IELTS General Training test

Why take an Academic test when you don't need to? The IELTS General Training test examines your English using every-day, non-academic English, and is accepted for migration, secondary education and work experience in New Zealand.* 

In New Zealand, you can take the IELTS General Training test on paper or on computer. 

*Always check with your migration agent, education consultant or workplace to find out which IELTS test you need. 

Book an IELTS General Training test 

IELTS for Migration to New Zealand 

If you like the opportunity to live, study or work in New Zealand, there are many visa options available to you. There is a study visa, skilled, sponsored work visa and business visa. Some of these may lead to Permanent Residency (PR) in New Zealand. 

IELTS Migration Guide for work & study 

Free IELTS General Training practice material

• We have the largest range of IELTS General Training test preparation online. Access a free IELTS General Training online module when you book your test. Find out how. 

• Practise completing IELTS General Training tasks under test conditions. Review your answers to model answers and gain valuable test practice experience with these free practice tests. 

IELTS Academic and IELTS General training are comprised of the same four sections of the test: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

The Listening and Speaking sections are the same, but the Reading and Writing tests are where they differ.

IELTS General Training focuses mainly on assessing a person’s proficiency, confidence and comfort when communicating in English in daily situations that they are likely to encounter in a native English-speaking environment.

Reading Test

In the IELTS General Training Reading test you will be presented with passages from brochures and advertisements. These are materials that you may come across every day.

Read more about the question types in the IELTS General Training Reading test

Writing Test

In the IELTS General Training Writing test, you're required to write about general topics instead of academic ones. Just like IELTS Academic, for the General Training Writing test you also have to complete two tasks:

• The IELTS Writing Task 1 asks you to write a letter based on a given situation. The letter could be formal or informal and would be about a request, explanation or a viewpoint supporting the situation.

• The IELTS Writing Task 2 is the same for both Academic and General Training. You would need to write a formal essay in response to a statement or premise.

Read more about the question types in the IELTS General Training Writing test