Is the Reading section different for me if I take IELTS Academic instead of General Training?
IELTS Academic and General Training Reading use similar question types, such as sentence completion and multiple-choice, and test the same skills. The difference is the text. Academic uses three long texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers, while General Training uses everyday and workplace texts.
Both IELTS Academic Reading and General Training Reading test the same skills, such as finding specific information and identifying opinions, and use similar question styles. The real difference is the type of text you read.
Academic vs General Training Reading
| Aspect | Academic Reading | General Training Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Question styles | Sentence completion, multiple-choice and similar types | The same styles |
| Skills tested | Finding specific information and identifying opinions | The same skills |
| Texts | Three long texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers | Three texts covering social survival, workplace survival and general reading |
What the General Training Texts Cover
- Social survival: notices, advertisements and timetables.
- Workplace survival: job descriptions, contracts and staff development and training materials.
- General reading: newspapers, magazines, and fictional and non-fictional book extracts.
Academic texts suit students who wish to apply to universities in English-speaking countries. Always check which version your university or visa category asks for on its official page.
My Advice
Confirm which version your target university accepts before you register. Then practise with passages of that type, because the vocabulary and style differ even though the question types look familiar.
IELTS, PTE or Duolingo: which should you take?
Find out which test your universities accept, and which is easiest for you.
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