Home ›IELTS Academic vs General Training
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training share the same Listening and Speaking tests; only Reading and Writing differ. Academic is for university study and professional registration, while General Training is used mainly for migration, work and training below degree level. Both are scored on the same 0–9 band scale, but a result from one cannot be used as the other.
| IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training | |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | University and college study, and professional registration | Migration, work experience, and training below degree level |
| Listening | Same test for both — 4 parts, 40 questions | Same test for both — 4 parts, 40 questions |
| Reading | 3 long passages from books, journals, magazines and newspapers | Short everyday and workplace texts, then one longer general-interest passage |
| Writing Task 1 | Describe a graph, table, chart, map or process (at least 150 words) | Write a formal, semi-formal or informal letter (at least 150 words) |
| Writing Task 2 | Essay (at least 250 words) | Essay on a topic of general interest (at least 250 words) |
| Speaking | Same test for both — 3 parts, 11–14 minutes | Same test for both — 3 parts, 11–14 minutes |
| Band scale | 0–9 in half bands | 0–9 in half bands; Reading needs more correct answers for the same band |
Always book the exact test your university, employer or immigration authority names, including whether it must be IELTS for UKVI. A result from one version cannot be converted into the other afterwards.
Listening and Speaking are identical, so there is no difference in half of the test.
General Training Reading uses easier texts, but the conversion is stricter: band 7 needs about 34 correct answers out of 40, compared with about 30 in Academic Reading.
Writing Task 1 tests different skills rather than easier ones. Many candidates find a letter more familiar than describing data, but the tone of the letter is marked just as closely as the accuracy of a data report.
Band 9 model essays, letters and templates from the Writing library. Browse all 118 in the Learning Hub.
Daily articles on IELTS changes, visa rules and university admissions.
Cue cards, speaking questions and Writing Task 1 questions with band 9 sample answers, plus a free band score calculator.
Not necessarily. General Training Reading texts are easier, but you need more correct answers for the same band — about 34 out of 40 for band 7, against about 30 in Academic. Listening and Speaking are identical.
Most immigration programmes that use IELTS ask for General Training, but some visas accept either version. Check the official requirement for your visa before booking.
No. The two versions have different Reading and Writing papers, so a result cannot be converted. You would need to book and take the other version.
No. The Speaking and Listening tests are exactly the same for both versions.