How to Send IELTS Scores to Universities

Your IELTS results are in. You’ve hit the score you needed. Now comes the step that actually gets you into university, i.e. sending your IELTS scores to the universities you’re applying to. It sounds easy, but get it wrong, such as wrong delivery method, wrong department, expired TRF and your application stalls. 

This article walks you through exactly how to send your IELTS scores to universities, whether you’re applying to the US, UK, Australia, UAE, or Singapore. It covers both the IDP and British Council routes, free versus paid submissions, electronic versus physical delivery, and every question you’re likely to ask along the way.

What is an IELTS TRF and Why Do Universities Need It?

An IELTS TRF (Test Report Form) is the official scorecard issued by IDP or the British Council. It includes the detailed band scores for Listening, Speaking, Writing, and Reading, the overall band score, the corresponding CEFR level, and a unique TRF number that institutions use to verify the result.

This is the only official document that institutions accept as proof of your English proficiency and not self-attested photocopies or screenshots. You will get one personal copy of the TRF. The testing agency can send the TRF to five institutions for free. 

The IELTS TRF is valid for 2 years from your test date, and after that, it expires. You will have to retake the test then. 

Two Ways to Send Your IELTS Scores to Universities

There are two delivery options: electronically (eTRF) or via a physical post. Most universities opt for eTRF, but not all universities accept both. Therefore, it is advised to check with the admission team of the university before you submit a request. Here’s a quick comparison table:

Note: Costs for additional TRFs vary by test centre. International fees typically range from $3–$25 per TRF, with courier charges of $10–$50 on top for physical delivery.

How to Send IELTS Scores to Universities — Step by Step

There are three scenarios depending on where you are in the process for IELTS score reporting.

Option A: During IELTS Registration (Free — Up to 5 Universities)

When you register for IELTS through IDP or the British Council, you’ll have the option to enter the name and other details of up to five institutions to whom you want your IELTS score to be sent.

Once the scores are released, they are sent electronically (eTRF) if the university supports it or by postal mail. You don’t have to do anything else.

In case you are not sure which five institution names and details have to be filled, you can keep this section blank and submit them later.

Option B: After Results — Via the IDP Portal

This option is for students who didn’t nominate institutions at the time of registration or who want to send TRF to more than five institutions.

1. Log in to the IDP IELTS India website using your candidate credentials.
2. Navigate to the ‘Add TRF’ section. If you want to send to more than five institutions, click ‘Send Additional TRF’.
3. Fill in the details of the university you want to send your scores to.
4. Choose your preferred delivery method: electronic or physical.
5. Cross-check all details carefully before submitting.
6. Pay for additional TRF, whether electronic or physical delivery.
7. Click Submit.

Option C: After Results — Via the British Council

If you registered for IELTS through the British Council, the process is slightly different.

1. Log in to the British Council Test Taker Portal using your registered credentials.
2. Navigate to the score-sending section and select ‘Add TRF’.
3. Enter the university details.
4. Select your delivery method (postal mail or e-delivery, depending on what the university accepts). For universities that require paper results, contact your test centre directly to arrange postal dispatch. For e-delivery, you can select eligible institutions through the portal itself.
5. Submit your request and note your tracking reference.

What is an ATRF and When Do You Need One?

If you’re applying to more than five institutions, you’ll need to request an Additional Test Report Form (ATRF). The only difference between a normal TRF and ATRF is that the latter costs money.

Key Facts about ATRFs

• In India, ATRF costs about ₹250 per university.
• Internationally, fees range between $3 and $25 per university, depending on the test centre.
• If you’re requesting a physical delivery of the TRF, you’ll have to pay an additional courier charge on top of the TRF fee. The courier charge ranges somewhere between $10 and $50 per TRF.
• Just like the normal TRFs, ATRFs have to be requested within two years from your test date.

How to Download Your eTRF?

Once the results are officially declared, you can download the eTRF from the official portal. Follow the instructions below to download your eTRF from IDP or the British Council.

Via IDP:

• Visit the IELTS IDP website and log in with your candidate credentials.
• Once logged in, an auto pop-up will appear showing your IELTS scores.
• Download the result feedback as a PDF from this pop-up.
• Close the pop-up and scroll down to the ‘Declared Result’ column.
• Click ‘View eTRF’ to access your full electronic Test Report Form.
• Download or print directly from the page.

Via British Council:

• Visit the British Council IELTS portal and log in.
• Navigate to your results section.
• Download your eTRF directly from the results dashboard.

Sending IELTS Scores by Country

The process of sending your IELTS score is the same regardless of the country, but it is worth knowing each country’s preferences before you submit.

United States

Many US universities accept eTRF, but a significant number of universities accept TRF by physical post. Therefore, verify this with the university’s admission team.

United Kingdom and Australia

eTRFs are the standard norm in the UK and Australia. Therefore, it is okay to send your TRF to the university via electronic delivery.

Canada

All the top universities in Canada accept eTRFs. For regional universities, check with the admissions team before sending your TRF.

UAE and Singapore

eTRFs acceptance is growing in both these countries. A lot of universities in these countries now support electronic delivery. But it is still advised to check with the university’s admission team if they accept eTRF or not.

How Long Does It Take for Universities to Receive Your IELTS Score?

This is one of the most common questions students ask, and the answer to it is that it depends on the delivery method.

How Do Universities Verify IELTS Scores?

Once universities receive your TRF, they verify its authenticity directly through IELTS using the unique TRF number printed on the form. If a university suspects a score has been tampered with or cannot verify a TRF, they will contact the test centre directly.

This is why photocopies are never accepted. The verification system is tied to official documents issued by the testing authority.

The WorldGrad’s Two Cents

Sending your IELTS scores is one of the last boxes to tick before your application is complete. Once you know the process, it’s genuinely straightforward. 

The one thing worth repeating: check each university’s preferred delivery method before you submit. It takes five minutes and can save you weeks of delays.

If you’re still working out which universities to target that makes an international degree significantly more affordable, The WorldGrad’s Smart Programs are designed for exactly that. Students complete part of their degree in their home country before transferring abroad, saving lakhs on tuition without compromising on the quality of their degree.