What is IELTS General Training?
Everything you need to know about the IELTS General Training test, its format, scoring, and who should take it.
Overview
The IELTS General Training test is designed for those who are going to English-speaking countries for secondary education, work experience, or training programs. It is also a requirement for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. The test measures your ability to communicate in English across all four language skills — Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
Test Format
The test consists of four sections: Listening (30 minutes, 40 questions), Reading (60 minutes, 40 questions), Writing (60 minutes, 2 tasks), and Speaking (11–14 minutes, 3 parts). The Listening and Speaking sections are the same as IELTS Academic. The Reading and Writing sections differ — General Training Reading uses extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, and workplace documents, while Writing Task 1 requires you to write a letter.
Scoring System
IELTS results are reported on a 9-band scale, from Band 1 (non-user) to Band 9 (expert user). You receive individual band scores for each of the four skills as well as an Overall Band Score. Most immigration programs require a minimum of Band 6.0 or 6.5, while professional registration bodies may require Band 7.0 or higher.
General Training vs. Academic
The main difference lies in the Reading and Writing sections. Academic Reading contains longer, more complex texts from academic sources. General Training Reading focuses on practical, everyday English. For Writing, Academic Task 1 asks you to describe visual data (charts, graphs), while General Training Task 1 asks you to write a letter. Task 2 is similar for both, but General Training topics tend to be more general in nature.
Key Tips
- The test takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete
- Listening, Reading, and Writing are completed on the same day with no breaks
- Speaking may be scheduled up to a week before or after the other sections
- Results are typically available 13 calendar days after the test
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