• IELTS

IELTS Academic or IELTS General

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  • 3 min Read
  • By:CANAM Group
  • Updated On:May 12,2023 01:51 PM IST

IELTS Academic & IELTS General are the two major types of IELTS exams. IELTS Academic test is made for students aspiring to study english language, IELTS General test is the most suitable option for professionals wanting to work abroad. In this blog, you will get all the information about these two IELTS exam types that will further help you explore what aligns the best with your educational and professional goals.

ielts academic or ielts general.webpIELTS Academic or IELTS General

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System that measures the language proficiency of a candidate who either wishes to move abroad on permanent residency (PR) or plan to  and  where English is used as a language of communication. The English language skills are judged through this test in four modules: Speaking, Listening, Writing and Reading. IELTS exam uses a nine band scale to identify levels of language proficiency of a candidate, from non user (0 bands) to an expert (9bands).

Two types of IELTS exam: IELTS Academic and IELTS General IELTS Academic Training:

The IELTS academic module is mainly aimed by candidates who wish to study in an international institute. Although, there can be a certain requirements of bands in each module or overall score depending on country, college and university. However, some people who immigrate or wish to work in an English speaking environment may be required to do the academic module. IELTS General Training: The IELTS general training module is for people who wish to move to an English-speaking country such as study in Canada, UK, USA, Australia, and New Zealand.

1.Listening

The listening section in both the tests consists of four parts with four separate recording sections with forty questions in total. The only thing to be kept in mind when practicing the speaking test is that candidate only gets to hear the recording once and it lasts for around thirty minutes or so.

2.Speaking:

However, speaking is divided into three parts and should last for a maximum of fourteen minutes only. A single candidate has a face to face conversation with a single examiner and the whole conversation is recorded. These three parts include a conversation on topics of general interest, a general interest topic is given to the candidate by the examiner, and the candidate must speak on her/his own for one to two minutes, and finally another conversation includes abstract, related topics, or any other general topic.

3.Reading:

However, the Reading test is different for the IELTS academic and IELTS general training modules. The academic reading consists of three long reading passages with forty questions in total and candidates have one hour to complete the test. The texts are more academically orientated in the academic training texts. Whereas, the general training reading test is also in three sections and, also lasts an hour. Section one has two or three texts and targeting subjects that tests candidates to operate in an English environment. Section two has two texts on training or work topics. Section three has one longer text that makes the total number of questions forty in total.

4.Writing:

Both the IELTS academic and IELTS general training writing tests consists of two sections.

The candidates are thus advised to complete both the tasks in 1 hour by spending twenty minutes on section 1 and forty minutes on section 2. In the academic writing test, section 1 asks candidates to describe the information presented in some kind of graph or image. Often combinations of charts are given, whereas in the general training writing test, section 1 requires the candidate to write a short letter formal or informal in response to the information given.

In section 2 academic, and in general the candidates are asked to write a short essay on a topic of general interest. To be able to crack the IELTS test academic/general, proper guidance and IELTS coaching is required for desired results. In case you are looking for an IELTS coaching institute that may help me in cracking the test in top band score than stop worrying anymore. Canamprep is here to serve you. Excellent and experienced faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, regular mock tests and individualized attention provided to the students makes it the most preferred IELTS coaching institute across the region.

FAQ

IELTS Academic exam is designed for people that are planning to pursue their higher education or seeking professional registration in an English-speaking environment. It reflects aspects of academic language and assesses whether you're ready to begin studying or training. The IELTS General Training, on the other hand, is for those planning to undertake non-academic training, work experience, or immigration purposes.
It depends on the specific requirements of the country you're immigrating to. Some countries might accept both, while others might specify one over the other. For example, for immigration to Canada, IELTS General Training is typically required. It's always best to check the specific requirements of the country where you plan to immigrate.
Yes, the Listening and Speaking sections are the same for both versions of the IELTS test. The differences come in the Reading and Writing sections, where the Academic test tends to be more focused on academic skills like interpreting graphs and understanding complex texts, while the General Training test focuses on everyday skills like reading newspapers and writing letters.
Both tests are designed to assess your English language proficiency accurately and do not aim to be easier or harder than the other. However, you might find one test easier depending on your English skills and familiarity with the test content. If you're more comfortable with academic English, you may find the IELTS Academic easier, while if your English is more geared towards everyday use, you may find the IELTS General Training easier.
It is possible within a specific time frame before the test date, depending on the policy of test center. However, it's advised to register for the correct test version that suits your purpose from the beginning to avoid any complications.

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