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Learn in detail about the differences between the two IELTS Academic and General exams

IELTS - one of the most popular international English language proficiency tests in Vietnam at present. The IELTS exam consists of two types: IELTS Academic and General. Therefore, many candidates wonder which type of IELTS exam they should take. To answer this question, the following article by PREP compares the details between IELTS Academic and General. Let’s read the article to choose the exam that suits you best!

Differences between the 2 IELTS Academic and General exams

I. What are IELTS Academic and General?

Are you preparing for the IELTS exam but still unsure about IELTS Academic and IELTS General? Do you not know what IELTS Academic and General are? Are you unclear about the purposes, meanings, and benefits of these two exams? Let PREP provide clear definitions of the IELTS Academic and General exams for you!

IELTS Academic is an exam designed to assess the English language proficiency of candidates who wish to study at universities or pursue higher education programs taught in English.

IELTS General is another form of the IELTS exam, which evaluates candidates' English language skills for practical, everyday use in work, training, immigration, or living in English-speaking countries.

II. Similarities between IELTS Academic and General

1. Purpose

The main purpose of both IELTS Academic and General exams is to assess candidates' language proficiency in the four fundamental skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

2. Test structure

The test duration for both IELTS Academic and General is approximately 3 hours, which includes the following sections:

Listening: 40 questions, equivalent to 40 minutes.
Speaking: 3 parts, totaling 11-13 minutes.
Reading: 40 questions, equivalent to 40 minutes.
Writing: 2 essays, totaling 60 minutes.

The Listening and Speaking sections of both IELTS Academic and General exams are completely identical.

3. IELTS Listening and Speaking skills in IELTS Academic and IELTS General

3.1. IELTS Listening

In the Listening section of both the IELTS General and Academic exams, candidates will listen to 4 sections spoken by native English speakers. The listening time is 30 minutes, and in the remaining 10 minutes, candidates will answer 40 available questions (in the paper-based IELTS) on the IELTS Answer Sheet.

Section 1: It could be a conversation between 2 people in the context of everyday social life.
Section 2: It could be a monologue set in the context of everyday social life. For example, a speech about a school, an inauguration speech, etc.
Section 3: It could be a conversation between a maximum of 4 people set in the context of education and training. For example, a lecturer and 1-2 students discussing a research topic.
Section 4: It could be a monologue on an environmental topic. For example, marine pollution.

3.2. IELTS Speaking

Format: There will be one examiner and one candidate in the oral interview, which will be recorded. The speaking test has 3 parts, and each part increases in difficulty, testing the candidate's speaking ability, communication skills, expressiveness, etc.

Part 1: This part is about introduction and short interviews. Part 1 is an introduction and tests the candidate's basic information. Next, the examiner assesses the candidate through general questions on familiar topics such as work, study and hobbies, home, family, etc.

Part 1 lasts for 4-5 minutes. Part 1 mainly tests the candidate's communication skills on everyday topics or common experiences and situations.

Part 2: Part 2 is a long interview. The examiner will give the candidate a task card with a specific topic. The candidate needs to explain the given topic from a desired perspective. Candidates are allowed 1 minute to prepare for this part with a pen and paper to take notes.

The candidate's Part 2 speech lasts from 1-2 minutes. Afterward, the examiner will ask 1 or 2 additional questions related to the same topic. The specific time is around 3-4 minutes, including the candidate's preparation time. This part tests the candidate's ability to speak at length and continuously on a specific topic, organizing ideas, language use, vocabulary, etc.

Part 3: In this part, the examiner and the candidate discuss issues related to the topic mentioned in Part 2. However, Part 3 will discuss the topic in a more general, abstract, and deeper way. Part 3 lasts for 4-5 minutes.

4. Certification validity

The certification validity period for both IELTS Academic and General is the same: 2 years.

