What Is IELTS ?
IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication. IELTS is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL), British Council and IDP:IELTS Australia.
IELTS conforms to the highest international standards of language assessment. It covers the four language skills:
- Listening,
- Reading,
- Writing
- Speaking.
All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules.
There are two versions of IELTS to choose from:
IELTS Academic
IELTS General Training
Which version of IELTS is right for you? Check with the organisations you wish to apply to before you book your test!
Make sure you know which one you need before you book your test.
What do you want to do?
I want to:
The version you need,
You should take IELTS Academic
I want to:
The version you need,
You should take IELTS General Training
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACADEMIC IELTS AND GENERAL TRAINING IELTS TEST
All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking test. However, there is a choice between Academic and General Training in the Reading and Writing test.
“Which version of the IELTS should I take? The Academic or the General Version?”
This is important because the scores are not interchangeable so there’s no point in studying for or appearing for the wrong exam! We strongly encourage you to find out specifically, in your case, which version of the exam you need to do, based on the requirements of your receiving institution.
The Academic IELTS exam is the more advanced test. This version is generally used to determine whether candidates are qualified to enroll in undergraduate and graduate academic programs where English is the medium of instruction.
The General IELTS exam is the simpler test. It focuses on basic survival skills in social and educational contexts. It is generally requested for candidates applying for immigration, working in certain professions, or studying at a non-degree level.
The main similarities and Differences in the General and Academic IELTS:
Same Different
Listening Module Reading Module
Speaking Module Writing Module
The detailed shows the requirements of each version of the IELTS exam.
Listening (Same test for Academic and General Versions)
Types of Questions:
- sentence completion
- notes / diagrams / flow chart completion
Details:
- 4 Sections
- 40 Items
- 30 minutes
General Reading Academic Reading
Types of Exercises: Types of Exercises:
- Texts from advertisements, newspapers, - General, non-specialist and academic text .
instruction manuals, notices, leaflets,
- 3 Sections - 3 Sections
- 40 Items - 40 Items
- 60 minutes - 60 minutes
General Writing Academic Writing
Types of Exercises: Types of Exercises:
2 Tasks 2 Tasks
- 1 essay (250 words) - 1 essay (250 words)
Details: Details:
- 60 minutes - 60 minutes
Speaking (Same test for Academic and General Versions)
Live, oral interview of about 11-14 minutes with an examiner.
Details:
3 sections
Section 1 – Candidate asked personal information, like at first meeting
Section 2 – Candidate delivers monologue of 1-2 minutes on given subject
Section 3 – Candidate answers more advanced questions to expand on Section 2
HOW THE IELTS IS STRUCTURE
IELTS is divided into in two parts: written and oral
The written part consists of Listening, Reading, and Writing tests and must be completed on the same day. There is no break between the tests. The oral part of the test may be taken within the period of 2 days before or after the written part.
LISTENING MODULE TASK TYPES:
The following types of question may appear on the test:
- multiple choice
- short-answer questions
- sentence completion
- notes/summary/diagram/flow chart/table completion
- labelling a diagram which has numbered parts
- classification
- matching
READING MODULE TASK TYPES:
These are the types of question you can expect to see in the test:
- short-answer questions
- multiple choice
- sentence completion
- notes/summary/diagram/flow chart/table completion
- choosing a heading for a paragraph
- identification of writer's views/claims - yes, no or not given
- identification of information - true, false or not given
- classification
- matching lists/phrases.
- labelling a diagram
- locating information
WRITING MODULE TASK TYPES:
ACADEMIC WRITING
TASK 1 : you are given visual information (graph-table-chart-diagram)
TASK 2: you are presented with a point of views, an argument or a problem.
GENERAL TRAINING WRITING
TASK 1 : you must write a letter requesting information or explaining a situation.
TASK 2: you are presented with a point of views, an argument or a problem.
SPEAKING MODULE TASK TYPES:
Part 1: introduction and interview
Part 2: Individual Long Turn
Part 3: Two-way discussion
IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication. IELTS is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL), British Council and IDP:IELTS Australia.
