Contesting Your IELTS Scores: Evaluate Your Confidence and Considerations for EOR
When it comes to taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, each section contributes to your overall band score. If you feel confident that you’ve performed better than your scores indicate, you may consider applying for an External Online Refereed (EOR) review. This process involves a second examiner independently marking your test to verify the original score.
Can I Apply for EOR Despite My Scores?
Applying for an EOR is not recommended unless you excel in everything except one or two sections. According to general advice, you should only apply for an EOR if you are confident in your performance in at least three out of the four sections, as assessed by a senior examiner who will provide an independent second rating. This can help validate your overall performance and potentially improve your band score.
In your case, you scored 6.5 in listening and reading, 6 in speaking, and 5.5 in writing. Given the mark of 5.5 in writing, it could be argued that the gap isn’t significant enough to warrant an EOR for the speaking section unless you have substantial evidence to show that your speaking abilities are indeed higher. However, for the writing section, if you feel confident about your mark, it might be worth considering an EOR.
Actual Experience of EOR Applicants
Sharing real examples can be helpful when deciding whether to pursue an EOR. One individual shared their experience: They initially scored L 6.5, R 6.5, W 6.5, and S 5.5. Despite the 5.5 in speaking, after going through the EOR process, they secured a 6.0 in speaking, demonstrating that confidence and a second opinion can sometimes make a difference.
According to another source, the speaking score can be significantly affected by assessment criteria, such as your fluency, coherence, and vocabulary robustness. If you feel your fluency and coherence in speaking are notably better than your score indicates, an EOR could be worth pursuing. However, if your reading score (which was 6.5) shows a slight difference from your writing score (5.5), it's essential to consider whether the 0.5 band difference is notable enough to warrant an EOR.
Preparing for EOR
Before deciding to apply for an EOR, it’s crucial to reflect on your preparation. Understanding the tasks and how to meet all their requirements can significantly impact your scores. Have you had someone review your writing tasks? If so, what were the results?
Your academic preparation and the feedback you receive can also play a vital role. If you have been working with helpful resources and feedback, you might see improvements. However, if your current scores are consistently lower in writing, it might indicate that more work is needed to meet the necessary standards.
The reasons for your writing score of 5.5 include:
Limited task coverage: You might not have covered all the required elements of the writing task. Cohesion issues: Your sentences or paragraphs might be poorly connected, which can negatively impact clarity and fluency. Vocabulary limitations: Your choice of vocabulary might not be diverse or appropriate, impacting your language use. Errors in grammar and punctuation: The presence of grammatical and punctuation errors can affect your overall score.Understanding and addressing these issues will be crucial if you plan to pursue an EOR. Consider revisiting your preparation material and seeking feedback to improve in these areas.
Ultimately, whether you decide to proceed with an EOR is a personal choice. It's important to weigh your confidence levels, the potential benefits, and any additional work required to improve your scores. If you are confident that your speaking and writing skills are better than your scores indicate, seeking a second opinion through EOR could be beneficial. However, if you are unsure, it may be wise to focus on further preparation before applying.