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IELTS Academic

The IELTS Academic test has been developed if you wish to study at university or college as an undergraduate or postgraduate student or join or gain entry into a professional institution.

Find out which academic institutions and organisations accept IELTS here .

IELTS General Training

Don’t like taking academic tests? The good news is you may not need to. The IELTS General Training test has been developed to test your every-day, non-academic English.

You may need the IELTS General Training test for entry into secondary education, a college or education training centre, or to migrate to an English speaking country.

IELTS test sections explained

The IELTS test has four sections: Writing , Reading , Listening and Speaking .

The IELTS Writing and Reading tests are different in the Academic and General Training tests. The Academic test will contain topics suitable for anyone entering university or professional institutions. The General Training test will contain topics based on general interest.

The IELTS Listening and Speaking tests are the same, regardless if you choose to sit IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training test.

The organisation where you plan to work or study sets the requirements. So, before you register for your test, it’s good to check which one is right for you.

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Jay from E2 Language and IELTS Expert Rocco discuss the differences between the two tests.

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Everyone’s situation is different – this video has tips that will help you find out which IELTS test is right for you.