The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a globally recognized English proficiency test used for study, work, and migration. It assesses four key language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
It comes in two formats – IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. I have covered before how IELTS Academic works and how I prepared for it to achieve a good score. However, that was a part of my preparation for applying to Canadian universities. After completing my Masters degree from Lakehead University, I sat for IELTS General Training in June 2024 in preparation for my OINP application and achieved another good score of 8.5.
Since some of you have asked me to dive deeper into the contrast between these two formats of the same test, that is exactly what I am here to do!
While both tests assess your English proficiency in four key areas—Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking—they serve different purposes and have distinct formats in certain sections.
The IELTS Academic test is designed for those pursuing higher education or professional registration, while IELTS General Training is intended for immigration, work, and everyday communication. Understanding the differences between these two formats is essential to nailing your score!
So here I am highlighting the key differences between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training through a simple chart. I didn’t follow a different plan for the GT test preparation because I was going through some personal issues. So if you want any help in its preparation, you can follow my previous article on it. However, I did download some things to prepare for the GT and saved them here. Never really got the time to actually go through any of it though.
| IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Required for university/college admission and professional registration in English-speaking countries | Used for immigration, work, and secondary education in English-speaking countries |
| Reading | i) 3 long, complex texts from books, journals, newspapers, and academic sources ii) More challenging vocabulary and structures iii) Focus on analytical reading skills | i) 3 sections with texts from everyday life (e.g., advertisements, notices, company handbooks) ii) First two sections include shorter texts from daily scenarios iii) Last section has a longer, more structured text |
| Writing Task 1 | i) Describe and analyze visual data (graphs, charts, tables, maps, diagrams) ii) Requires formal language and data interpretation | i) Write a letter (formal, semi-formal, or informal) ii) Based on a real-life situation (e.g., requesting information, making a complaint) |
| Writing Task 2 | i) Formal essay (argumentative or discursive) ii) Often based on academic or abstract topics | i) Essay with a more general topic (e.g., society, work, lifestyle) ii) May require personal opinions and experiences |
| Listening | i) Slightly more academic content, especially in the last two sections ii) Sections 3 & 4 may contain academic discussions (e.g., university lectures, research topics) iii) More complex vocabulary and concepts | i) More workplace and social context in recordings ii) Sections 3 & 4 often involve workplace and community discussions (e.g., workplace training, job interviews) iii) More practical, real-life scenarios |
| Speaking | Part 1: Personal questions (hobbies, work, etc.) Part 2: Talk for 1-2 minutes on a given topic Part 3: Discussion with the examiner on abstract or related topics | Same as Academic |
Overall, the IELTS General Training test is generally easier than the Academic version, as it focuses on everyday communication and workplace interactions. However, preparation is still key to achieving a strong score.
No matter which test you take, it’s always beneficial to prepare in advance and ensure you’re well-equipped for exam day!
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