Academic IELTS vs General IELTS: Difference Between Academic And General IELTS

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is designed to assess an individual’s proficiency in the English language based on four factors – listening, speaking, reading, and writing. IELTS tests are divided into two categories – Academic and General Training. It is important for students to understand the differences between IELTS academic vs general training since the test changes based on a candidate’s purpose of moving abroad – immigration, education, or work. 

Candidates appearing for the test need to achieve a band score as required by their academic institutions or other organizations. Participants receive a test report certificate on completing the test. The score is valid for two years. IELTS uses a band score ranging between one to nine.

IELTS Academic vs General Training – Which Exam to Choose?

IELTS Academic is accepted by universities and organizations of different countries. Thousands of reputed universities and colleges accept the band scores as proof of English skills. Most Australian and European universities mandate the IELTS test because it is mostly based on Australian and British English. It is accepted by both undergraduate and postgraduate universities.

IELTS General Training is for students below the degree levels. They can undertake this test if they wish to get admitted to high school (or secondary education).

Countries that Accept the Score of IELTS

IELTS is accepted in more than 100,000 universities, immigration offices, organizations, and professional corporations in 140 countries.

Some of the major countries which accept the IELTS test are as follows:

Canada

IELTS is accepted by all Canadian universities, colleges, and organizations. Students need to take this exam if they are planning to move to Canada to study, work, or live. Further, they need a minimum band score of six – with six or above in all four sections.

Recommended Read: Universities in Canada Without IELTS

USA

More than 3,000 institutions accept the IELTS test in the USA. The minimum band score varies from one institution to another but it should not be less than 6. It is necessary for candidates to score a better band score  because it is important for US visa permits.

Recommended Read: IELTS Score For USA

Australia

IELTS is accepted by educational institutions and the immigration system of Australia. Further, the validity of the IELTS score is 2 years from the date of appearing for the test. Applicants need a minimum 6 band score in every section.

Recommended Read: IELTS For Australia

Which IELTS Test is Suitable for the Students?

To understand which IELTS test is better for a student, it is important to know the difference between Academic and General Training IELTS. If education is the main purpose, applicants need to take the IELTS academic test. On the other hand, if they want to migrate to another English-speaking country then IELTS General Training is recommended. It is suggested that an aspirant should choose the exact entry requirements before choosing.

Suitable IELTS Test as Per Goal

Important Resources to Read for IELTS:

Similarities: IELTS General vs IELTS Academic

IELTS test assesses an individual on the basis of reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills. There are no differences in the listening and speaking sections of IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic. 

IELTS Speaking (Common for both)

The test format of the speaking module is a face-to-face interview that lasts for 11 – 14 minutes. The test consists of three parts:

Part 1: Here, the examiner asks questions on topics related to studies, family, and work. The interview lasts for 4 – 5 minutes.

Part 2: In this section, the candidate is asked to speak about a certain topic. The candidate will get a minute to think about it and then, speak for two minutes. The examiner will again ask questions about the same topic.

Part 3: In the last section, the candidate needs to discuss ideas and challenges related to the previous test. It lasts for a maximum of 5 minutes.

IELTS Listening Test (Common for both)

The candidate will be asked to listen to four recordings in English and then answer a series of questions. It lasts for half an hour and the purpose is to check the comprehension skills. The candidate should understand the central idea and factual information first.

1) Recording 1: It is a conversation between two persons and is related to social issues.

2) Recording 2: The candidate needs to listen to a monologue.

3) Recording 3: This is a recorded conversation between four people discussing education or training.

4) Recording 4: This is the final section in which the candidate needs to listen to a monologue on academic topics.

More Resources to Read for IELTS:

Difference between the IELTS Academic Test and the General Training Test

As suggested above, the main aim of Academic IELTS vs General IELTS is to check the candidate’s ability to read, write, listen, and speak English. The test format of the speaking and listening sections is the same for candidates appearing for the IELTS general and academic tests. However, the writing and reading sections are different.

The writing, listening, and reading modules of the IELTS tests are held on the same day without any break. The speaking section which is a face-to-face interview round can be completed one week before or after the other tests. It depends on the availability of slots at the test center. The entire duration of the test lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes.

IELTS Reading test (Different for both)

Academic Reading

Some of the differences between the Academic and General IELTS are in the Reading section. This section is designed to test the reading abilities of a person and consists of 40 questions. The allotted time for the test is 60 minutes. The candidate is asked to read different passages and answer the questions accordingly. This particular section is designed for testing higher education aspirants or working professionals.

The test includes reading three long paragraphs that can be factual, analytical, or descriptive. These paragraphs are taken from journals, magazines, research works, newspapers, or books. The candidate needs to answer related questions after reading the passages.

General Reading Test

This section is designed to check the reading skills of a person and it consists of 40 questions. These have to be answered within one hour. Candidates are provided with passages related to company guidelines, advertisements, brochures, and so on. It is believed that this test is relatively easier than the academic test. The passages contain words that are encountered regularly.

IELTS Writing Test (Different for both)

Academic Writing Test

In this test, candidates are asked to write on different topics related to their undergraduate and postgraduate studies. They are required to complete the test in one hour. In the first task, a paper containing either tables, graphs, or diagrams is handed to the candidate.

The candidate needs to define the visual information in their own words. Additionally, they could be asked to explain a flowchart. In the other tasks, candidates need to write an essay based on the data. They also need to support the data with the correct examples. The writing style should be strictly formal.

General Writing Test

In this section, the candidate needs to write about topics of general interest. The tasks need to be completed within one hour. For the first task, the candidate needs to write a formal, semi-formal, or personal letter on a situation presented to them. They need to explain the given request or argument.

Conclusion:

To cater end-to-end requirements of learners planning to pursue higher education abroad, upGrad Abroad has launched a Booster Program. The Booster Program is designed to offer support to students in preparation for IELTS, Academic Writing, Profile Building, International Faculty Masterclass, and University Application, Education Loan, and Visa Support.

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