Glossary term

One Skill Retake

An IELTS feature, not a PTE one, frequently raised in comparisons between the two tests. One Skill Retake lets a computer-delivered IELTS candidate re-sit a single skill — Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking — within 60 days of the original test, keeping the other three scores. PTE offers no equivalent: if one PTE skill falls short, the only remedy is a full re-sit, subject to the limit of 12 tests in any 12-month period. This difference matters most for candidates chasing strict per-skill minimums, such as CLB levels for Canada.

In plain language

If you miss one PTE skill by a whisker, you must re-sit the whole test — factor that into how much margin you build in practice.