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Do You Know Which IELTS Test to Take?
According to IELTS.com there are two types of IELTS tests you can possibly take: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Let’s compare both and decide which of the two is right for you.
The first step you need to take before you can decide which of the two to take is to know what your future plans are. Do you plan to study in higher education or will you need to seek professional registration? In that case, the IELTS Academic test might be right for you. If you wish to study at below college level or are migrating to an English-speaking country such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, then the IELTS General Training test might be the best choice for you.
The IELTS Academic test determines your readiness to begin studying or training in an environment (like a university or a workplace) where English is the main language used. If you have a specific college, university, or professional organization in mind that you would like to attend, make sure to research who accepts IELTS scores before you take the test. Did you get accepted to a college or university in the USA? You can read about IELTS in the USA here and discover if your institution is one of the over 3,000 that accepts the IELTS Academic test score as proof of English proficiency for their applicants. If this is your chosen path, you’re in luck because approximately 99% of four-year colleges in America do!
Not attending a university, but dreaming of living and working abroad in an English-speaking country? Are you planning to take the test so you can visit or stay in the UK? The IELTS General Training test is about basic survival skills in a wider range of social and workplace choices. If you are considering taking the test because it is a requirement for migration purposes and registration in a new country, you can fulfill this requirement by taking the general training option.
The IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests differ in the reading and writing components of the tests in the topics and content covered. The subject matter is on a higher level for the Academic reading and writing than for the General Training reading and writing.
We explored the major differences, now what are the similarities between these two tests? They both consist of four parts: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. The total test time is the same no matter which test you partake in: 2 hours and 45 minutes. Each section also allots the same amount of minutes to complete the section, whether it be Academic or General Training. The speaking portion of the test will be conducted either after a break on the same day as the other components are taken or up to a week before or after the other tests. This depends on your test center, but it is the same for both the Academic and General Training.
By now, you should have some idea of which test might be the best choice for you. Remember to keep your goal in mind and this will assist you in deciding the best course of action. Check out the rest of our blog posts to get more tips and tricks on your IELTS test-taking needs. If you aren’t sure where to start, consider navigating our online IELTS courses. You can also sign up for the Free Webinar on the home page. Good luck!
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