IELTS Academic Vs General - Key differences
PI - Prepare IELTS
2024-01-25
2024-01-25
Do you want to take the IELTS Exam but are confused about IELTS Academic Vs General training? If you want to know the differences between the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Exam before applying, then you are at the right place.
The IELTS Academic Exam and IELTS General Training Tests are conducted for different purposes. Selecting the appropriate test helps in the successful completion of your goals. The IELTS Academic test is intended for university admissions, whereas the IELTS General test is designed for work and migration purposes. It is essential to verify the specific language requirements of your preferred institution before scheduling your test.
This blog has provided all the difference between Academic and General IELTS. If you want to study, work, or immigrate abroad, then you must read this blog.
There are 2 types of IELTS Exams – Academic and General. Understanding both types of IELTS exams is essential before applying, as both exams are conducted for different purposes.
The IELTS Academic Exam is specifically designed for individuals seeking admission to higher education institutions or professional registration in English-speaking countries. It evaluates the test taker's ability to understand complex academic language, to use English during the study, as well as their English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in an academic context. Students applying for undergraduate or postgraduate programs and professionals in fields like medicine or law typically take the IELTS Academic Exam.
The IELTS General Training is geared towards those planning to migrate to an English-speaking country for work, training programs, or secondary education. It assesses practical English language skills needed in everyday social and workplace contexts.
The test includes modules on reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Individuals seeking immigration to countries like Canada, Australia, or the UK for purposes other than academic study often opt for the IELTS General Training.
Understanding the difference between Academic and General IELTS Training is crucial for test takers to select the most suitable test based on their goals and aspirations. Below, you can check the major IELTS General vs Academic differences for various aspects.
| Aspect | IELTS Academic Exam | IELTS General Training |
|---|---|---|
|
Purpose |
Admission to academic institutions or professional registration. |
Migration purposes, secondary education, and work-related training. |
|
Reading Section |
Texts are more complex and include academic content. |
Texts are generally taken from newspapers, advertisements, and everyday sources. |
|
Describes and interprets visual information (graphs, charts, tables). |
Writes a letter based on a given situation or expresses a viewpoint. |
|
|
Writing Task 2 |
Presents an argument or gives an opinion on a particular topic. |
Responds to a point of view, argument, or problem. |
|
Listening Section |
Features academic lectures, discussions, and conversations. |
Emphasises everyday social and workplace scenarios. |
|
Speaking Section |
Discusses familiar and unfamiliar topics with an emphasis on academic contexts. |
Covers general topics related to daily life, experiences, and opinions. |
|
Test Duration |
Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. |
Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. |
|
Suitable Applicants |
Students applying for higher education or professional registration. |
Individuals migrating for work, training, or secondary education. |
Many individuals preparing for the IELTS exam find themselves in a dilemma regarding whether to opt for IELTS Academic Vs General Training. The ongoing confusion surrounding the IELTS General vs Academic differences often leads to questions such as, Which exam should I take? or Which is best for PR - IELTS Academic Vs General? The students frequently ask these questions.
However, which IELTS Test is suitable for you entirely depends on your purpose in taking the test. If you want to go abroad to study or for a professional organisation, then the IELTS Academic test is suitable for you. Meanwhile, the IELTS General test is designed for migration, work or training, and PR purposes. Choose your goal from the table below and find which IELTS Test suits you.
| S.No. | GOAL | TEST TYPE |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Undergraduate level |
IELTS Academic |
|
2 |
Postgraduate level |
|
|
3 |
Doctorate |
|
|
4 |
Post-Doctoral |
|
|
5 |
For Professional organisation |
|
|
6 |
Below degree level |
IELTS General |
|
7 |
Migration |
|
|
8 |
Work or training |
|
|
9 |
Another job in own country |
|
|
10 |
Permanent Residency |
Choosing the right IELTS exam from IELTS General and Academic for studying abroad is crucial for aspiring students.
It is recommended to choose the IELTS Academic exam if pursuing higher education, as it assesses skills relevant to academic environments, including interpreting graphs and writing essays. However, the band score requirement may vary as per your university and program. So, you must always be aware of the score expectations that the organisations have.
