ExamsIELTS
IELTS · Academic and General Training
Practice on the platform IELTS
An English test administered by the British Council and IDP, used for study, work and migration. It comes in two versions, Academic and General Training, which share Listening and Speaking and differ in Reading and Writing.
2 h 45 mintotal test time
4sections
0 to 9band per section and overall
2versions: Academic and General
What IELTS measures
IELTS assesses whether you can use English across all four skills, with voices and texts from real-life situations. There is no pass or fail: your result shows which band you are at in each section.
The same test is offered on paper or computer, with the same questions and timing. Speaking is always a live conversation with an examiner.
Which version should you take?
- AcademicFor undergraduate and postgraduate study and some professional registration, such as nursing and medicine in several countries.
- General TrainingFor work, professional experience and immigration processes, such as those in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
- Who decidesThe institution or authority receiving your result tells you which version and minimum band it accepts.
The test-day clock
All four sections are taken on the same day. Listening, Reading and Writing follow without a break, and Speaking completes the test.
Listening30 min
Reading60 min
Writing60 min
Speaking11 to 14 min
Total: about 2 h 45 min, on the same day
| Section | Duration | Questions or tasks | What changes between versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | about 30 min | 40 questions in 4 parts | Nothing. It is the same in Academic and General Training. |
| Reading | 60 min | 40 questions in 3 sections | The texts: academic in Academic, everyday and workplace texts in General Training. |
| Writing | 60 min | 2 tasks | Task 1: describe a chart in Academic, write a letter in General Training. |
| Speaking | 11 to 14 min | an interview in 3 parts | Nothing. It is the same in both versions. |