Types of IELTS Exam

IELTS Academic is primarily for individuals planning to move abroad for higher education. The Academic exam consists of 4 modules: 
 

• Reading
• Writing
• Listening
• Speaking
   

Each module is designed to assess an array of language skills, such as your vocabulary, fluency, ability to understand complex discussions, grasp main ideas, and ability to express your thoughts and opinions clearly. 
 

Since IELTS Academic is accepted by universities for admission purposes, the questions featured are academic, formal and slightly more complex than the other types of IELTS. Along with your English proficiency skills, your IELTS scores give the university a gist of how well you will be able to thrive in an academic setting. 

IELTS Academic is the most popular of the three exams and is more widely accepted worldwide. The exam is currently priced at INR 16,250. 

You can take the IELTS Academic in computer-based and paper-based formats. However, remember that the dates will differ based on which mode you take. The computer-based tests are more frequently available. Here’s an overview. 

IELTS Results are released in 3-13 days, depending on the mode of your exam. Your results are displayed as a TRF (Test Report Form), which can be sent electronically to the university or organisation you wish to share your results with.
 

The minimum IELTS scores for higher studies in various countries, including the USA, UK and Canada, are between 6 and 6.5, depending on your degree level. 

IELTS General Training is for those who wish to move abroad for immigration and work purposes. You can only take the IELTS General Training for studies if you apply for a course below degree level. 
 

If you’re applying for a bachelor’s or a master’s, IELTS Academic is your test (unless the university specifies otherwise). 

IELTS General lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes and has the same four modules as the IELTS Academic exam: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. While the Listening and Speaking tests remain the same for both types of IELTS, the Reading and Writing tests differ. 
 

The main difference between IELTS General and Academic is the context of the questions. 
 

The IELTS General test features questions that are from everyday situations. The test aims to understand if you will be able to handle everyday situations in an English-speaking nation. 
 

Here’s an overview of the IELTS General Training. 

The IELTS General exam can be taken on the computer or paper (dates will differ). The results are released within 3-13 days of the exam, depending on the mode. You will be able to view the results online. 

The IELTS Life Skills and UKVI exam is for those who wish to move to or settle in the UK. 

There are two types of IELTS UKVI: 

The Sections, Pattern, Format and Scoring are all the same as the IELTS Academic Exam. The only difference is that IELTS UKVI Academic has to be taken at a SELT-approved test centre. 
 

The IELTS Life Skills exam is for you if:

• You’re planning to wish to move in with a spouse or relative who’s already living in the UK
• You’re planning to settle in the UK permanently or avail of British citizenship 

The IELTS Life Skills exam is a bit different than the IELTS Academic. The test is based on everyday situations such as work, weather or transport. It mainly aims to evaluate your basic English communication skills, nothing too complex or academic. 

IELTS Life Skills and IELTS UKVI are included in the Secure English Language Tests (SELT) approved by the British government. 
 

IELTS Life Skills lasts 16-22 minutes and is conducted with an examiner and a second test-taker. 

The IELTS Life Skills exam does not award the test-taker with a band score, unlike the other two IELTS exams. Instead, this test offers a simple ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’. 

A pass indicates that you will be able to manage to communicate in an English-speaking environment, while a fail indicates that you’re not ready yet.
 

The test is divided into three Common European Framework of Reference for Languages  (CEFR) levels: A1, A2, and B1. 

Below is an overview.

In each test, you must partake in short discussions surrounding everyday happenings. Each IELTS Life Skills level is built for a different visa purpose; you must apply for the exam that best fits your visa requirements. 
 

Here’s a bit about each test level.

If you’re new to IELTS, it’s normal to get confused between the IELTS Academic and General exams. Though the two exams are largely similar in nature, a few distinctive factors make them unique.

As we mentioned earlier, the main difference between the two tests is in the focus of test content. As the name suggests, the IELTS Academic is more academically oriented and slightly complex. The IELTS General, on the other hand, focuses on basic, everyday scenarios.
 

The Reading and Writing test tasks are another important distinction between the two tests. The IELTS Academic Reading features passages that are academic in nature and are sourced from Textbooks, Journals and Newspapers. On the contrary, the IELTS General Reading test sources text from Instruction Manuals, Ads and Company Guidebooks.
 

The major difference in the Writing section is the task type. There is no task to interpret visual information in IELTS General. The test focuses on less complex writing tasks like writing a letter.
 

Below is a detailed comparison between the two types of IELTS exams. 

IELTS Academic VS General: Which is Easy? 

Did you know? 80% of candidates prefer to take the IELTS academic test, while the remaining 20% prefer a general training test. 

IELTS Academic and the General Training test are created for two different purposes. Therefore, their difficulty levels vary. 

Since the IELTS General Training test is not for academic purposes, it is designed to be easier and tests you on real-life scenarios. 

On the contrary, IELTS Academic, as the name suggests, is designed for students aiming for an international education. Therefore, it’s a bit more complex and can get quite academic. 

IELTS Academic VS General: Scoring System

Both the IELTS Academic and General Training use the same 9-band scale to measure proficiency, ranging from 1 (Non-User) to 9 (Expert User). You will receive individual band scores for each section (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking) and an overall band score, which is the average of your four individual scores.