When deciding between IELTS General vs Academic for job-related endeavours, the choice depends on the nature of the position and employer requirements. IELTS General Training is typically more suitable for job-related scenarios, especially if the position involves everyday communication in an English-speaking workplace. This version assesses practical language skills relevant to the professional environment, making it a fitting choice for those seeking employment abroad.
On the other hand, the IELTS Academic Exam may be more applicable for specific jobs, especially if the role demands a higher level of English language proficiency, such as in academia (Teaching job) or research work.
For individuals considering Permanent Residency (PR) in an English-speaking country, the choice between IELTS General vs Academic is influenced by immigration requirements. Generally, IELTS General Training is commonly accepted for PR purposes, as it evaluates language skills necessary for social integration and daily life in a new country. However, it is essential to check specific immigration policies to ensure compliance with the language proficiency criteria for successful PR applications.
Choosing to take the IELTS Academic vs General Training exam depends on your specific goals and purposes. Here's a breakdown of why you might opt for each:
University Admission - If your objective is to pursue higher education at an English-speaking university, the IELTS Academic exam is tailored to assess your language proficiency within an academic context.
Professional Registration - Certain professional bodies and licensing organisations may require proof of English language proficiency, and the IELTS Academic exam is widely accepted for this purpose.
Academic Skills Evaluation - The Academic version evaluates your ability to understand complex academic language, making it suitable for those entering academic environments.
Migration Purposes - If your goal is to migrate to an English-speaking country for work, training, or secondary education, the IELTS General Training is often a requirement for visa applications.
Workplace Communication - Designed to assess practical language skills needed for daily social interactions and workplace communication, the General Training version is appropriate for professionals seeking employment abroad.
Secondary Education - Individuals planning to study at secondary educational institutions or undergo training programs in an English-speaking environment may find the General Training exam applicable.
The IELTS Academic and General tests have some differences and similarities. Candidates must know them to get better clarification of both exams. Here, we have provided you with the difference between academic and general IELTS.
The registration fees for IELTS Academic and IELTS General are identical at INR 16,250. However, the IELTS test fee varies in India depending on the test type. Candidates can pay the test fees through credit card/debit card/demand draft/direct cash deposit at an authorised bank. It is essential to pay the fees to complete your IELTS test registration.
The IELTS General and Academic versions differ in focus and content across four modules. Check the difference in all 4 modules below.
| Module | Academic | General |
|---|---|---|
|
Listening |
Emphasises academic contexts, including lectures and discussions in educational settings. |
Involves everyday scenarios, such as social situations and workplace communication. |
|
Reading |
Involves academic texts, like articles and journals, testing higher-level comprehension. |
Features texts from newspapers, advertisements, and workplace documents. |
|
Writing |
Involves descriptive and analytical writing tasks, such as summarising information or presenting arguments. |
Requires letter writing and essay tasks based on everyday situations. |
|
Speaking |
Includes discussions on academic themes, often incorporating data interpretation. |
Focuses on general topics related to daily life, experiences, and opinions. |
The eligibility criteria for IELTS Academic and General Training are generally the same, as both versions are open to individuals of all backgrounds and ages. The choice between Academic and General Training depends on the purpose of the test.
IELTS Academic Exam Eligibility
Suitable for those planning to pursue higher education or professional registration.
Typically required by universities and institutions for undergraduate or postgraduate admissions.
IELTS General Training Eligibility
Intended for individuals migrating to English-speaking countries for work, training, or secondary education.
Often required for immigration and employment purposes.
The scoring system for both IELTS General Training and Academic versions is the same. Each of the 4 test modules; Listening, Writing, Reading, and Speaking - is scored on a scale from 0 to 9. These individual scores are then averaged to calculate the overall band score.
