Difference Between IELTS Academic and General Test

What is IELTS?

• IELTS Stands for International English language Testing System. This exam is designed to judge the English Proficiency of candidates.
• IELTS is jointly managed worldwide by Cambridge ESOL, British Council and IDP Education Australia.

Who can appear for IELTS?

• Candidates who want to study in Countries like the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore and some European Union Countries.
• An individual who wants to migrate to Canada, Australia, the UK and New Zealand are required to take IELTS as a proof of their English language proficiency.
• A person who is above 16 years and has a valid passport can appear for IELTS.

What is the Format of IELTS?

IELTS is Available in two formats, IELTS academic and general training format;

• Academic: Academic IELTS is for students who want to study abroad and want to be professionals like doctors, pharmacists and nurses who want to migrate to the UK, the USA and Australia.
• General training: General Training IELTS is for Candidates who want to migrate to countries like Canada, Australia, UK and New Zealand.

What is the Format of the exam?

There are four modules in this exam:-

Listening:

• Approximately 30 minutes + 10 Minutes transfer time given in the end. The Test is divided into four Sections.
• It has 40 Items in Total.
• Students receive a question paper in which questions are printed. Then the tape is played and the tape is going on, while the students write the answer together.
• Students get time to look at the questions before the listening starts and check their work at the end of each section.

Section	No. of Speakers	No. of Items (questions)
Section 1	2	10
Section 2	1	10
Section 3	2-4	10
Section 4	1	10

The sections of Listening module is same for both IELTS academic and general test.

Section 1:

Usually a conversation between two people on general, everyday topic. In two parts, first you are given some time to look at the questions for section 1 then you will hear the example where you will listen to the correct answer. Then the listening is played (including the example). Approx 4 minutes. You will get around 45 seconds to look at the questions.

Section 2:

Generally, social functional nature, a monologue of informative conversation (only one speaker) Can be social or academic setting. In two parts, you get around 50 seconds (In two parts) to look at the questions. There will be no spoken example. Approx 3-4 minutes.

Section 3:

Usually a conversation between two or four people. Academic setting, education, training based context. In two parts there is no example on the tape in this Section. Approx 4 minutes you will get around 50 seconds to look at the questions.

Section 4:

Usually a lecture or speech given as a monologue. It may be academic setting or education, training based context. No breaks in between this. There might be a written example. You may get a note or summary completion or multiple choice or a mixture of question types. You get approx 45 seconds to look at all the questions in the beginning of section 4. Approx 4-5 minutes. Here, the question types are divided in two parts. For Example question no. 31 to 35 are multiple choice and question no. 36 to 40 are summary or a table completion. Now when the speaker moves from question 35 to 36 when the question type changes, there will be a pause of 2-3 seconds. This pause is a hint for you that now the question type is changed.

As the listening test progresses, the recording becomes more difficult. It does not mean that it grows fast as it progresses; It becomes complex, complicated and examines the listening skills of the candidates.

Reading:

Two formats for IELTS academic and general training. 60 minutes and no extra time 40 items.

Academic Reading:

Reading passage 1	13-14 items
Reading passage 2	13-14 items
Reading passage 3	13-14 items
Total	40 Items

Reading passages are based on research, case studies and biography and they are argue mentatiue. They are taken from Journals, Textbooks or web sites.

General Training Reading:

Section 1	13- 14 Items
Section 2	13-14 Items
Section 3	13- 14 Items
Total	40 Items

Passages are taken from newspapers, magazines and catalogs and from web sites. At least one section contains detailed argumentative text.

Writing:

• Two formats Academic and General Training.
• 60 minutes and no extra time.
• Two tasks in writing.
• Minimum 150 words are required for Task 2.

Academic Writing:

Task 1: A bar chart, a Pie Chart, line graph, table, flow chart or a process and picture chart or a combination of more than one chart(s) containing figures and details.

Task 2: An essay topic is a specific topic about specific research areas. Example: environment, pollution, education, science, etc.

General Training:

Task 1: A short letter – formal, informal or Semi formal Style.

Task 2: An essay topic about day to day life exam – society, children, family, education etc.

Speaking:

• Organized on a same day other than the day of the main exam.
• 11 – 14 minutes time.
• Three parts.

Part 1:

• 4-5 minutes.
• Introduction and Interview.
• Examiner first introduces himself / herself and ask questions about familier topics to the candidate.

Part 2:

• 3 – 4 minutes
• Individual long turn.
• The candidate gets a cue card with a topic on which he / she has to speak for 1 – 2 minutes and he/she gets one minute time to prepare for the topic before he/ she starts to speak. Examiner als asks one or two follow up questions when the candidate stops speaking.

Part 3:

• 4 -5 minutes
• Extended discourse.
• The examiner asks questions that are thematically linked to the topic in part 2 and the questions are more of abstract nature.

So this is the Format and some simple answers of your MAQs that will clear your lots of doubts about IELTS academic and general training for more updated material about IELTS and Student visa keep checking our blog regularly.