With two formats i.e. IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, International English Language Testing System (IELTS) lets you choose any of the formats depending upon the requirement or course/university in which the candidate wants to apply for. Candidates must know that both versions of the IELTS test are sufficient to provide a valid and accurate assessment of skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking the language.  

Types of IELTS

As explained above, there are two types of IELTS Exam:

1) IELTS Academic

2) IELTS General Training

IELTS Academic

This test is for those who are willing to pursue their higher studies (Educational or professional) in the countries that have English as the fundamental language of communication. This exam is conducted with an aim to judge the skills of a candidate whether or not the candidate is prepared to study or train in English language. Some of the countries that recognize the IELTS test to study in are Australia, Canada, US, UK, and New Zealand.

IELTS General Training

This test qualifies the candidates who want to migrate to Australia, Canada, Us, UK, and New Zealand to pursue their secondary education, training experience, and work experience in English. Also, this IELTS General Training exam focuses on the basic skills of an aspirant that can help them to study in a broad social and work environment.

Highlights of IELTS Exam Pattern

IELTS Writing Section

The aspirants take academic writing module which has short essays or general reports, address to an educated non-specialist audience. There are two mandatory tasks to do;

Task 1 - It requires 150 words where the candidates are asked to examine a table, diagram, or data to interpret and present the details in their words.

Task 2 - It requires 250 words or more to present the given point of view, argument or problem, and the aspirants have to come with general factual information, justify the opinion, present a solution, evaluate ideas and evidence, etc.

Total no. of questions - 2

Total time - 60 minutes 

Writing - IELTS Academic

• This consists of two tasks in which the candidates who are applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate program can find the general interest and relatable topics.  
• In the first section, the candidate will be provided with a paper on which he or she can see a table, diagram, or graph. Then the candidate has to recapitulate and explain the given information in their best possible way. It could be a flowchart, data entry, or process of the information that has to be explained at a conclusion.
• Another section requires an essay as a response that the candidate deduced from the provided data or information also, an explanation to support the answer with relevant examples. It is also important to keep the writing format and style formal.

Writing - IELTS General Training

• This also has two sections but it is easier than the IELTS Academic format.
• Firstly, the candidate has to write a letter as per the provided situation. It can be formal, semi-formal or personal writing style depends on the given situation. Further, it may require to explain, request, or support for something/argument to a specific authority.
• Upon the opinion that a candidate creates in the above situation, the candidate will be required to curate an essay. The arguments and point of view of the candidate must be supported by the relevant example or instance. In this, the writing style can a bit personal.

IELTS Reading Section

The reading module has three texts of common interest in dealing with problems that are apt for aspirants to enter undergraduate or postgraduate courses. In both reading modules, the candidates will get three sections or passages with 40 questions. It is of multiple choices, identifying data for short-answer questions, sentence or summary completion, matching lists or phrases and identifying writers’ views/attitudes.

Total no. of questions - About 40
Total time - 30 minutes

Reading - IELTS Academic

In this, there will be three long paragraphs that can be factual, descriptive, or analytical. These paragraphs are basically excerpts taken from research works, journals, newspapers, books, or even magazines. The texts are ideal for testing higher education candidates or professionals seeking a job in abroad targeting a non-specialist audience.

Reading - IELTS General Training

In this, the excerpts can be passages from company guidelines, advertisements, brochures, etc which is similar to the academic format. However, it is relatively easier than that format because the chosen text is usually based on something that one encounters in daily life.

IELTS Listening Section

Listening

In this module there are four sections; two conversations will be concerned with social needs while the other two conversations are based on situations related to education. Every conversation will be of approx three minutes long. It could be monologues or dialogues. And the conversations (Recordings) can be heard only once. Moreover, there will be a variety of questions will be asked such as short-answer questions, multiple-choice, sentence completion, note completion, labeling a diagram, and so on. 
Total no. of questions - 40+ Minutes
Total time - 30 minutes

Sections 1 and 2 are based on everyday social situations.

Recording 1 - In this, a conversation between two people talking on everyday social context will be provided to you.

Recording 2 - There will be a recording on a monologue set in a daily social situation.

Sections 3 and 4 are based on educational and training situations

Recording 3 - The recording will be a conversation among four people set in an educational or training situation.

Recording 4 - The final recording of this section will be a monologue on an academic situation.

IELTS Speaking Section

This section is more of a structured interview emphasizing the general speaking skills of a candidate. It assesses the candidate’s knowledge and skills to communicate effectively with an English native speaker.

Total no. of questions: 3

Parts - Personal Interview, Little Speech, and a Discussion

Total time - 11 to 14 minutes

This section of the test consists of three parts:

Part 1 - Introduction and Interview (4 - 5 Minutes)

Part 2 - Long Turn (2 - 3 Minutes)

Part 3 - Discussions (5 - 6 Minutes)

Better questions and justifiable discussions would take place depending upon the provided topics and the speech of a candidate. It allows for exploring the topic and examining the issues rightly. The candidate can expect this part to last for 5 to 6 minutes.