Master prompt
Retest strategy + score validity — when to re-sit, no superscoring, 2-year clock
Score validity 2 years from test date (E5.10). Superscoring NOT accepted by INZ. One Skill Retake for IELTS Academic only. Cost-benefit of re-sit vs alternative test.
New ZealandRetestScore validityNo superscoringIELTS OSRINZE5.10
Advise [CLIENT_NAME] on the optimal retest strategy. Previous result: [PREVIOUS_TEST_RESULT]. Target threshold: [TARGET_VISA_THRESHOLD]. Gap: [GAP_DIAGNOSIS].
§1 — VALIDITY RULE (E5.10)
INZ accepts English test results valid for 2 years from the TEST DATE (not result issue date, not visa lodgement date).
Implications:
(a) If [PREVIOUS_TEST_RESULT] test date was 2024-06-01, validity ends 2026-06-01. Visa must be LODGED before validity expires.
(b) If visa application is in-progress (lodged before expiry), INZ accepts the result even if it expires during processing.
(c) Results > 2 years old at lodgement = invalid, must re-test.
For [PREVIOUS_TEST_RESULT]: extract test date and compute current validity.
Test date: [extract date]
Validity ends: [date + 2 years]
Days remaining: [compute days from today]
Recommend: if validity remaining < 4 months AND visa lodgement deadline > 4 months: re-test even if score is sufficient (preserves buffer for INZ processing).
§2 — NO SUPERSCORING (E5 — implicit; case law via IPT decisions)
INZ does NOT accept "superscoring" — combining best sub-scores across separate test attempts:
Example NOT permitted:
- April attempt: L 7.5 R 7.0 W 5.5 S 6.5 (overall 6.5)
- June attempt: L 7.0 R 7.0 W 6.5 S 6.0 (overall 6.5)
- Cannot combine: L 7.5 (April) + R 7.0 + W 6.5 (June) + S 6.5 (April)
INZ takes ONE Test Report Form per test type. Each TRF is a discrete snapshot.
Practical implication: applicant must achieve all required sub-scores in a SINGLE attempt.
Exceptions:
- IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR): re-sit ONE module within 60 days at the same centre. The new TRF replaces the old one for that module ONLY. Currently AVAILABLE for IELTS Academic only (and only at participating IDP / British Council centres).
- This is INZ's only mechanism close to "module-level retake".
§3 — IELTS ONE SKILL RETAKE (OSR) — only Academic
If [PREVIOUS_TEST_RESULT] is IELTS Academic AND only ONE module is short:
- Book OSR within 60 days of original test at same centre
- Re-sit only the weak module (Writing, Speaking, Reading, or Listening)
- Cost: ~INR 15,000 (cheaper than full re-sit at INR 17,000)
- Results in 5 working days
- New TRF combines: 3 modules from original + 1 module from OSR
- Available at IDP / British Council partner centres in India (verify with centre)
If [GAP_DIAGNOSIS] is "Writing 5.5 fails per-band 6.0": ideal OSR candidate — re-sit Writing only.
If [PREVIOUS_TEST_RESULT] is IELTS GT, PTE, TOEFL, or Cambridge: OSR NOT available. Full re-sit required.
§4 — DECISION TREE
Question 1: Is current TRF valid (within 2 years of test date)?
No → Full re-sit required. Move to question 4.
Yes → Question 2.
Question 2: Does TRF meet the [TARGET_VISA_THRESHOLD]?
Yes → Submit current TRF; no retest needed. Verify validity for lodgement deadline.
No → Question 3.
Question 3: Is the gap in ONE module only AND TRF is IELTS Academic?
Yes → OSR within 60 days of original test. Cost INR 15,000.
No → Question 4.
Question 4: Choose between full re-sit of same test vs switch to alternative test.
