IELTS Candidates Discover Score Changes Months Later After Technical Error Admission

Numerous IELTS candidates across the globe, such as those in Vietnam, have been informed that their results were inaccurate due to a techni...

Numerous IELTS candidates across the globe, such as those in Vietnam, have been informed that their results were inaccurate due to a technical issue in the Reading and Listening parts, leading to extensive re-evaluation and updated scores.

On November 12, first-year student Ngan Ha from the University of Languages and International Studies in Hanoi mentioned that she received an email from the British Council stating that her IELTS results from February 28 were incorrect.

She initially received a total score of 7.0, with a 7.5 in Reading. Following a re-evaluation, her Reading score increased to 8.5, resulting in an overall score of 7.5.

Although she earned some points, Ha stated that the information arrived much too late. Since she didn't have a 7.5 when applying to university, she was unable to secure her preferred major at the People's Security Academy.

"I was surprised and let down because I never imagined a system of this size could commit an error like this, and only notify us eight months later," Ha said.

Canh Ngan, a student from a different university in Hanoi, had a comparable situation when she got an unexpected email from IDP.

"At first, I was worried it was a fraud," she mentioned. Upon reviewing the system, she noticed that her test on December 25, 2023, had been updated: her Reading score went up from 7.5 to 8.0, which boosted her total band score from 7.0 to 7.5.

The problem rapidly gained traction on social media on the night of November 12, particularly on Threads and Reddit, where individuals from Nepal, South Korea, Russia, and Australia experienced the same issue.

On November 13, the official IELTS website stated that exams conducted between August 2023 and September 2024 were impacted by "an internal technical system error," noting that it was "not caused by any cybersecurity breach" and that test-takers' information stayed safe.

IELTS mentioned that approximately 1% of test outcomes were affected but did not provide the specific figure, stating that the problem has been detected, completely fixed, and steps have been taken to ensure it does not occur in the future.

The group also pledged to assist those impacted, such as providing clarification letters if their inaccurate scores had already been utilized for university admissions, employment, or visa processes.

In Vietnam, the British Council and IDP have both sent emails to candidates informing them about the revised results, stating that the error took place in the Reading and Listening sections. They expressed their apologies, mentioning that they "regret" the mistake and are "sorry" for the consequences.

Candidates impacted have the option of receiving a full refund of their exam fee or a complimentary retake, with a response deadline prior to May 2026. The previous scores are no longer acceptable. Neither organization has revealed the number of Vietnamese candidates affected yet.

Ha and Canh Ngan have chosen to receive a refund exceeding VND4.6 million ($175).

Introduced in 1989, IELTS is among the most commonly utilized English language proficiency exams, evaluating listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills across a 9-band scale. In Vietnam, it is organized by the British Council and IDP, and is accepted by over 100 domestic universities for enrollment and graduation purposes. Globally, approximately 12,500 educational institutions recognize IELTS.

Vietnamese participants currently have an average score of 6.2, placing them 29th among 39 countries and regions surveyed in the 2023–2024 period.

*Names have been changed.