IELTS: Academic vs. General: Preparation Tips

So, you are going to take IELTS. But, have you chosen which one of them to take? There are, in fact, two types of IELTS: Academic and General Training. They differ in structure and some other aspects.

The choice is all about your goals. Want to study abroad? IELTS Academic will suit you. Planning to move to an English-speaking country? Then, take IELTS General Training.

From this article by our custom writing team, you will learn:

• The difference between Academic and General IELTS;
• Test tips and preparation strategies;
• How to choose the test that suits you.

🆚 IELTS: Academic vs. General

Let’s start with the crucial aspects to consider while choosing the test type. If you’re wondering which one suits you best, read the information below.

🤔 Which One Should You Choose?

That’s definitely a good question, and here is why. If you pick the wrong exam type, you may not achieve your desired goals. Read on to learn more about IELTS Academic and General Training.

First, let’s study the purpose of each test type.

What IELTS Academic is for	What IELTS General Training is for
studying in universities abroad applying for a Tier 4 Student visa working for professional organizations in English-speaking countries	studying in schools or colleges abroad working in English-speaking countries immigration enrolling in a vocational training program abroad

Next, let’s see who usually takes which of the exam types.

Who IELTS Academic is for	Who IELTS General Training is for
university students doctors/nurses lawyers engineers teachers	college or school students employees immigrants participants of vocational courses in English-speaking countries

In a nutshell, the Academic test is for an educational setting, while General Training is for everyday life situations. The former is more difficult because it assesses your readiness to work with academic texts. Take it into account in case you decide to take this IELTS test type.

🎓 IELTS Academic vs. General: Similarities & Differences

IELTS Academic and General Training differ not only in purpose but also in test format. Listening and Speaking are the same for both types, while Reading and Writing are distinct.

Want to know more about similar and different characteristics of Reading and Writing tests? Have a look at the tables below.

IELTS ReadingTests: Academic vs. General Training

Similarities	Differences in IELTS Academic	Differences in IELTS General Training
Question types. The number of test questions (40.) Band scores (1 mark per 1 answer; they are then translated into the 9-band scale.)	Not divided into sections. Includes passages from books, newspapers, and academic journals. Various text types: argumentative, narrative, discursive, etc. Includes visuals: charts, diagrams, and tables.	Divided into 3 sections (Social Survival, Workplace, and General Reading.) Advertisements, notices, and timetables are used in the 1st section. In the 2nd section, the texts are taken from training materials, contracts, and job descriptions. There are no visuals.

IELTS WritingTests: Academic vs. General Training

Similarities	Differences in IELTS Academic	Differences in IELTS General Training
The number of tasks (2.) The word count for each task (Task 1 – 150 words, Task 2 – 250 words.)	Task 1: Describe the information presented visually (graphs, tables, diagrams, or charts.) Use a formal, semi-formal, or neutral style of writing. Task 2: Write a response to an argument, viewpoint, or issue. Advanced topics are covered (artificial intelligence, space exploration, environment, etc.)	Task 1: Write a letter in which you respond to a given situation. An informal style of writing is allowed (in a personal letter.) The topics are related to ordinary-life situations (accommodation, work, etc.) Task 2: Write an essay. Topics are of general interest (family, education, etc.)

🎓 IELTS Preparation Tips: Listening & Speaking

As we’ve mentioned earlier, Listening and Speaking tests are the same for Academic and General Training exams. That’s why the following strategies will be helpful for everyone who is planning to take IELTS.

🔊 IELTS Listening Tips: How to Succeed in 4 Steps

Let’s start with listening tricks. Remember that they apply to both exam types.

1. Pay attention to keywords. These are words or phrases that provide insight on what you should focus on while answering. Some of them can be replaced by synonyms. However, the most useful ones are those you can’t paraphrase. These are names, academic terms, dates, etc. They can help you follow the ideas of the speaker and locate the answers. It’s useful to circle or underline the keywords while listening.
2. Look out for signposts. A signpost is a word or a word combination that helps you understand the speaker’s intentions: repeat the information, give details, and move to another point. Here are some examples:

3. Keep an eye on several questions simultaneously. It means that when you are locating the answer to question 20, look for the answers to other questions. It will help not to miss transitions and relevant details.
4. Practicelistening to different English accents at home. This activity can improve your general understanding of the language. Texts are delivered by speakers of various origins. So, be prepared to recognize pronunciation peculiarities.

💬 IELTS Speaking Tips: 6 Essential Strategies

The first tip we want to give you regarding the Speaking part is that staying calm and focused will help you deliver a perfect band score answer. But there are more strategies for you: check them out!

