Opt for the IELTS General Training test for migration to an English-speaking country (such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK) or for training or education below the degree level.

IELTS encompasses four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The Speaking and Listening sections remain consistent across both the Academic and General Training versions, while the Reading and Writing sections vary.

(For comprehensive insights into the IELTS Academic test or the Life Skills test, please explore our additional pages.)

Listening Section
This section is divided into four parts, each containing ten questions. The sequence of questions matches the order of information in the audio recordings, ensuring the answer to the first question precedes the answer to the second, and so on.

The first two parts focus on everyday and social contexts. Part 1 features a dialogue between two individuals (e.g., discussing travel plans), while in Part 2, a single speaker presents information (e.g., detailing local amenities).

Parts 3 and 4 explore educational and training scenarios. Part 3 includes a dialogue between two primary speakers (e.g., students discussing a topic, possibly under a tutor’s guidance), and Part 4 involves a monologue on an academic topic.

Listeners will hear the recordings once, featuring various accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand, and North American.

Answers must be transferred to an answer sheet within 10 minutes after the listening period. Attention to spelling and grammar is crucial as errors will affect the score.

Overview:
– Duration: Approximately 30 minutes, plus 10 minutes for answer transfer
– Sections: 4
– Questions: 40
– Scoring: Each correct answer earns 1 mark, with final scores presented as band scores in whole or half bands (e.g., 5.5, 7.0).

General Training Reading
This part includes three sections of escalating difficulty, covering everyday, work-related, and general interest topics.

Section 1 contains texts on daily life themes, requiring the extraction of key information from materials like notices and timetables.

Section 2 focuses on employment-related texts, such as job descriptions and training materials.

Section 3 presents a more complex and lengthy text on general interest topics, drawing from various sources like newspapers and online materials, often descriptive and instructive in nature.

Answers must be transferred to an answer sheet within the 60-minute timeframe, with no extra time provided. Accuracy in spelling and grammar is important to avoid losing marks.

Overview:
– Duration: 60 minutes, including answer transfer
– Sections: 3, with texts totaling 2150–2750 words
– Questions: 40
– Scoring: Marks are awarded per correct answer, with final scores as band scores ranging from 1–9 in whole or half bands.

General Training Writing
Participants must complete two tasks, involving letter writing and essay writing.

Task 1 requires writing a letter in response to a given situation (minimum 150 words), to be completed in about 20 minutes.

Task 2 involves discussing a viewpoint, argument, or problem in essay form (minimum 250 words), within roughly 40 minutes.

Full sentences are mandatory, with no bullet points or notes allowed. Notes can be made on the question paper but are not assessed.

Overview:
– Duration: 60 minutes
– Tasks: 2
– Scoring: Task 2 counts twice as much towards the overall Writing score.

Speaking Test
This face-to-face interview with an examiner is recorded and structured in three parts to assess various aspects of speaking ability.

Part 1 involves personal and familiar topics (e.g., family, interests).

Part 2 requires speaking on a given topic for up to two minutes, following a minute of preparation, with follow-up questions.

Part 3 delves deeper into the topic discussed in Part 2 through further questions.

Overview:
– Duration: 11–14 minutes
– Parts: 3