IELTS Academic or General Training?
Which one you need
Take IELTS Academic for degree-level study and for professional registration, for example as a nurse or doctor. Take General Training to migrate, work or train below degree level. Listening and Speaking are the same test in both; Reading and Writing Task 1 are different.
Which one do you need?
The organisation that receives your result decides, not the test. A university, a professional regulator and an immigration authority can each ask for a different version, and an Academic result does not replace a General Training one where only General Training is listed — or the other way round. Find your goal below.
One more distinction matters in the UK: IELTS for UKVI is a separate booking. It comes as Academic and as General Training, and it is the IELTS that UK visa routes needing a Secure English Language Test accept.
| Goal | Test | What the authority says |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral study | IELTS Academic | IELTS points degree-level study to Academic. Each university sets its own test, version and minimum score — check the course page. |
| Nursing or midwifery registration in the UK | IELTS Academic only | The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) asks for Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 6.5 and Speaking 7. |
| Health-profession registration in Australia | IELTS Academic only, at a test centre | Ahpra and the National Boards ask for 7 overall, with Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 6.5 and Speaking 7. At-home versions are not accepted. |
| UK visas that need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) | IELTS for UKVI or IELTS Life Skills | A standard IELTS is not on the Home Office list. Skilled Worker needs B2 (5.5 in each skill on IELTS for UKVI); B1 only if you held the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending. |
| UK Student visa | IELTS for UKVI, or the test your university accepts | GOV.UK: B2 for degree level and above, B1 below. At degree level the university may assess your English itself and use a different test. |
| Canada Express Entry (permanent residence) | IELTS General Training only | IRCC does not accept One Skill Retake here. Federal Skilled Workers need CLB 7, which is 6.0 in each skill; some Canadian Experience Class and trades applicants need less. |
| Canada post-graduation work permit (PGWP) | IELTS General Training only | Since 1 November 2024 you must prove English or French; the CLB level depends on your study programme. |
| Canada study permit | The test your school sets | IRCC’s study-permit document checklist lists no language test. The test and score come from your college or university’s admission requirements. |
| Australia skilled visas (e.g. subclass 189) | IELTS Academic or General Training | Home Affairs uses the same thresholds for both: competent English is 6 in each skill, proficient 7, superior 8. |
| Australia Student visa (subclass 500) | IELTS Academic or General Training | Home Affairs lists both at 6.0 overall, lower if you first take an English course (ELICOS) or an eligible foundation or pathway programme. |
| Australian citizenship | No IELTS | Basic English is shown by the citizenship test: 75% or more, with all five questions on Australian values correct. |
| New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category | IELTS Academic or General Training | Immigration New Zealand asks the principal applicant for 6.5 overall, taken at a test centre and no more than two years old. |
| New Zealand study at level 5 and above | IELTS Academic only | NZQA rules: bachelor’s degrees 6.0 (no band below 5.5), postgraduate study 6.5 (no band below 6). Levels 3–4 accept either version. |
Requirements change — confirm on the receiving organisation’s own page before you book. Checked October 2026.
What is the same, what differs
Both versions take 2 h 45 min and report every skill on the same 9-band scale. You sit the same Listening and Speaking tests, and Writing Task 2 is the same task type. The differences are in Reading and in Writing Task 1.
| Part | Academic | General Training | Same? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 4 parts, 40 questions, about 30 min | The same test | Same |
| Reading | 3 long texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers | 3 sections: everyday, work, one longer general-interest text | Different |
| Writing Task 1 | Describe a graph, table, chart, diagram, map or process (150+ words) | Write a personal, semi-formal or formal letter (150+ words) | Different |
| Writing Task 2 | An essay of at least 250 words | The same task type: an essay of at least 250 words | Same |
| Speaking | 3 parts, face to face with an examiner, 11–14 min | The same test | Same |
Reading: different texts, different band tables
Both Reading tests have 40 questions in 60 minutes, and draw on the same pool of question types. What changes is what you read and how your raw score becomes a band.
Academic Reading
Three long texts taken from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online sources. They are written for a non-specialist reader, on topics of general interest to university students, and at least one text presents a detailed argument.