1. Give extended answers. Your answers shouldn’t be just one or two sentences. The examiner evaluates your fluency and the ability to say something without much effort. Besides, how you speak is more important than what you say. So, even if you say some silly things, but in a fluent and coherent manner, your scores won’t be lowered.
2. Structure your answers. Try not to jump from one point to another. Instead, be consistent and logical.
3. Use the given prompts relevantly. You don’t have to follow them and use all the words written on the cue cards. These are only suggestions, and you can freely go off the topic.
4. Pay attention to fillers. A filler is a word or a phrase that fills the gaps while you’re thinking over the answer. Using them appropriately will demonstrate your rich vocabulary and your ability to speak fluently and coherently. It’s useful to learn some fillers beforehand:

Keep in mind that only meaningful words count as good fillers. Sounds like “umm” and “ahh” are not meaningful, and it’s best to avoid them.

5. Speak in an optimal tempo. Don’t speak too slowly or too fast. Instead, aim at sounding fluent and natural. Also, try to avoid long pauses for the listener not to lose the gist of your speech.
6. Correct yourself mindfully. If you make some minor grammar errors, don’t correct them. Otherwise, the examiners might think you struggle with speaking fluently. Made a single-word vocabulary mistake? It’s okay to fix them. Just say the correct variant.

✏️ IELTS Preparation Tips: Reading & Writing

When it comes to the Reading and Writing sections, the preparation strategies are different for IELTS Academic vs. General Training. We’ve compiled the best tips and tricks that will surely help you pass the test.

📚 8 IELTS Reading Tips for General Training

“How can I improve my reading comprehension?” That’s a good question. Check the following strategies and find out how to prepare for this part of the exam.

1. Learn how to deal with different types of questions. The reading part consists of 11 different question types. These include true-false statements, matching headings, completing sentences, multiple-choice, etc. Your task is to learn how to deal with all of them. Practice these skills at home using mock tests:

✔️	Diagram label completion	Complete the description of the given diagram. It can show a mechanism, a process, or something made of parts.
✔️	Identifying a writer’s views	Read the text and say whether the given statements agree with the author’s views.
✔️	Identifying information	Decide whether the given statements agree with the information from the text.
✔️	Matching features	Determine relationships between the given statements and a list of options from the text. Find out which ones are connected and match them.
✔️	Matching headings	Connect headings reflecting the main idea of a passage with the corresponding text section.
✔️	Matching information	Find a specific detail or a piece of information in a paragraph.
✔️	Matching sentence endings	Read the beginning of a sentence. Select its ending from a list of options.
✔️	Multiple choice	Choose the best answer (or several answers) from a list of options.
✔️	Sentence completion	Read the beginning of a sentence based on the text. Write the ending using the required number of words.
✔️	Short-answer questions	Answer questions related to the details from the text.
✔️	Summary, note, table, flow-chart completion	Study the summary of a text’s section. Complete it with words from the text or a list of options.

2. Search for connections. Scanning and skimming will help you do this. Skimming means looking through the passage quickly without concentrating on details. Scanning means searching for keywords in questions and then in texts. Start with scanning the questions for keywords. Then, skim the text and locate them. Keywords can be obvious (dates, names, terms) and paraphrased or substituted by synonyms.
3. Be ready to read quickly. Keep in mind that there’s a rigid time limit. That’s why you need to read fast. Make sure to have plenty of speed reading practice at home.
4. Find the main idea. If you struggle to comprehend the whole passage, don’t worry. You only need to locate the answers. Don’t waste your time understanding each word. Instead, focus on the main points.
5. Expand your vocabulary. It’s especially useful to learn new words in context. You need to know how and when to use a word or a phrase. That’s why, when you write down the new units, add their collocations, synonyms, and some examples. It will help you locate keywords when they’re paraphrased or substituted by synonyms. Remember that it’s better to learn vocabulary from practice reading texts.
6. Focus on everyday life topics. Unlike the Academic one, the General Training Reading test is about everyday life matters. Learning words related to such topics will help you ace the test.
7. Read relevant kinds of texts to prepare well. To get ready for the Social and Workplace Survival sections, read instruction manuals, contracts, and schedules. The General Reading section contains abstracts from newspapers, magazines, and books: practice reading these sources as well.
8. Mind your grammar while answering questions. Not only the content but also grammar is scored. That’s why, when checking your answers, make sure there are no mistakes. In case you make them, take your time to practice the grammar rules you struggle with.

📰 IELTS Academic Reading Tips: Top 5 Strategies

In Academic Reading, the task types are the same as with General Training. However, the texts themselves are very different and often challenging. That’s why adequate and relevant preparation is essential. Start with studying the following tips.

1. Pay attention to academic-related vocabulary. IELTS Academic focuses on advanced topics. That’s why you need to learn appropriate vocabulary: terms, advanced lexis, formal notions, and phrases, etc.
2. Explore a wide range of topics. Read about space exploration, politics, environment, world economics, society, psychology, artificial intelligence, business, history, medicine, innovations, and world changes.
3. Search for useful practice resources. Read reliable newspapers and magazines to advance your reading skills and enrich your vocabulary or find a learning quiz you could take. Here are some helpful resources:
   • BBC News
   • The Independent
   • The Economist
   • New Scientist
   • National Geographic
4. Learn to separate your opinions from the author’s. Test takers often make the mistake of letting their own knowledge influence the interpretation of the author’s views. It’s especially dangerous with Academic Reading. Make sure to approach the texts objectively as you complete mock tests.
5. Practice reading academic texts under timed conditions. Your task will be to study the texts and answer the questions very quickly. Keep in mind that there will be no extra time for transferring your answers. That’s why it may be useful to practice reading with a timer on.

