The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the most widely used English proficiency test for non-native English speakers who wish to study, work, or migrate to English-speaking nations. However, Academic IELTS and General Training IELTS are the two types of IELTS examinations.
Candidates are confused between both types of IELTS tests, which tests need to take in order to achieve their educational or work requirements. In this article, we’ll go over two types of IELTS tests so you may make the best decision possible.
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IELTS Academic
The IELTS exam is one of the most accepted English proficiency level exams in the world. However, there are different types of IELTS exams offered by the IELTS testing authority. IELTS Academics is one of the types of IELTS exams available for candidates to prove English proficiency. Moreover, the IELTS Academic determines whether your English language proficiency is appropriate for an academic setting. It examines whether you’re prepared to train or study by expressing characteristics of academic language.
Candidates can take this test if they want :
- To study UG or PG degree courses at any Universities all over the world or especially in English-speaking countries.
- Or to apply for a Tier 4 Visa or Student visa which is sponsored in the UK.
- And also, candidates who want to work in English-speaking countries.
IELTS General Training
IELTS is the English proficiency testing exam for international students to join or immigrate to English-speaking countries. And it has 2 different types: IELTS Academic and IELTS general training. However,The IELTS General Training test assesses your ability to communicate in English in a real-life setting. They designed it for students who desire to go to high school or a vocational education program to further their education. It is required of candidates who wish to move to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom as part of work.
Candidates who can take this exam are :
- Candidates who want to study a degree or below degree level studies.
- Or, candidates who want to immigrate to any English-speaking country for work purposes or for staying in that country.
- This exam also helps students to get a job in their own country.
Check out : IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 – Process chart Sample
Difference between Academic and General training test for IELTS
The IELTS exam is designed to assess a candidate’s abilities to read, write, listen, and speak English in three hours. As there are different types of IELTS exams like the IELTS general or academic test, and also each exam has 4 different sections. However, the speaking and listening sections follow the same format in both types of IELTS. And The writing and reading components, on the other hand, are different in both types of IELTS exams.
So the following are some differences between IELTS Academic and IELTS general tests.
| IELTS sections | IELTS Academic | IELTS General training |
| Speaking | In the speaking section, there is a face-to-face interview with a certified IELTS speaker.The time for IELTS speaking in the academic test is 11-14minutes and there are a few short questions and a few long questions that candidates need to answer. And also there are structured discussions that candidates need to take part in to give answers. All these are divided into 3 parts. | In the IELTS General Training exam, the speaking portion contains a face-to-face exam or interview with a certified IELTS speaker, the same as the IELTS academic test.The time for the IELTS speaking section in IELTS general training is about 11-14 minutes and also there are 3 parts to the exam which include short and long questions to answer along with structured discussions. |
| Listening | The total duration for the IELTS listening exam is 30 minutes.And candidates are provided with 4 recordings to listen to answer the questions. | Same like in IELTS Academic, the IELTS general training test contains,4 recording which candidates need to listen to and answer the questions asked by the speakers.And the total duration of the IELTS listening exam in the IELTS general training test is about 30 minutes |
| Writing | In The IELTS writing section in the IELTS Academic test, they expected Candidates to write on a variety of themes connected to their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in this test. They only have one hour to complete the test. Moreover, The candidate is given a piece of paper with tables, graphs, or diagrams in the first task.And also, candidates need to describe the given date in their own words. It’s also possible that you’ll be asked to describe a flowchart. And also, Candidates must prepare an essay based on the data in the other tasks. They must also provide examples to back up the facts. The tone of the written essay should be formal. | The candidate must write about different topics of general interest in the IELTS writing section in the IELTS general training exam. The tasks must be accomplished in under an hour. The first challenge requires the candidate to compose a professional, semi-formal, or personal letter in response to a given issue. They must explain the request or argument that has been presented to them. |
| Reading | The purpose of the IELTS reading section in the IELTS academic test is to assess a person’s reading abilities. There are 40 questions in all. And The test has a time limit of 60 minutes. However, The candidate is required to read various passages and respond to questions based on them. This section is intended to assess higher education candidates or working professionals.Three large paragraphs, either factual, analytical, or descriptive, are required to be read during the test. They collected these passages from journals, periodicals, research papers, newspapers, and novels. After reading the passages, the candidate must respond to related questions. | The IELTS reading section in the IELTS general training test consists of 40 questions and assesses a person’s reading abilities. These must be answered within one hour. They gave candidates passages from company guidelines, ads, brochures, and other materials. This test is considered to be less difficult than the academic test. The texts include words that are commonly used. |
Types of IELTS: Similarities between General and Academic Training
Even though IELTS Academic and IELTS general training are two different types of IELTS tests. They have some similarities and differences too. The similarities between General and Academic training are: The timing and Structure of both types of IELTS are the same. And both types of IELTS tests have four sections to prove the English abilities namely, Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. In both types of IELTS tests, candidates need to take Speaking and Listening exams on the same day and also the exam process is also the same for Speaking and Listening exams in IELTS academic and IELTS general training. The registration process for both types of IELTS exams is the same and many test centers offer both versions of exams.
Why IELTS Academic?
As there are different types of IELTS exams. Candidates are confused about choosing which IELTS exam to take. Although, IELTS Academic is a part of different types of IELTS tests. It has some benefits. The following are some reasons to choose the IELTS Academic test.
- If any candidate wants to study PG or further higher studies in English-speaking countries, then taking the IELTS Academic exam will help them.
- If any candidate wants to join any professional organization in an English-speaking country, then the IELTS academic test is the better choice.
- The topics chosen in IELTS academics are related to academic studies. So, it requires much advanced English.
- The IELTS academic exam is mainly for measuring academic level English skills.
