IELTS Academic or IELTS General –
Which One Is Right for You?

Are you thinking about taking the IELTS exam but are not quite sure which version to choose – Academic or General Training? The choice can be confusing!

At Southbourne School of English, we’ve helped thousands of international students improve their English and build confidence. Many go on to success in the IELTS examination, although we don’t offer a specific IELTS preparation course. Our General and Intensive English courses are designed to give you the skills you need to succeed. 

In this post, we will look at the difference between the types of IELTS exam, and advise you how our school can help you!

What’s the Difference Between IELTS Academic and IELTS General? 

Both exams test your level in four key skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, but the purpose of the two exams is slightly different. 

IELTS Academic

This version is for students who want to: 

• Study at a university or college in the UK or another English-speaking country 

• Apply for professional registration in fields like medicine, nursing, law or engineering 

• Show academic-level English skills for a Student Route visa 

IELTS General Training

This test is for you if you want to: 

• Immigrate to the UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand 

• Apply for secondary education or training programmes 

• Demonstrate practical, everyday English for work or life abroad 

The listening and speaking tests are the same in both papers. 

In IELTS Academic, the reading texts are longer and on more academic themes than they are in General Training. This doesn’t mean that the General Training exam is easier, though! You will still need to have a high level of English to get a good reading score. 

The other main difference is in the writing paper. There are two tasks in both types of the exam, but they are different: 

• In Academic, you are given a graph, chart, or diagram in Task 1, and have to write a description of it.  

• In General Training, you are asked to write a letter or email about a particular topic.  

• In both Academic and General Training, you have to write an essay in Task 2. 

Also, note that if you are taking IELTS for a visa, you will need to take a ‘UKVI’ IELTS test when you book your exam. This is usually a little more expensive than a ‘normal’ IELTS test. 

How Long is IELTS Valid for? 

All IELTS scores are valid for two years from the date you get the results. However, you may need to take the exam again sooner if you change your plans or if visa laws change.

Which IELTS Is Right for You? 

Here’s a simple way to think about it: 

• 📚 If your goal is university or college, choose Academic. 

• 🛫 If you’re planning to work, live or train in an English-speaking country, go with General Training. 

The score that you need will be different depending on your plans. For example, many bachelor’s degree courses require an Academic score of 6.0 or 6.5, and Master’s courses will need 7.0 or 7.5. Make sure you know what score you need, as this will help your teacher to prepare you in the best way possible. 

Prepare for IELTS the Natural Way – Through Real English 

While we don’t offer an IELTS preparation course, many of our students choose to prepare by improving their overall English on our General and Intensive English courses. These classes focus on: 

• Fluency and accuracy in speaking 

• Grammar and vocabulary development 

• Reading and listening comprehension 

• Writing for real-world and academic situations 

All students on the Intensive course also follow a weekly Writing Programme, which has been designed to improve both general and academic writing ability.

All of these skills are extremely useful when taking the IELTS exam, and with hard work, you will certainly see your score improve. You may even get a higher score than you expect! 

Study English by the Sea – and Reach Your Goals 

Located in beautiful Bournemouth, just minutes from the beach, Southbourne School of English offers a friendly international environment where students make friends from all over the world, explore the UK, and build the English skills they need for success. 

Whether your dream is university, immigration, or professional improvement, we’re here to help you every step of the way. 

📩 Ready to start your journey? 
Explore our General English and Intensive English courses today or speak with our team.