📝 IELTS General Writing Tips: Top 10 Strategies

Don’t know how to succeed in this part of the exam? Check out the following strategies. They will help you improve your writing skills and get higher scores.

Tips for Task 1: The Letter

✔️	The optimal word count	You need to write not less than 150 words. It’s better to write more. The average length of the letter should be 170-190 words.
✔️	Quality over quantity	Don’t write too many words: it won’t add you extra scores. Use that time to proofread the text rather than write more.
✔️	How do you count words?	You won’t have time to count all words you have written. That’s why it’s better to count lines. Find out how many words fit in your average handwritten line. Then, multiply it by the number of lines.
✔️	Letter writing types	There are three of them: formal, semi-formal, and personal. Vocabulary, structure, and style vary depending on the type. When preparing, try your hand at different letters.
✔️	Standard letter structure	In general, letters consist of the following parts: greeting opening statement with the reason for writing body paragraphs closing remarks sign off

Here’s a bonus tip: learn some opening and closing statements for letter writing. They will help you sound more authentic. Besides, you wouldn’t have to spend time coming up with introductions and conclusions.

Opening statement examples	Closing statement examples
How are you? Long time no see! Thank you for your letter I am writing this letter concerning I would like to (ask, apologize, etc.)	Yours faithfully/sincerely Best regards With kindest wishes See you soon Take care

Tips for Task 2: The Essay

✔️	What topics to expect	In your essay, you should do one of the following: express whether you agree/disagree with something discuss an issue explore advantages/disadvantages find a solution to a problem answer a direct question
✔️	How to structure the essay	An essay for IELTS consists of 4-5 paragraphs: Introduction with a thesis: present general information on the given topic. 2-3 body paragraphs: cover the main ideas supporting them with evidence. Conclusion: summarize the information from the previous sections.
✔️	What counts as words	Everything is counted as words, including dates, numbers, contractions, articles, and prepositions.

Bonus tip: learn how to use linking words. They help to connect your ideas or to show transitions. Use them in Task 2 to sound more natural and logical.

Function	Examples of linking words
Order	firstly next lastly
Addition	furthermore moreover namely
Effect	as a result therefore thus
Example	to illustrate for example for instance
Contrast	in comparison on the other hand
Conclusion	to conclude to sum up

✍️ 4 Essential IELTS Academic Writing Tips: Tasks 1 & 2

Don’t know how to complete the Academic Writing test successfully? Learn the following strategies and practice them.

Tips for Task 1: The Graph

✔️	What to pay attention to in the graph	Search for differences, similarities, major trends, patterns, and overall changes.
✔️	How to structure the description	Stick to the following recommendations: introduce your ideas; include all significant points in one overview sentence; use varied vocabulary add evidence (percentage, numbers) describe major trends: don’t go into details use linking words

Tips for Task 2: The Essay

✔️	What topics to expect	You may need to write an argumentative essay, discussion, advantages/disadvantages analysis, or a solution essay. Topics may be various: political life, economic situation, sports, food, environmental issues, international affairs, artificial intelligence, innovations, etc.
✔️	What vocabulary to practice	Try to find as many words connected to the mentioned topics as possible. It’s better to learn new words via reading texts rather than memorize them separately. Also, don’t forget about synonyms and collocations.

And now you know the difference between IELTS Academic vs. General Training. Follow the suggested tips and tricks to get plenty of self-preparation at home. Then, you will definitely get a high score.

We hope you have found this article valuable and helpful. We wish you good luck with the exam! Liked the article? Help others to know about it as well by sharing or leaving a comment.

You might also like:

• How to Improve Your Test-Taking Skills: Top Tips & Strategies
• LPI Essay Samples: An Effective Way to Prepare for the Test
• How to Study Effectively: 12 Study Tricks to Save Time
• Improve Your English: Learning Tips & Materials
• A Complete Guide to Essay Writing—Make it Simple

🔍 References

1. IELTS Test Types: IELTS.org
2. Which Test Should I Take?: Take IELTS: British Council
3. Question Types in General Training Reading Test: IDP Canada
4. IELTS Test Format: Cambridge English
5. Structure of a Formal Letter: ThoughtCo
6. Basic Essay Format: Utah Valley University
7. Academic Listening Skills: University of Toronto
8. Why Filler Words Like “Um” and “Ah” Are Actually Useful: Harvard Business Review
9. Word Count: British Council
10. Identifying Trends of a Graph: Lumen Learning
11. Examples of Linking Words and Phrases: FutureLearn