Besides, candidates also need to send the complaint letter as soon as possible.

Many other candidates shared stories of having their IELTS scores "held" at IDP and British Council in recent months.

"In the case of having your score 'detained' but needing to submit your certificate urgently, I advise you to retake the exam to avoid affecting your plans. Having your score 'detained' is rare, but having it twice is certainly less likely, so you can rest assured," the male teacher reassured.

In addition, in the complaint letter, candidates can also state the reason why they want their exam results returned early, according to Mr. Nguyen Dang Ho Bach, a teacher at Kien Luyen Center ( Hanoi ). "The exam results will be returned after the council completes the investigation and finds that the exam has no signs of lack of transparency, usually after 1-2 months or up to a year. In most cases, I see that you will still have your exam scores returned," the male teacher said.

"An important thing is that having your score 'held' does not happen often, so those who study based on their ability do not need to worry too much," said Mr. Bach.

Immediately after reporting, the candidate's exam results were 'permanently withheld'.

Regarding the IELTS certificate "detention" incident, one day after Thanh Nien published the candidate's complaint, IDP on December 6 informed the candidate that it had completed the investigation, stating that the IELTS test council "determined that there is evidence that your test results are not a reliable indicator of your English proficiency." This means that the council believes that the test results do not accurately reflect the candidate's English proficiency.

Therefore, the board decided to 'permanently keep' the candidate's exam results. And for reasons of exam security, the board did not provide any further details about the investigation or the results of the investigation, nor did it provide specific evidence for the candidate to know.

"I feel like a child being punished but not knowing the reason, so if possible, I want to know why my test scores are 'permanently withheld'. If I accidentally violate the exam regulations, I also need to know to learn from my experience. This makes me feel pressured and haunted when I have to take the IELTS exam in the future," GB, a 12th grade student in Ho Chi Minh City and also the candidate mentioned in the article, confided.

Previously, as Thanh Nien reported, GB took the IELTS test for the first time at the British Council on September 14, but the male student said that he had a high fever and a sore throat that day, so his score was not as expected. To improve his results to apply for a scholarship to study abroad, he continued to take the test again at IDP on October 5, but then suddenly received news that his test score was temporarily withheld for investigation, without explaining specifically the reason for the detention, but only citing two provisions in the test regulations.

GB added that in a handwritten letter to IDP, he explained that his previous low score was due to poor health and shared his study progress in the 3 weeks before the exam. Attached to this letter is a prescription to prove his medical condition. In addition, because the deadline for submitting the application for a study abroad scholarship is October 25, he also contacted IDP twice to explain his situation, but to no avail.

Finally, at the end of November, the male student took the IELTS test for the third time at the British Council and has so far spent 13,992,000 VND on the test fee. B. also abandoned his study abroad plan and changed his direction to apply to a private university in the country.

Speaking to Thanh Nien at that time, the IDP representative did not specify which cases would have their IELTS results withheld, only that the test score information would be returned when the candidate's test process was certain to have no problems. IDP also noted that the terms and conditions of the IELTS test explain that test results may be withheld. "This is a necessary measure to protect the validity of test results for three million IELTS test takers each year," the IDP representative emphasized.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bi-giam-diem-thi-ielts-vi-sao-co-thuong-xay-ra-va-can-lam-gi-185241207084943104.htm