Why does an IELTS Test Report Form have a recommended 2-year validity period?
A. The IELTS Handbook recommends that a Test Report Form, which is less than two years old, should only be accepted as evidence of present level of language ability if it is accompanied by proof that a candidate has actively maintained or tried to improve his English language proficiency. This recommendation is based upon what we know about the phenomenon of second language loss or ‘attrition’, a topic which is well-researched and documented in the literature.
