IELTS test format

IELTS Academic

The IELTS Academic test has been developed if you wish to study at a 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 everyday, 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 from the Academic and General Training tests. The Academic test will contain topics suitable for anyone entering a university or a professional institution. 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 the IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training test.