Same test re-sit:
- IELTS GT / Academic: continuity, familiar format
- PTE: continuity if PTE was first test
- Coaching pivot: address weakest module
- Cost: INR 17,000 per attempt + INR 10,000-30,000 coaching
Alternative test:
- Switch IELTS to PTE: faster results (2-5 days), AI marking advantage for Speaking-anxious / accent-strong clients
- Switch IELTS to TOEFL iBT: integrated tasks favour academic-strong clients
- Switch PTE to IELTS: face-to-face Speaking may favour clients with conversational strength
- Cost: comparable (INR 17,000 per test)
§5 — WHEN TO SWITCH TEST TYPE (worth the disruption)
Switch IELTS → PTE if:
- Speaking band stuck at 5.5-6.0 (Indian accent + face-to-face anxiety)
- Writing band stuck at 5.5 (Indian English style; PTE Writing AI-marker more lenient on style, stricter on accuracy)
- Need faster results (2-5 days vs 13)
- Comfortable with computer interface
Switch PTE → IELTS if:
- PTE Speaking "Repeat sentence" / "Re-tell lecture" scores low (sound-mimicry penalty)
- Stronger in conversational than transactional English
- Prefer human examiner feedback
Switch IELTS → TOEFL iBT if:
- Strong academic Reading + Listening
- Familiar with US academic register
- Possibly applying parallel to US universities
§6 — TIMELINE FOR [VISA_LODGE_DEADLINE]
6 weeks:
- Day 1-3: book OSR (if eligible) OR full re-sit
- Day 14-21: sit re-sit
- Day 19-26: receive results (PTE day 5 / IELTS c-d day 5 / IELTS paper day 13)
- Day 30-35: lodge visa
- Buffer: 1 week — TIGHT, no second attempt possible
- Recommend: OSR if eligible (cheapest, fastest path)
12 weeks:
- Comfortable; one re-sit + 4-6 weeks coaching for weak module
- Re-sit 1 within 6 weeks; possible second re-sit at 10 weeks if first short
- Lodge with 2-week buffer
6 months:
- Most comfortable; serious skill build (8-12 weeks coaching) before re-sit
- 2-3 attempts buffer
- Lodge well within validity
§7 — COST-BENEFIT MATRIX
For INR 30,000:
Option A: IELTS OSR
- INR 15,000 test + 0-INR 10,000 module-specific coaching = INR 15,000-25,000
- Best if 0.5 band short on one module of IELTS Academic
- Verdict: cheapest if eligible
Option B: Full IELTS re-sit
- INR 17,000 + INR 15,000-30,000 coaching = INR 32,000-47,000
- Best if multiple modules short or test type stayed put
- Verdict: standard path
Option C: Switch to PTE Academic
- INR 17,000 + INR 10,000-25,000 PTE-specific coaching (Magoosh, E2 PTE, Pearson Practice) = INR 27,000-42,000
- Best if IELTS Speaking / Writing stuck after 2+ attempts
- Verdict: pivot if IELTS plateau
Option D: ESOL Tuition Bond (partner only, SMC)
- NZ$1,735 (~INR 88,000) — non-refundable if not used within 5 years
- Best if partner test prep too slow / family on tight visa timeline
- Verdict: time-buy for partner only
§8 — POST-RE-SIT: WHAT TO SUBMIT
(a) Most recent TRF — the one meeting threshold
(b) Original TRF (if multiple attempts) — INZ may verify history
(c) Verification consent: tick the box in IELTS / PTE / TOEFL / Cambridge ordering interface to allow INZ direct verification
(d) For OSR: new combined TRF (3 original modules + 1 retake)
(e) Do NOT submit cancelled / lost / superscored attempts — INZ flag-risk
§9 — RISK FLAGS
Risk 1: Re-sit before underlying skill gap addressed — second attempt identical score
Mitigation: Diagnostic mock with feedback BEFORE booking re-sit; 4-week minimum prep gap
Risk 2: TRF for previous attempt expires during re-sit prep
Mitigation: Track validity end-date; if approaching, book re-sit immediately (full re-sit)
Risk 3: OSR booked at non-participating centre
Mitigation: Confirm centre offers OSR before booking; not all IDP / BC centres in India do
Risk 4: Same-day OSR booking outside 60-day window after original test
Mitigation: OSR strict 60-day limit; book within day 30-45 ideally
Risk 5: Switching test types triggers fresh prep curve
Mitigation: Allow 4-6 weeks for PTE / TOEFL acclimatisation post-IELTS; do not switch within 4 weeks of visa lodgement deadline
Risk 6: Indian centre cancellation / postponement
Mitigation: Backup booking in different city OR alternate test
§10 — DECISION SUMMARY (one-line)
Format: "[CLIENT_NAME] [path]: [OSR Writing module within 60 days at IDP Hyderabad | Full IELTS Academic re-sit at IDP Hyderabad with 4 weeks Writing coaching | Switch to PTE Academic at Pearson VUE Hyderabad with 6 weeks PTE coaching]. Total cost: INR [X]. Re-sit date: [date]. Results by: [date]. Lodge visa by: [date — within 2 years of test date]."
End with: "DRAFT — for IAA-licensed immigration adviser review. Verify INZ E5.10 score validity rule (2 years from test date) and confirm INZ does not accept superscored results against current Operations Manual. Confirm IELTS One Skill Retake availability at the specific Indian centre (IDP / British Council) — not all centres offer OSR. Score validity 2 years from test date — non-negotiable under E5.10. Track validity end-date carefully against [VISA_LODGE_DEADLINE]."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt