IELTS Academic vs IELTS General: What’s the Difference?

As part of the admission process to top universities abroad, most English-taught programmes would require an IELTS test score. However, you may have seen many universities listing IELTS Academic and IELTS General test score requirements, among other standardised tests.

If you've decided to pursue higher education abroad then you must also have decided upon the standardised tests that you're going to appear for. Most likely you have decided to go for an IELTS test and are preparing to attempt the test and get ready for your adventure abroad. But wait! You find out that there are two types of IELTS tests that you can attempt and are confused between the two.

Worry no more! In this article, we shall discuss the difference between the two IELTS tests, viz. IELTS General and IELTS Academic, and deciding between which you should take for your higher education prospects.

What is the IELTS Academic?

As can be perceived from the name itself, IELTS academic has been designed primarily for aspirants who wish to pursue higher education in different study abroad destinations like the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, etc. Including a more technical and professional syllabus, IELTS Academic is accepted worldwide and can be a preferred choice for many institutions. IELTS Academic provides the institution with the knowledge that you possess the needed knowledge and skills to move forward in the country in an academic and professional environment.

What is the IELTS General?

Similar to IELTS Academic, IELTS General has been designed for all aspirants travelling or migrating to English-speaking destinations like Australia, New Zealand, Germany, etc, for secondary education, training or work experience, or other reasons. IELTS General is highly recommended and accepted the world over and in many countries and is sometimes a mandatory requirement, especially, if you are travelling abroad to settle down or find work opportunities. IELTS General evaluates your potential to basically survive in an English-speaking society and assesses your survival skills in a broad workplace and social situations.

IELTS Academic vs General: Whats the Difference?

From what can be seen in the definitions for IELTS Academic and IELTS General, it is clear that both tests, even though are similar, have different uses. In fact, the tests more or less are similar as well, with most of the topics and duration being similar with a little twist here and there. The major difference between the two tests arises in the applications of these tests and their scores.

While there are a lot of similarities in the test, in the following tables, you will find the major differences in IELTS Academic and General tests. Since both tests are applicable in different scenarios, both tests need to be devised to assess different aspects of the candidate, to find them eligible for their respective ventures. Lets check out what differences in tests are for IELTS Academic vs General.

Differences in IELTS Academic vs General Tests

Both the tests, i.e. IELTS Academic and General tests consist of four distinct sections, viz. Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. These sections have been designed carefully to assess the different parameters of a candidates ability to communicate and survive in an English-speaking community. However, you may not see as many differences in IELTS General and Academic tests in the Listening and Speaking sections. The major differences between IELTS Academic vs General will be seen in the Reading and Writing sections, where the topics of concern change as well as the question-type changes.

IELTS Academic vs General: Reading & Writing Sections

The major differences between the IELTS Academic and General tests lie in the Reading and Writing sections of the test, which have defined below.

These are the major differences that are seen between the IELTS Academic and General Reading sections. In the following table, you will find the differences in the Writing section of the IELTS Academic and IELTS General tests.

Note: Under the writing section of both IELTS Academic and General tests, candidates will not be allowed to write the passages using Notes or Bullet points.

Mentioned in the table above are the major points of difference commonly seen between the two IELTS tests. However, it should be noted that these differences make the candidate eligible for different reasons to travel abroad and pursue their ambitions. In other words, the test score applications of both the IELTS Academic and General tests will still be different.

Now lets look into the similarities that are found between IELTS Academic vs General tests.

IELTS Academic vsGeneral Similarities: Listening and Speaking

The other two sections in both the IELTS tests are the Listening and Speaking sections of the tests. Candidates appearing for either IELTS Academic or General will be required to attempt the Listening and Speaking sections as well. In both the IELTS Academic and General, Listening and Speaking sections, the sections will contain similar questions based on similar topics. Here is what you can expect from the Speaking and Listening sections under the IELTS Academic vs General Tests.

Thus, apart from the Reading and Writing sections of the tests and the applications of the test scores, IELTS Academic and General are similar in nature. However, if you are travelling abroad for higher education purposes, one of the better options for you will be to attempt IELTS Academic as most universities prefer IELTS Academic scores. Before applying to a university or college, go through the respective admissions requirements for international students and attempt the tests recommended by the university of your choice.

Both the Speaking and Listening sections under IELTS Academic vs General are important sections and many students struggle to clear these sections. Therefore, ensure that you are prepared for the tests with as much practice as possible.

Popular Universities for International Students Abroad

Here is a list of some of the top universities in the world that offer academic programmes that are globally recognised and reputed.

These are just a few of the universities and colleges that you can apply to pursue your higher education aspirations. Across the world, you will find thousands of globally competitive universities that offer unique student experiences and help build career opportunities and paths that one dreams of.

You can also clear out your doubts regarding international admissions and education by reaching out to us at abroad@collegedekho.com.

All the Best!