A member worried about their writing score on an IELTS result received quickly (48 hours) for a study visa application asked whether they should opt for a re-evaluation of the writing module.
What the thread clarified:- For a study permit, IELTS Academic is the safer choice over General Training — even though some programs may accept General, taking Academic avoids needing to retake the whole test again later for a PR application, which typically requires Academic-equivalent testing after your initial permit anyway.
- Unless you're applying to a program specifically focused on English (e.g. English literature, journalism, or communications), a slightly lower writing score is usually not disqualifying. Check your specific program's admission page for its actual minimum requirements rather than assuming a universal writing threshold applies.
- Whether a re-evaluation is "worth it" is genuinely uncertain — one member was confident a retake would yield a much higher score, but that's not something anyone can guarantee; treat re-evaluation as a judgment call based on your specific program's requirement rather than a given.
The practical takeaway: take IELTS Academic for a study permit application (it saves you from retaking later for PR), and check your specific program's language requirement before assuming you need a re-evaluation — most non-English-focused programs don't require an especially high writing score.