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If you plan to study in higher education or seek professional registration in an English-speaking country, you might need to take an IELTS Academic.
IELTS Academic assesses your English-language proficiency at an academic level to determine whether you are ready to study at an undergraduate or post graduate level, or work in a professional setting, such as doctor, nurse, teacher or lawyer.
The Academic test looks at your English-language proficiency across the four skillsets, listening, reading, writing and speaking. The Listening and Speaking parts of the test are the same for both Academic and General Training, while the Reading and Writing parts are different.
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As IELTS is an international test, a variety of voices and native-speaker accents are used in both the General Training and Academic tests.
Of course! Every test question that appears on the IELTS test is designed, screened and tested by Cambridge Assessment English (CAE) to ensure it meets standard requirements before being released as test material. This can take up to two years to ensure every question complies with our high standards for all test takers.
Our research ensures IELTS remains fair and unbiased for anyone who sits the test, regardless of nationality, background, gender or lifestyle. Our highly trusted team ensures every version of the test is of comparable difficulty.
IELTS Academic and General Training are two wholly separate types of test, for two different purposes. While some individual organisations may accept an Academic result in the place of a General Training one, this decision is up to them. You will need to contact your specific organisation to learn more.
IELTS may be a requirement for entering your desired course in an educational institution. It is also used in many countries as a part of their migration assessment. If you are not sure as to why you might need to sit the IELTS test or about the score you need, contact the organisation you are applying to.
They will be able to provide further information, including whether native speakers need to complete the IELTS test. Even if English is your primary language, you will still need to prepare for the test.
The minimum age you can take IELTS varies by your location. In most countries there is no (minimum or maximum) age limit for the IELTS test.
That being said, it is not recommended that anyone under the age of 16 sits the test. Test takers under 18 will be chaperoned to the test rooms, from the test rooms, and while they undertake their Speaking test.
You can book the IELTS test on our IELTS online booking system in a location that is convenient for you. To book your IELTS test successfully, you will need to have a soft copy of a valid ID. This can be a passport, UMID, PRC with your DOB, SSS with DOB or GSIS.
IELTS Academic or General Training: Which do you need?
Find out the differences between IELTS Academic and General Training so you can choose which one is best for you.
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