At a glance
| Section | Academic | General Training |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Same test | Same test |
| Speaking | Same test | Same test |
| Reading | Three long passages from books, journals and newspapers | Shorter everyday texts: notices, adverts, workplace documents, then one longer text |
| Writing Task 1 | Describe a graph, table, chart, map or process | Write a letter: formal, semi-formal or informal |
| Writing Task 2 | Academic essay on an argument or problem | Essay on a general topic, slightly less formal |
| Who asks for it | Universities and professional registration | Work visas, migration, some training courses |
1Why the choice matters more than it seems
A General Training score is not accepted for university admission, even with a high band. Students do occasionally book the wrong test because it sounded easier, and then have to pay and sit it again. Check your test type before you pay the fee.
If a university says "IELTS for UKVI", that is still Academic or General Training. The content is the same; it is taken at an approved centre for UK visa purposes. Your offer letter or the university admissions page will say which one you need.
2Is General Training easier?
The texts are more familiar, but the scoring is stricter. General Training Reading needs more correct answers for the same band than Academic Reading does, so it is not a shortcut. Writing Task 1 is a letter rather than a chart, which some people find easier and others find harder because tone matters.
Up next
IELTS band scores explained
How the 0 to 9 scale and rounding work
Written by the AdmitVerse team. Last reviewed on . AdmitVerse is not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council or IDP. For official rules and test dates, see ielts.org.