General Training Reading
Three sections of increasing difficulty. Section 1 uses short texts on everyday topics, such as adverts and notices. Section 2 is about work, for example information about a job or a training programme. Section 3 is one longer text on a topic of general interest.
The same score, a different band
Each correct answer is one mark, but the two versions convert marks to bands with different tables. In General Training you need more correct answers for the same band. The table shows how the same raw score converts in each version.
| Correct answers (of 40) | Academic band | General Training band |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | ≈ 6.0 | ≈ 5.0 |
| 27 | ≈ 6.5 | ≈ 5.5 |
| 30 | ≈ 7.0 | ≈ 6.0 |
| 33 | ≈ 7.5 | ≈ 6.5 |
| 35 | ≈ 8.0 | ≈ 7.0 |
The numbers are approximate. In IELTS’s words: “The precise number of marks needed to achieve these band scores will vary slightly from test version to test version.”
Writing: a chart or a letter, then the same essay
Writing takes 60 minutes in both versions and has two tasks. Task 1 is where they part ways; Task 2 is the same kind of task.
Task 1 in Academic: describe visual information
You get a graph, table, chart, diagram, map or process and describe it in your own words in at least 150 words, in about 20 minutes. The skill is selecting the main trends and comparisons and reporting them accurately.
Task 1 in General Training: write a letter
You respond to a situation with a letter that is personal, semi-formal or formal, depending on who you write to. The task gives three bullet points, and your letter must cover all three in at least 150 words. Choosing the right tone for the reader is part of the task.
Task 2 in both: an essay
You discuss a point of view, an argument or a problem in an essay of at least 250 words, in about 40 minutes. The task type is the same in both versions, so essay practice serves you whichever test you book.
Which is easier?
Neither version is officially easier. They test the same skills with different material and different Reading band tables.
General Training Reading starts with everyday and work texts, which can feel more familiar than the Academic texts. But the band table asks for more correct answers: 30 of 40 is about 7.0 in Academic and about 6.0 in General Training. Familiar texts and a stricter conversion go together.
In Writing Task 1, Academic asks you to describe data, a map or a process; General Training asks for a letter with the right tone. These are different skills, not an easy one and a hard one, and both improve with practice.
The question that decides is not which feels easier but which one your target organisation accepts. A strong result in the version they do not list is a lost fee and a lost test date.
Booking: what to know before you pay
Computer or paper
Both versions are offered on computer at a test centre. IELTS has announced that from mid-2026 it will no longer offer a paper-based test; in selected markets you may still handwrite the Writing part. Dates vary by country, so check what your centre offers.
IELTS for UKVI
IELTS for UKVI has the same format, content, scoring and difficulty as the standard test. The differences are administrative: Home Office-approved centres, extra security checks and a different Test Report Form. The Home Office list does not say which version a route needs — universities usually want UKVI Academic and work routes usually General Training. Family visas, settlement and citizenship ask only for speaking and listening, which IELTS Life Skills covers. Confirm with your sponsor or university.
One Skill Retake
If one skill falls short, you can retake just that skill in either version, as long as the original test was IELTS on computer. The retake must be within 60 days of the original test day and is allowed once per test. The receiver decides whether to accept it: Canada’s Express Entry does not, while Australia and New Zealand list it.
Online at home
IELTS can also be taken online in some places, but Australia’s Home Affairs, New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category and Ahpra do not accept remote tests. For those, book a test centre.
How long results last
The IELTS partners recommend that a result is taken as evidence for a maximum of two years; the receiving organisation sets the actual rule. Canada wants results under two years old. Australia accepts competent-English results from the last three years, depending on the visa.
Booked the wrong version?
There is no global rule for switching between Academic and General Training. Contact your test centre straight away; you may have to cancel and book the correct test.
Six mistakes that cost a test fee
Booking the wrong version
A General Training result does not meet an Academic-only requirement such as NMC or Ahpra registration, and an Academic result does not count for Express Entry. Read the receiving organisation’s page before you pay.
