If you're just half a band short in speaking or writing and considering an IELTS Enquiry on Results (EOR, i.e., remarking) to bump your CRS score, weigh a few points group members raised:
- If you need a meaningfully higher score, retaking the test is often more reliable than requesting an EOR. Test centres tend to give fairly standard scoring to competent candidates, so a remark on a borderline band is not guaranteed to move.
- EOR has a real cost and no guaranteed outcome. One member noted the EOR fee was close to the cost of a full retake, with no assurance of an increase — factor that into your decision, especially if you're only half a band away.
- Weigh your target pathway. If your target program (e.g., a PNP stream) doesn't require the higher score you're chasing, and your CRS is already sufficient for that stream, it may not be worth the time and money to pursue either an EOR or a retake.
Bottom line: decide based on what score threshold your actual target program needs, then choose between EOR (cheap chance, uncertain result) and a full retake (costs about the same, more control over preparation) accordingly.