The band scores reflect different levels of English proficiency:
Band 1 to 4 - Limited user
Band 5 to 6 - Modest user
Band 7 to 8 - Competent user
Band 9 - Expert user
However, the Raw Score and band score may differ for each module of academic and general exams. To get an idea about the difference in IELTS general vs academic score, we have provided you with the band score compared to a raw score for the reading section from the table below.
| IELTS General vs Academic Score Difference in Reading Section | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Raw Score |
Academic Band Score |
Raw Score |
General Band Score |
|
39-40 |
9 |
40 |
9 |
|
37-38 |
8.5 |
39 |
8.5 |
|
35-36 |
8 |
37-38 |
8 |
|
33-34 |
7.5. |
36 |
7.5. |
|
30-32 |
7 |
34-35 |
7 |
|
27-29 |
6.5 |
32-33 |
6.5 |
|
23-26 |
6 |
30-31 |
6 |
|
19-22 |
5.5 |
27-29 |
5.5 |
|
15-18 |
5 |
23-26 |
5 |
|
13-14 |
4.5 |
19-22 |
4.5 |
|
10-12 |
4 |
15-18 |
4 |
|
8-9 |
3.5 |
12-14 |
3.5 |
|
6-7 |
3 |
9-11 |
3 |
The availability of IELTS exam dates, whether for IELTS Academic or General Training, varies depending on the test centre and location. The IELTS offers tests throughout the year, and candidates can usually choose from various available dates.
To find specific IELTS Academic or General Training exam dates, you can check our Blog – IELTS Exam Dates 2024 in India.
A basic guideline for academic exam preparation is often around 2 to 3 months. In comparison, general training preparation requires around 1 to 3 months. However, the time required to prepare for the IELTS exam, whether Academic or General Training, varies depending on individual proficiency, familiarity with the test format, and target band scores. The following factors influence the timeframe of exam preparation -
Current English Proficiency
Target Band Score
Familiarity with Test Format
Daily Study Routine
Practice Tests and Feedback
Language Skills Enhancement
Resource Utilization
Which IELTS version might be difficult - this is the question that everyone has.
The difficulty level of IELTS Academic vs General Training is subjective and varies from individual to individual.
However, most of the candidates find difficulties in general writing tasks. On the other hand, misunderstanding the question type in the listening section is more difficult in academic exams.
The difficulty in comparing IELTS General and Academic is nuanced, and the perception of which is easier depends on individual circumstances.
IELTS Academic, tailored for those pursuing higher education, introduces complexities with academic texts, specialised vocabulary, and analytical writing tasks. The challenge lies in the demand for a higher level of proficiency in academic English, requiring test-takers to navigate intricate language structures and critically analyse information. On the other hand, IELTS General Training, designed for work, immigration, or training, emphasises everyday communication skills in common social and workplace contexts.
While the content may seem more practical for many, it does not necessarily imply lower difficulty, as success still demands proficiency in diverse language scenarios. Some individuals may find the Academic version more challenging due to its academic-oriented nature, while others might perceive the practicality of General Training as a better fit.
Eventually, the choice between the two versions should align with personal goals, ensuring a strategic and focused preparation approach that maximises performance in either the Academic or General IELTS test.
In the end, the choice between IELTS Academic Vs General Training tests depends on individual goals and purposes. The IELTS Academic Exam is tailored for those pursuing higher education, emphasising academic language skills. At the same time, the IELTS General Training is designed for work, immigration, or training, focusing on everyday communication. Both versions share common modules but differ in content, making it crucial for test-takers to align their choice with their specific aspirations. Above, we have covered the IELTS general vs academic difference. Understanding the difference between academic and general IELTS ensures a more effective preparation strategy, ultimately leading to Academic or General IELTS test success.
We hope the above information regarding IELTS Academic Vs General will be helpful for you to understand both exams. However, if you are seeking guidance in choosing the IELTS exam, you can contact Prepare IELTS Exam (PI) expert counsellors for further guidance. Our team of education experts is dedicated to providing you with the best guidance in the IELTS exam. You can get a one-on-one counselling session online via our platform. Contact us at info@prepareieltsexam.com or call us at +91 9773398388.
The key difference lies in the purpose – Academic is for higher education, while General Training is for work, immigration, or training.
While there are similarities, using materials specific to the chosen version is advisable to align with the content differences.
IELTS Difficulty is subjective and depends on individual strengths. The academic exam may be more challenging for some due to its academic focus.
Yes, the scoring system is identical. Both versions are scored on a scale from 0 to 9 in each module. However, the raw score and band score may differ for each academic and general training module.
No, you must choose the version you want to take when registering for the IELTS test. Switching between the two on the day of the exam is impossible.
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