IELTS, or International English Language Testing System, is one of the most popular and widely accepted English language proficiency tests for study, work, and migration purposes. If you are planning to take this test, you may wonder which version of the test is best for you: IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training.
In this blog post, we will compare these two options and discuss their similarities and differences, so that you can make an informed decision.
What is IELTS Academic Training?
IELTS Academic is a test that measures your English language skills and checks if they are appropriate for an academic setting. The test covers the language features and skills that you need to study or train in English.
You should take IELTS Academic if you want to:
- pursue higher education in an English-speaking country, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree
- apply for a Student Route visa (Tier 4) to study at a UK university that is approved by the UK Home Office
- work for a professional organization that requires a high level of English proficiency in an English-speaking country.
What is IELTS General Training?
IELTS General Training is a test that measures your English language skills in a realistic, everyday setting. The test covers the language use and scenarios that you may encounter in your work or social life.
You should take IELTS General Training if you want to:
- pursue lower-level education in an English-speaking country, such as a diploma or certificate
- work or do work-related training in an English-speaking country, such as an internship or apprenticeship
- migrate to an English-speaking country, such as Canada, Australia, or New Zealand
- apply for another job in your own country that requires a certain level of English proficiency.
What are the similarities and differences between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training?
Both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training have the same format and consist of four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
The Listening and Speaking sections are the same for both versions, but the Reading and Writing sections are different in terms of content and difficulty level.
Listening
The Listening section has four parts and lasts for 30 minutes. You will listen to four recordings of native English speakers and answer 40 questions based on them.
The recordings include a conversation between two people, a monologue set in an everyday social context, a conversation among up to four people set in an educational or training context, and a monologue on an academic subject.
Reading
The Reading section has three parts and lasts for 60 minutes. You will read three texts and answer 40 questions based on them. The texts are different for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.
For IELTS Academic, the texts are taken from books, journals, magazines, or newspapers and are of general interest to anyone entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration.
For IELTS General Training, the texts are taken from notices, advertisements, company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines, or newspapers and are related to everyday or work situations.
Writing
The Writing section has two tasks and lasts for 60 minutes. You will write two texts based on the given topics or situations. The tasks are different for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.
For IELTS Academic, the first task requires you to write a report of at least 150 words based on a graph, table, chart, or diagram. The second task requires you to write an essay of at least 250 words based on a point of view, argument, or problem.
For IELTS General Training, the first task requires you to write a letter of at least 150 words based on a given situation. The second task requires you to write an essay of at least 250 words based on a topic of general interest.
Speaking
The Speaking section has three parts and lasts for 11 to 14 minutes. You will have a face-to-face interview with an examiner, who will assess your spoken English.
The first part is an introduction, where you will talk about yourself and your background. The second part is a long turn, where you will speak for one to two minutes on a given topic. The third part is a discussion, where you will have a conversation with the examiner on issues related to the topic in the second part.
Band Score
Both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are graded on a 9-band scale, based on four criteria: lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, coherence and cohesion, and task achievement or task response.
Lexical resource refers to your vocabulary and how well you use it. Grammatical range and accuracy refers to your grammar and how correctly you use it. Coherence and cohesion refers to how well you organize and connect your ideas. Task achievement or task response refers to how well you answer the question and meet the requirements of the task.
The number of correct answers you need to get a certain band score depends on the difficulty level of the test. Generally, the more difficult the test, the fewer correct answers you need to get a higher band score. For example, for the Academic Reading test, you may need to get 30 out of 40 correct answers to get a band 7, while for the General Training Reading test, you may need to get 34 out of 40 correct answers to get a band 7.
How to book your IELTS test?
You have different options to take your IELTS test, depending on what suits you best. You can choose to take the test on paper or on a computer at any of the over 800 official IELTS test centers around the world. If you are taking the IELTS Academic test, you also have the option to take the test online at your home or any other place where you have a stable internet connection and a private space.
To book your IELTS test, you need to follow these steps:
- Find your nearest IELTS test centre and check the availability of the test date and version that you want.
- Register online and pay the test fee. You will need to upload a copy of your passport or national identity card as proof of your identity.
- Receive a confirmation email with the details of your test date, time, and venue. You will also receive an email with a link to the free online preparation materials.
- Prepare for your test by using the free online resources or enrolling in a preparation course.
- Take your test on the scheduled date and time. You will need to bring your original passport or national identity card that you used for registration, as well as a pen, pencil, and eraser.
- Receive your results within 3 to 5 days for computer-delivered tests or 13 days for paper-based tests. You can view your results online or receive a Test Report Form by mail or in person.
We hope this blog post helps you understand the difference between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training and choose the right one for your purpose.
