IELTS is offered in two versions — Academic and General Training — and booking the wrong one is a genuinely common, costly mistake, since they're not interchangeable for most purposes.
What's the Same
Listening and Speaking are identical in both versions — same format, same difficulty, same scoring. The difference is entirely in Reading and Writing.
What's Different: Reading
Academic Reading uses passages from books, journals, and magazines written for an academic audience. General Training Reading uses material from everyday sources — advertisements, notices, and workplace documents.
What's Different: Writing
Academic Task 1 asks you to describe a graph, chart, table, or diagram. General Training Task 1 asks you to write a letter — a completely different skill. Task 2 is similar in both versions, though General Training essay topics tend to be more general.
Who Needs Which Version?
- Academic: Required for university and college admission, and for professional registration in fields like medicine or nursing in some countries.
- General Training: Required for immigration purposes (skilled migration to Australia, Canada, and the UK), and for secondary education.
Always Confirm Before Booking
Check directly with your university, employer, or visa category which version they require. Booking the wrong version means retaking the entire test.
Whichever version you need, our free English Language Learning Center builds the underlying skills both versions test.