IELTS Academic vs General Training: Making the Right Choice
Choosing between IELTS Academic and General Training depends on your goals. This guide helps you understand the differences.
IELTS Academic
Who should take it: Students applying for undergraduate or postgraduate programs, or professionals seeking registration in English-speaking countries.
- Tests academic English proficiency
- Reading and writing tasks use academic texts
- Required by most universities worldwide
IELTS General Training
Who should take it: People migrating to Australia, Canada, or UK, or those applying for secondary education or work experience programs.
- Tests everyday English proficiency
- Reading and writing tasks use general topics
- Required for immigration purposes
Test Structure Comparison
| Section | Academic | General Training |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Same | Same |
| Reading | Academic texts | General texts |
| Writing | Academic tasks | General tasks |
| Speaking | Same | Same |
Scoring
Both tests use the same 9-band scoring system. However, the difficulty level differs in Reading and Writing sections.
