Difference Between IELTS General Training and Academic — Which One Should You Take?

When students plan to take the IELTS exam, one of the first questions that comes up is — “Should I take General Training or Academic?”
Let’s make it easy to understand!

1️⃣ Purpose of Each Test

• IELTS Academic:
  Designed for those who want to study abroad at a university or professional level (undergraduate, postgraduate, or professional registration).
  👉 Example: If you’re applying for Canada, UK, or Australia universities, this is your test.

• IELTS General Training:
  For people who want to migrate, work, or settle abroad.
  👉 Example: If you’re applying for Permanent Residency (PR) or work visa, choose this one.

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2️⃣ Test Format

Both tests check your English skills in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, but the Reading and Writing sections differ slightly.

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3️⃣ Scoring

Both are graded on the same 9-band scale, but the difficulty level of Academic is usually slightly higher in Reading and Writing.

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4️⃣ Which One Is Easier?

There’s no “easy” or “hard” — it depends on your goal.

• Academic = for study

• General = for migration

However, many find General Writing Task 1 (letter) simpler than describing a graph or chart in the Academic test.

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5️⃣ Final Decision

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💡 Highbrow Tip

If you’re still unsure, talk to your IELTS trainer at Highbrow Institute — we’ll guide you based on your target country, course, and visa type.