Which IELTS test should I take?
Choose IELTS Academic if you plan to study at university. Choose IELTS General Training if you plan to work or migrate abroad. Both tests assess the same skills, but the Reading and Writing tasks differ.
What’s the difference between IELTS Academic and General Training?
Whether you need IELTS Academic vs IELTS General Training depends on your future plans. Discover which one is the right test for you to achieve your goals.
Study at home or abroad with IELTS Academic
If you want to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level at a university that teaches in English, you’ll need to take the IELTS Academic test. This test assesses whether you have the right English skills to effectively participate in lectures, research, discussion groups and other academic tasks.
Pursue a career overseas with IELTS General Training
Many governments accept IELTS General Training for migration and residency applications, so that you can work overseas. Some employers and professional bodies, e.g. healthcare, may ask for IELTS Academic instead. IELTS General Training is also the right test if you plan to study below degree level.
Move to the UK with IELTS for UKVI
If you’re applying for a UK visa, you’ll need to take IELTS for UKVI – IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests that take place at an official IELTS for UKVI test centre.
For some visa types, you may only need the IELTS for UKVI Life Skills test, which assesses just Speaking and Listening.
Key differences between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training
Take a look at how IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training compare to help you decide which test you need . The same applies to IELTS for UKVI tests.
| IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training |
|---|---|---|
Purpose | Access to university, higher education or professional registration | Work overseas, migration or training below degree level |
Listening section | Four parts: two monologues and two conversations; 40 questions | Four parts: two monologues and two conversations; 40 questions |
Reading section | Three reading passages from academic texts; 40 questions | Between 5-6 short texts from everyday sources; 40 questions |
Writing section | Two tasks: an academic-style report and a formal essay | Two tasks: a letter and a formal essay |
Speaking section | Three parts: introduction, a solo talk and a discussion on a set topic | Three parts: introduction, a solo talk and a discussion on a set topic |
Scoring | A band score from 0-9 for each skill, averaged for an overall score | A band score from 0-9 for each skill, averaged for an overall score |
Recognition | Accepted globally by universities, schools and training organisations | Accepted globally by governments, employers and migration programmes |
It’s of great help to many who are looking for opportunities for a promising future.”
- Test taker
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IELTS Academic vs General Training: FAQs
The British Council offers IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and IELTS for UKVI Life Skills. See Which test should I take? to learn which test is right for your purposes.
You can take your IELTS test at one of over 1,600 locations in more than 140 countries. This may be at a British Council test centre or at one of our hundreds of partner sites around the world. Visit our booking portal to check availability at your local test centre.
IELTS for UKVI tests must be taken at a UK Home Office-approved IELTS for UKVI location.
The IELTS test is used to study or work abroad, particularly in countries like Australia, Canada and the US.
IELTS for UKVI is necessary to apply for a UK visa. IELTS for UKVI Academic and General Training tests have exactly the same content and format as the standard IELTS tests, but they are taken it at an official IELTS for UKVI test centre where there are additional security protocols.
If you're planning to study at a university that teaches its courses in English, or plan to make a professional registration in an English-speaking country, you'll need to take IELTS Academic test.
If you're planning to work or train in an English-speaking country, you'll need to take the IELTS General Training test. You will need to take this test to migrate to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the UK.
If you're planning to apply for a UK visa or study a course below degree level in the UK, you'll need to take an IELTS for UKVI test.
Always check official government or institutions' websites to find out which test you should take before booking.