Why IELTS General?
Candidates while considering taking the test, have to choose between IELTS General and IELTS Academics. As these are 2 different types of IELTS tests, each has its own benefits. The following are the reasons or the benefits to choose the IELTS General exam to attempt the IELTS test.
- If candidates want to advance their career options and grab the best job opportunities, then the IELTS general training exam is the best option to take.
- If candidates want to move to an English-speaking country like Australia, New Zealand, or Canada, then taking the IELTS general training exam is helpful to them.
- To deal with real-life situations, IELTS general training is beneficial because the topics chosen in this test are general topics that are challenging to Candidates.
- However, the English levels in General training are easier than IELTS academic. Because, in IELTS General training, the topics are chosen to measure the English communication skills of candidates for everyday situations and even in Workplace.
Check out : Study in the USA without IELTS
IELTS for UKVI
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, and it is an international standardized test that assesses non-native English speaker’s ability to communicate in English. It is also one of the most widely used English language proficiency examinations in the world for higher education and international migration. Like different types of IELTS tests, there are different types of IELTS for UKVI tests available for students. Both IELTS for UKVI and IELTS for Life Skills are having no material difference in the level of difficulty, the content or layout, or even the examiners or scoring system. However,‘IELTS for UKVI’ and ‘IELTS Life Skills’ are designed to meet certain administrative requirements specific to UK Visas and Immigration for UK visa purposes.
Types of Tests for IELTS for UKVI
There are different types of IELTS tests for UKVI are mentioned below:
1. IELTS for UKVI Academic test: It is one of the types of IELTS test for UKVI that determines whether your English language ability is appropriate for academic settings, deciding whether you are ready to train or study. This is for applicants who need to show their English language ability to UKVI in order to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, as well as those that require professional registration in the UK.
2. IELTS for UKVI general test: IELTS for UKVI general test is also considered different types of IELTS For UKVI, which assesses English language skills in a real-world setting, including exercises and tests that apply to both the professional and social contexts. This is for applicants who need to show their English language proficiency to UKVI in order to train or study below a bachelor’s degree level, or to move to the UK.
3. IELTS Life Skills: IELTS life skills is also a part of the different types of IELTS for UKVI and there are three levels in this exam: A1, A2, and B1. The A1 level is for those who need to show their English speaking and listening abilities as part of their application to UKVI for a visa as a member of the family of a resident individual, while the A2 level is for those who want to extend a spouse or parent visa. Finally, applicants applying for indefinite permission to stay or British citizenship must pass the B1 test.
Also read : IELTS Requirement for UK Visas and Immigration
Test dates for IELTS 2022
They provide IELTS exam dates throughout the year for both types of IELTS exams.so, you must select a day that coincides with your application deadline. Since the IELTS test is so popular, it is recommended that candidates reserve a seat before the registration period. You cannot see the session on the online registration system once all the exam spots have been allocated, and the session is full. The following are the test dates for both types of IELTS 2022.
May 2022 – IELTS test dates with test type
| IELTS test dates | IELTS Test type |
| 7th May 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 12th May 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 21st May 2022 | Academic |
| 28th May 2022 | Academic and General Training |
June 2022- IELTS test dates with test type
| IELTS test dates | IELTS test type |
| 4th June 2022 | Academic |
| 11th June 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 16th June 2022 | Academic |
| 25th June 2022 | Academic and General Training |
July 2022 – IELTS test dates with test type
| IELTS test dates | IELTS test type |
| 7th July 2022 | Academic |
| 9th July 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 16th July 2022 | Academic |
| 23rd July 2022 | Academic and General Training |
August 2022- IELTS test dates with test type
| IELTS test dates | IELTS test type |
| 6thAugust 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 11thAugust 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 20thAugust 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 27th August 2022 | Academic |
September 2022 – IELTS test dates with test type
| IELTS test dates | IELTS test type |
| 3rdSeptember 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 10thSeptember 2022 | Academic |
| 15thSeptember 2022 | Academic |
| 24th September 2022 | Academic and General Training |
October 2022 – IELTS test dates with test type
| IELTS test dates | IELTS test Type |
| 8th October 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 13th October 2022 | Academic |
| 22nd October 2022 | Academic |
| 29th October 2022 | Academic and General Training |
November 2022 – IELTS test dates with test type
| IELTS test Dates | IELTS test Type |
| 5th November 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 10th November 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 19th November 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 26th November 2022 | Academic |
December 2022 – IELTS test dates with test type
| IELTS test dates | IELTS test type |
| 3rd December 2022 | Academic and General Training |
| 8th December 2022 | Academic |
| 10th December 2022 | Academic |
| 17th December 2022 | Academic and General Training |
Things you should know : IELTS Booking
FAQs
✅ What are 4 types of IELTS?
Ans: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking are the 4 elements of the IELTS exam. Academic and General Training are the two different types of IELTS exams. Both types of IELTS have the same Speaking and Listening assessments. However, the Reading and Writing tests are separate in both types of IELTS tests.
✅ How many types of IELTS are there?
Ans: There are 2 types of IELTS exams for students. IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Both examinations measure your listening, reading, writing, and speaking abilities in English.
✅ What is the difference between Academic and General IELTS?
Ans: As there are 2 different types of IELTS: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training exams, There is the main difference between them in the IELTS Writing and Reading tests. The Academic test will cover topics that are suitable for students entering university or specialized schools. However, Topics of general interest will be included in the General Training test.
✅ Which IELTS should I take?
Ans: As there are different types of IELTS tests, which type of IELTS test is to be taken is based on your need. However, The IELTS Academic test is required if you want to study in an English-speaking nation. And The IELTS General Training test is suggested for work or immigration.
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