A standard IELTS for a UK SELT route
Where the Home Office asks for a SELT, only IELTS for UKVI or IELTS Life Skills counts. A standard IELTS with the same scores is not on the list.
Taking IELTS at home for Australia, New Zealand or Ahpra
Australia’s Home Affairs, New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category and Ahpra want a test taken at a test centre. IELTS Online and other at-home versions are not accepted.
Counting on One Skill Retake for Express Entry
IRCC does not accept One Skill Retake for Express Entry. If one skill is below your CLB target, plan for a full new test.
Choosing the version that “feels easier”
Neither version is officially easier, and a result your target organisation does not accept is a lost fee. The requirement decides, not the text topics.
Letting the result expire
The IELTS partners recommend accepting results for up to two years, and Canada wants them under two years old. Book so the result is still valid on the day you apply.
Practise the version you book
Because Reading and Writing Task 1 differ, practise with material from your own version. ScoreUp has separate Academic and General Training mock exams for Reading and Writing, and Listening mocks that serve both, since Listening is the same test.
Each mock follows the official format, so you see the text types, the Task 1 format and the timing of the test you will actually sit.
Why practise on ScoreUp
- Mock exams in the official IELTS format — the same parts, item counts and timing as the real exam
- Writing graded by AI against the official criteria, with feedback in your language
- Reading and listening scored instantly, every answer explained
- 3 free exam credits, no credit card — practice stays free
Take a mock in your version
Separate Academic and General Training mocks for Reading and Writing, plus Listening.Frequently asked questions
Which IELTS do universities accept?
IELTS recommends Academic for undergraduate and postgraduate study, and most universities ask for it. Each university sets its own test, version and minimum score, so check the course page. In New Zealand, NZQA rules require IELTS Academic for study at level 5 and above.
Which IELTS do I need for Canada PR?
IELTS General Training. IRCC says you must take the General Training option for Express Entry, and an Academic result is not accepted. Federal Skilled Workers need CLB 7, which is 6.0 in each of the four skills; some Canadian Experience Class and trades applicants need a lower level.
Do I need IELTS for UKVI?
You need it when the Home Office asks for a Secure English Language Test (SELT), for example for Skilled Worker. A standard IELTS is not on the approved list, even with the same scores. For university admission, and for a degree-level Student visa where the university assesses your English itself, a standard IELTS may be enough — ask the university.
Is IELTS General Training easier than Academic?
Neither is officially easier. General Training Reading uses everyday and work texts, but you need more correct answers for the same band. Academic Writing Task 1 asks you to describe data; General Training Task 1 asks for a letter. Take the version your target organisation asks for.
How are the Reading scores different?
Both Reading tests have 40 questions in 60 minutes, but the same raw score converts to a different band. With 30 correct answers you get about 7.0 in Academic and about 6.0 in General Training. IELTS says the exact marks needed vary slightly from test version to test version.
Can I switch from Academic to General Training after booking?
There is no single global rule for changing the version. Contact your test centre as soon as you notice; you may have to cancel under its cancellation policy and book the correct test.
Does One Skill Retake work for both versions?
Yes. One Skill Retake is available for IELTS Academic and General Training if your original test was IELTS on computer. You retake one skill within 60 days, once per test. Whether the result counts is up to the receiver: Canada’s Express Entry does not accept it, while Australia and New Zealand list it.
How long are IELTS results valid?
The IELTS partners recommend that a result shows your English for a maximum of two years, and the receiving organisation decides. Canada wants results under two years old; Australia accepts competent-English results from the last three years, depending on the visa.
Related resources
IELTS Academic mock exams
Reading, Writing and Listening in the Academic format
IELTS General Training mock exams
Reading, Writing and Listening in the General Training format
IELTS for UK visas
When you need IELTS for UKVI or Life Skills
IELTS for the UK Student visa
English evidence for study in the UK
IELTS for Canada PR
General Training scores and CLB levels
IELTS for Australia
Competent, proficient and superior English
IELTS score requirements
What universities and authorities ask for
IELTS band calculator
Turn raw scores into band scores
IELTS One Skill Retake
Retaking a single skill: rules and limits