III. Differences between IELTS Academic and General

1. Test Structure

The differences between IELTS Academic and General lie in the test structure of IELTS Reading and Writing. Let's explore the specific differences between IELTS Academic and General through the following comparison table:

Test Structure	IELTS Academic	IELTS General
IELTS Reading	IELTS Academic Reading consists of three long texts written in various styles such as narrative, argumentative, or descriptive. These texts may be supplemented with diagrams, illustrations, or appropriate graphs. Therefore, if there are specific technical terms, you will find their explanations in the selection table. The reading passages in IELTS Academic are extracted from books, magazines, or newspapers. These reading materials are carefully selected to assist non-specialist candidates who aim for higher education. The types of questions used in this section include flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions, identifying the writer's views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, multiple-choice, identifying information, summary completion, note completion, and table completion. Answers are scored based on grammar and spelling accuracy. Each question carries one point.	The reading materials for IELTS General are extracted from sources that candidates encounter in their daily lives or in English language-utilizing environments, such as newspapers, notices, books, magazines, advertisements, company guidelines, or handbooks. The test consists of three sections with multiple passages. Section 1 contains two to three short texts or possibly more. Section 2 has two texts, and Section 3 consists of one long text. Section 1: The texts in this section are related to basic English language and contain practical information such as notices, timetables, or advertisements. Section 2: This section focuses on work-related topics such as job descriptions, training materials, contracts, and staff development. Section 3: This section consists of longer passages with more complex structures. For example, it may involve social issues, emphasize descriptions, instructions, or arguments. The passages may be extracted from newspapers, magazines, or fictional books. The types of questions include table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, multiple-choice, identifying information, and identifying the writer's views/claims. Answers are scored based on grammar and spelling accuracy. Each question carries one point.
IELTS Writing	IELTS Academic Writing consists of two tasks with two questions. Task 1: The first question requires candidates to describe some information in a visual representation using their own words. Candidates are required to write at least 150 words within 20 minutes. The visual information can be graphs, charts, or diagrams. It can also be a diagram of a machine, device, or a process explaining how it works. Task 2: Candidates are required to express their opinion on a viewpoint or an issue. Candidates need to write 250 words within 40 minutes. In IELTS Writing Task 2 Academic, the topics will be more academic or neutral in style. Note: During the test, it is important to write the minimum number of words required within the appropriate time frame. Writing fewer words may result in a deduction of points, while writing too much may make it difficult to finish on time. Task 2 carries double the points compared to Task 1.	IELTS General Writing includes two tasks. The questions in each task differ from those in IELTS Academic. Task 1: Candidates are asked to write a response to a situation, such as a letter requesting information or explaining a situation. The response should be at least 150 words and completed within 20 minutes. Writing fewer words may result in a deduction of points. Task 2: Candidates are required to write an essay responding to a viewpoint, argument, or problem. In Task 2, candidates will write a semi-formal/neutral essay of at least 250 words. The topics can include festivals, culture, environment, common concerns like family, etc. Candidates need to clearly express their viewpoint and address the given task requirements.

2. Criteria for scoring Reading

Because the structure of the IELTS Reading test varies, the scoring criteria for IELTS Academic and General are also different. Refer to the image below to understand the IELTS score scale for these two skills:

IV. So should we take the IELTS Academic or General?

Currently, many people want to take the IELTS, but they are unsure whether to take the Academic or General version. Therefore, whether to take the IELTS Academic or General depends entirely on each individual's own purpose. In order to make the choice of the IELTS Academic or General exam suitable and easier.

If you take the IELTS Academic, you will focus on academic topics. In addition, academic writing skills may be beneficial for those who want to study at universities or higher education institutions, or simply for those who need to use English for job applications now or in the future.
If you choose to take the IELTS General, you understand that the level of this exam will be easier in evaluating your ability to use English in daily life communication. IELTS General is truly suitable for candidates who have the need for immigration, living, or working in English-speaking countries such as the UK, Australia, etc.

V. Conclusion

The above is a detailed comparison of the two forms of the IELTS exam: Academic and General. This article has clearly discussed the similarities and differences, as well as provides some useful suggestions to answer the question of whether to take the IELTS Academic or General.

The IELTS study program at Prep is designed for both IELTS Academic and General. Learn more about the IELTS preparation course at prepedu.com.

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.