The most important difference between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training is that IELTS Academic is for students looking to pursue higher education across universities abroad. The IELTS General Training Exam is for candidates looking to immigrate or work in countries that use English as their primary language of communication.
The IELTS test is conducted in two types: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. The four key English skills, Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking are assessed in both formats.
The IELTS Academic is for candidates who are interested in applying for higher education or professional registration in countries that use English as their fundamental language of communication. The main purpose of the examination is to judge whether a candidate is ready to begin studying or training in the English language.
The IELTS General Training is for aspirants who are looking to migrate or work in an English-speaking environment. The test has been designed to evaluate a candidate's day-to-day non-academic English.
The Listening and Speaking sections are same in both IELTS tests. However, the Reading and Writing sections differ between the IELTS Academic and General Training versions. Both versions of IELTS exam, use the same scoring system. The IELTS exam categories test-takers on a nine-band scale to accurately identify levels of proficiency, from non-users (band score 1) through to experts (band score 9). In this article, we will provide information about IELTS academic vs general.
- IELTS Academic vs General Training: Highlights
- How Are IELTS Academic and General Training Similar?
- IELTS Academic vs IELTS General Training: Purpose
- IELTS Academic vs General Training: Format
IELTS Academic vs General Training: Highlights
Know about the difference between the IELTS Academic and General Traning test and choose the right exam for you:
| Parameters | IELTS Academic Exam | IELTS General Training Test |
|---|---|---|
| Test focus | University | Higher education | Professional registration | Immigration | Work experience | Training | School |
| Reading Section | 3 long academic passages | 4-6 passages (mix of short factual and one long factual/descriptive) |
| Writing Section | Task 1: Summarize data (graph/chart/diagram) Task 2: Write an essay (analytical/argumentative) |
Task 1: Write a letter (applying for a job, accommodation etc.) Task 2: Write a report (describing an experience/event) |
| Difficulty Level | The exam focuses on English used in an educational setup and is considered more challenging as compared to IELTS General |
The IELTS General Training test focuses on everyday usage of the English language and is considered easier than the IELTS Academic |
How Are IELTS Academic and General Training Similar?
Conducted by IDP IELTS India, both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests cost INR 18,000 and are held across test centres in India. Both exams are also for a total duration of 2 hours and 25 minutes. In this section, we are going to talk about the similarities between IELTS Academic vs IELTS General Training Exams.
| Parameters | Common for IELTS Academic & General Training Tests |
|---|---|
| Test Format | Both tests have four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking |
| Test Duration | Total time for both tests is 2 hours and 45 minutes. |
| Listening Section | Identical format and difficulty level. You will listen to recordings and answer questions about the content. |
| Speaking Section | Identical format and difficulty level. You will converse with an examiner on various topics. |
| IELTS Results | Both tests use the same 9-band scoring system to assess your English language proficiency. |
| Test Day Experience | The writing, reading, and listening sections are taken on the same day for both tests. The speaking test may be on a separate day. |
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IELTS Academic vs IELTS General Training: Purpose
This section will discuss the different purpose between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests.
IELTS Academic:
You want study abroad? Then IELTS Academic is what your going to need. This test it measures if you can handle university-level English, not just casual talking with friends. Your aiming for undergraduate or postgraduate programs, right. The Academic version checks whether your ready to start studying at that level. Also, some professional fields need it to - like if you wants to register as doctor or lawyer in another country. It assess your language abilities for academic settings specifically. So basically, this one proves you can cope with lectures, research papers, and all that university stuff.
IELTS General Training
Now, IELTS General Training is different path. Your planning to migrate to English-speaking country? Or maybe you need study below degree level, like secondary education. Then General Training suits you better. Here's example that makes sense: Lets say your living in the US already. You parents want move there with you - they'll need take IELTS General Training for their visa application. This version focuses on everyday survival skills and social contexts, not academic ones. The test look at practical English you'd use in work environments or daily life situations. It is less about essays and more about real-world communication.
Know about the difference between the IELTS Academic and General Traning test and the right exam for you in the IELTS webinar conducted by our in-house IELTS expert:
Also, Read:
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
IELTS Academic vs General Training: Format
Before you start IELTS preparation, knowing what you are getting into matters a lot. Here is a quick look at the IELTS test format for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training so you know what to expect.
IELTS Reading Test:
You get 60 minutes to answer 40 questions. The questions come in different formats like Multiple Choice Questions, True or False, short answer questions and more.
IELTS Academic:
This part checks if you can find the author’s purpose, main ideas and arguments. You will get three long academic-style texts on topics like science or history with different levels of difficulty. Do not panic if you see hard words because a glossary is given. These texts are usually taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. The test is made fair for non-native English speakers.
IELTS General Training:
Here your English proficiency is tested in daily life situations. You will get four short passages with different length and difficulty. These can be from newspaper ads, notices or short articles.
At first they look simple but finding exact details can be tricky. Topics are usually from advertisements, notices, company handbooks, official documents and newspapers.
Check out the preparation tips for IELTS Reading Section.
IELTS Writing Test
- IELTS Academic - You need describe a table, chart, diagram or graph in 100 words, then write short essay of 250 words for second task.
- IELTS General Training - You will be writing a letter (100 words) or essay (250 words).
Check out the preparation tips for IELTS Writing Section.
IELTS Speaking and Listening Tests
These are the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.
Your IELTS Speaking test happens on a different day with a certified examiner. It takes around 13 minutes and has three parts. First is Introduction and Interview. Second is a Long turn where you talk about a given topic. Third is a Discussion where you explain issues in more detail.
Hope this helps you choose which IELTS test to take. Once you are ready to book, use our free IELTS preparation material to aim for a higher band score.
- Check out the preparation tips for the IELTS Speaking Section.
- Check out the preparation tips for the IELTS Listening Section
IELTS Academic and General Test Format
| Parameters | IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Same format for both tests | Same format for both tests |
| Reading Section | Three long academic passages | Four to six passages that include shorter texts |
| Writing Section | Task 1: Summarize data from a graph/chart/diagram; Task 2: Write an essay | Task 1: Write a letter based on a given situation; Task 2: Write an essay |
| Difficulty Level | More challenging, focused on academic language | Generally easier, focused on everyday language |
Whether you require IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training depends on the organization where you are planning to study or work. We suggest you check the requirements set by the organization and then move ahead with the one that is right for you. Candidates looking for assistance with university applications can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for assistance with the same. Candidates can add to the discussion by getting in touch with us in the comments below.
Also, Read:
Both IELTS Academic and General Training tests are more or less similar. However, IELTS Academic can be said to be on the tougher side. The IELTS Speaking and Listening sections are common in both test types. However, the IELTS Reading and Writing sections are different for both.
The University of Staffordshire UK, ranks in and around the top 100 British Universities. According to the latest Shiksha Popularity Rankings, the University of Staffordshire ranks #107 in the UK.
When it comes to global rankings, Staffordshire University Global Ranking is #638 in the world.
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
Comments
(5)
A
2 years ago
V
4 years ago
R
4 years ago
Hello Victor. Due to Covid restrictions, you can appear for the exam from home. do check the same on the official website of IELTS. you need to visit the official website to register yourself for the IELTS exam. You will be informed about the fee for the exam on registration. https://studyabroad.sh
I
5 years ago
P
4 years ago
The purpose of taking both exams is different. IELTS Academic is for those who wish to study in an English-speaking country, whereas, the IELTS General Training module is for those who wish to move to English-speaking countries for work or PR purposes.