IELTS Academic or General Training: What's the Difference and Which One to Choose
Updated
IELTS has two versions. The main rule for choosing is simple: check the requirements of the organisation where you are applying. The required test type is stated directly, and a mistake costs money and time.
Who Needs Which Version
| Academic | General Training |
|---|---|
| bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes | work abroad |
| professional registration: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers | immigration programmes (for example, Canada and Australia) |
| some student visas | secondary school and college below university level |
For test takers from India, Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines, this usually means: Academic for admission to universities in the UK, Canada, Australia and elsewhere, and for professional registration; General Training for work and immigration routes, such as Canada Express Entry or Australian skilled migration.
What Is the Same
- Listening: the same 4 parts and 40 questions.
- Speaking: the same 3 parts — Part 1, Part 2 cue card, Part 3.
- Timing and test rules are identical, and both versions are taken at an official test centre.
How They Differ
| Academic | General Training | |
|---|---|---|
| Reading texts | 3 long academic texts | short notices and instructions, workplace documents, plus one long article |
| Reading band scores | 30 out of 40 ≈ band 7.0 | more correct answers needed: 30 out of 40 ≈ band 6.0, 34 ≈ band 7.0 |
| Writing Task 1 | describing a chart, table, process or map | letter (formal, semi-formal or informal) |
| Writing Task 2 | essay | essay, topics are usually more everyday and general |
The assessment criteria for Writing — Task Achievement / Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy — and for Speaking — Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, Pronunciation — are the same for both versions. The Overall band score is calculated in the same way.
Which Version Is "Easier"?
General Training often feels easier because of the texts, but the Reading band score conversion is stricter. So choosing on the basis of "where it is easier" makes no sense: choose the version your organisation requires.
Preparation Materials
Textbooks and collections of practice tests are usually published separately for Academic and General Training. Check the cover: practising Reading and Writing for the wrong version is almost useless. For more details, see the article "Best Textbooks for IELTS Preparation".
IELTS Test Focuses on Academic
Our platform is focused on IELTS Academic: mock tests replicate the Academic format, and guides are designed for band 8–9, which are needed for top universities and professional registration. For more on the format, see the article "IELTS Academic Format".
FAQ
Which IELTS is needed for studies?
Academic. It is required for admission to bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes and for professional registration.
Which IELTS is easier?
General Training is often considered easier for Reading texts, but you need more correct answers in Reading to get the same band score.
Can Academic be used instead of General Training?
Sometimes yes, but not always. Check the requirements of your organisation — the required test type is stated directly.
Next step
Mock test
IELTS mock test
Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking in the computer-based test format and IELTS band forecast on the 0–9 scale.
6 USDone-time
Go to mock testGuide
IELTS Academic for 8+: The Complete Preparation Strategy
The complete strategy: from diagnosis to exam day. No filler and no memorised templates.
15 USD
Open guide