IELTS conforms to the highest international standards of language assessment. It covers the four language skills:
- Listening,
- Reading,
- Writing
- Speaking.
All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules.
There are two versions of IELTS to choose from:
IELTS Academic
IELTS General Training
Which version of IELTS is right for you? Check with the organisations you wish to apply to before you book your test!
Make sure you know which one you need before you book your test.
What do you want to do?
I want to:
- study at university at undergraduate or postgraduate level
- join a professional organisation in an English-speaking country
The version you need,
You should take IELTS Academic
I want to:
- train or study at below degree level
- work or undertake work-related training in an English-speaking country
- emigrate to an English-speaking country
The version you need,
You should take IELTS General Training
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACADEMIC IELTS AND GENERAL TRAINING IELTS TEST
All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking test. However, there is a choice between Academic and General Training in the Reading and Writing test.
“Which version of the IELTS should I take? The Academic or the General Version?”
This is important because the scores are not interchangeable so there’s no point in studying for or appearing for the wrong exam! We strongly encourage you to find out specifically, in your case, which version of the exam you need to do, based on the requirements of your receiving institution.
The Academic IELTS exam is the more advanced test. This version is generally used to determine whether candidates are qualified to enroll in undergraduate and graduate academic programs where English is the medium of instruction.
The General IELTS exam is the simpler test. It focuses on basic survival skills in social and educational contexts. It is generally requested for candidates applying for immigration, working in certain professions, or studying at a non-degree level.
The main similarities and Differences in the General and Academic IELTS:
Same Different
Listening Module Reading Module
Speaking Module Writing Module
The detailed shows the requirements of each version of the IELTS exam.
Listening (Same test for Academic and General Versions)
Types of Questions:
- - multiple choice
- sentence completion
- notes / diagrams / flow chart completion
Details:
- 4 Sections
- 40 Items
- 30 minutes
General Reading Academic Reading
Types of Exercises: Types of Exercises:
- Texts from advertisements, newspapers, - General, non-specialist and academic text .
instruction manuals, notices, leaflets,
- timetables, books & magazine
- 3 Sections - 3 Sections
- 40 Items - 40 Items
- 60 minutes - 60 minutes
General Writing Academic Writing
Types of Exercises: Types of Exercises:
2 Tasks 2 Tasks
- 1 essay (250 words) - 1 essay (250 words)
Details: Details:
- 60 minutes - 60 minutes
Speaking (Same test for Academic and General Versions)
Live, oral interview of about 11-14 minutes with an examiner.
Details:
3 sections
Section 1 – Candidate asked personal information, like at first meeting
Section 2 – Candidate delivers monologue of 1-2 minutes on given subject
Section 3 – Candidate answers more advanced questions to expand on Section 2
HOW THE IELTS IS STRUCTURE
IELTS is divided into in two parts: written and oral
The written part consists of Listening, Reading, and Writing tests and must be completed on the same day. There is no break between the tests. The oral part of the test may be taken within the period of 2 days before or after the written part.
LISTENING MODULE TASK TYPES:
The following types of question may appear on the test:
- multiple choice
- short-answer questions
- sentence completion
- notes/summary/diagram/flow chart/table completion
- labelling a diagram which has numbered parts
- classification
- matching
READING MODULE TASK TYPES:
These are the types of question you can expect to see in the test:
- short-answer questions
- multiple choice
- sentence completion
- notes/summary/diagram/flow chart/table completion
- choosing a heading for a paragraph
- identification of writer's views/claims - yes, no or not given
- identification of information - true, false or not given
- classification
- matching lists/phrases.
- labelling a diagram
- locating information
WRITING MODULE TASK TYPES:
ACADEMIC WRITING
TASK 1 : you are given visual information (graph-table-chart-diagram)
TASK 2: you are presented with a point of views, an argument or a problem.
GENERAL TRAINING WRITING
TASK 1 : you must write a letter requesting information or explaining a situation.
TASK 2: you are presented with a point of views, an argument or a problem.
SPEAKING MODULE TASK TYPES:
Part 1: introduction and interview
Part 2: Individual Long Turn
Part 3: Two-way discussion