IELTS Compass
Preparing your study plan
IELTS Compass
Preparing your study plan
IELTS Guide
Two versions of the same test, one big decision. Here's exactly what differs between IELTS Academic and General Training — and how to pick the right one for study, work or immigration.
IELTS Academic measures whether your English is ready for university-level study. Universities and colleges in English-speaking countries use it for admission, and professional regulators — nursing, medicine, teaching, law — use it to license practitioners.
IELTS General Training measures everyday and workplace English. Immigration authorities (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK) and employers use it for visas, permanent residence and work. It is also the version for secondary school and vocational training applications.
Both versions are written and marked by the same organisations — the British Council, IDP and Cambridge — and the test fee, format and 0–9 scoring scale are identical. The only differences are in the Reading paper and Writing Task 1, which are tailored to each audience. That means a band 7.0 in Academic and a band 7.0 in General Training are reported the same way, but they are not interchangeable: each institution or immigration program specifies which version it accepts.
The short version
Study at university → Academic. Immigration, work or school → General Training. The two tests share the same Listening and Speaking papers; only Reading and Writing Task 1 differ.
| Academic | General Training | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | University admission, professional registration | Immigration, work, secondary education, training |
| Reading | 3 academic passages from journals, books and magazines | 3 sections of everyday texts — notices, ads, workplace documents |
| Writing Task 1 | Describe a chart, table, graph or diagram (150+ words) | Write a letter — formal, semi-formal or informal (150+ words) |
| Writing Task 2 | Essay (250+ words) | Essay (250+ words) — same question types |
| Listening | Identical to General Training | Identical to Academic |
| Speaking | Identical to General Training | Identical to Academic |
| Scoring | 0–9 per skill; overall = mean of four | 0–9 per skill; overall = mean of four |
| Raw-score conversion | Academic Reading table | Different GT Reading table — more correct answers needed for the same band |
The most important difference to internalise is the Reading conversion: because GT passages are easier, the same raw score earns a lower band than in Academic. A raw score of 26 is 6.5 in Academic Reading but only 5.5 in GT. The band score calculator shows both tables side by side.
This surprises most people, but it is official: the Listening and Speaking papers are exactly the same in Academic and General Training. Same audio, same questions, same examiner criteria, same scoring. If you have practised Listening or Speaking for one version, that practice counts for the other.
What differs is Reading (passages and conversion table) and Writing Task 1 (a chart description vs a letter). Writing Task 2 — the essay — is the same format in both.
Work through the table from your situation. If more than one row applies, take the test that satisfies the strictest requirement — usually Academic.
| Your goal | Test | Why |
|---|---|---|
| University study abroad (undergraduate or postgraduate) | Academic | Universities require Academic. GT scores are not accepted for degree admission. |
| Canada PR (Express Entry, most PNPs) | General Training | IRCC accepts only General Training for Express Entry. Academic results do not convert to CLB. |
| Australia skilled migration | General Training (Academic also accepted) | Home Affairs accepts both; most applicants sit GT because the content matches the migration context. |
| New Zealand skilled residence | Academic or General Training | Immigration New Zealand accepts both modules. |
| UK Skilled Worker visa | Academic or General Training (IELTS for UKVI) | The requirement is CEFR-based (B1 for most roles), so either module works — but it must be the UKVI version. |
| UK Student visa (degree level) | Academic (IELTS for UKVI) | Universities require Academic; the visa needs the UKVI version. |
| Professional registration (nursing, medicine, teaching, law) | Academic (usually) | Regulators such as the UK NMC and GMC specify Academic IELTS with per-skill minimums. |
| Secondary school, vocational training or work abroad | General Training | GT covers everyday and workplace English, which is what these routes assess. |
UK work visas (Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker) set a CEFR level, not a module — so both Academic and General Training work, as long as you take the IELTS for UKVI version at an approved centre. Standard IELTS is not accepted for UK visa applications. The UK has announced the Skilled Worker English level will rise from B1 to B2 from March 2027, so check the current Home Office rules before booking.
IRCC accepts only General Training for Express Entry and most economic immigration programs. If you book Academic by mistake, your result will not convert to CLB and you will need to retake GT. For study permits, the reverse applies — universities want Academic.
Both versions are scored on the same 0–9 band scale, and the overall band is the mean of the four skills rounded to the nearest half band. What differs is the target: universities typically ask for 6.0–7.0 overall in Academic, while immigration programs set per-skill minimums. A few common benchmarks:
| Route | Version | Typical requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Express Entry (FSW) | General Training | CLB 7 minimum — 6.0 in all four skills; CLB 9 (“8777”) for competitive CRS points |
| Australia skilled migration | General Training | 6.0 in all bands (“competent”); 7.0 and 8.0 all-bands scores earn extra points |
| New Zealand skilled residence | Academic or General Training | 6.5 overall for the principal applicant |
| UK Skilled Worker visa | Academic or General Training (UKVI) | B1 — about 4.0 in each skill — for most roles |
| UK university (degree level) | Academic (UKVI) | 6.0–7.0 overall, with per-skill minimums set by the university |
| Typical postgraduate program | Academic | 6.5–7.0 overall, usually no skill below 6.0 |
See the band score calculator for raw-score conversion and CLB tables, and the band scores explained guide for what each band unlocks.
General Training is often described as easier because the Reading passages and Writing Task 1 (a letter) use everyday topics. But the band scale is adjusted to compensate — GT Reading needs more correct answers for the same band — and Listening and Speaking are identical in both versions. Choose by destination, not by difficulty.
It depends on the country. Canada accepts only General Training for Express Entry. Australia and New Zealand accept both Academic and General Training for skilled migration. The UK accepts either module for work visas, provided it is the IELTS for UKVI version.
No. Universities require the Academic module. General Training is designed for immigration, work and secondary education, and its Reading and Writing Task 1 do not assess the academic skills universities need.
No. The Listening and Speaking papers are identical in both versions — same audio, same questions, same scoring. Only Reading and Writing Task 1 differ.
Decide by your primary goal. If any university application is on the table, take Academic — it covers study and is also accepted for migration in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. If your goal is Canada PR, take General Training, because Academic is not accepted there.
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