IELTS General Training test

If you plan to migrate to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, taking an IELTS General Training test makes sense. Or if you plan on studying in secondary education, or enrolling in vocational training, this might still be the right choice.

But if you plan to study in higher education or want professional registration in an English-speaking country, you might need to take an IELTS Academic test.

If you take IELTS on computer, you will do the tests in the following order on the same day: Listening, Reading and Writing, with the Speaking test before or after this test session.

If you take IELTS on paper, you will do the tests in the following order: Writing, Reading and Listening. Depending on the test centre, the Speaking test can be done on the same day, or up to 7 days either before or after the test date.

IELTS and IELTS for UKVI are the exact same test in terms of format, content, scoring and level of difficulty. The only difference is an IELTS for UKVI test is approved by the UK Home Office for work, study and migration purposes.

If you take an IELTS for UKVI test, your test report form will be a little different to show you have taken an IELTS for UKVI test at an approved test centre.

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 band score you need to migrate to a particular country varies. Check our Who accepts IELTS page to check what band score you need.