IELTS · Guide 1 · 5 min read
IELTS Academic vs General Training: format, timings and band scores
How IELTS Academic and General Training differ, the four parts and timings, how band scores 0-9 are rounded, computer vs paper, and One Skill Retake.
Two versions of one test
IELTS comes in two versions: Academic and General Training. Both test the same four skills, Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and both report results on the same band scale. The difference lies in the material you read and the first writing task you answer.
- IELTS Academic is usually asked for by universities and professional bodies. The texts and tasks reflect study at university level.
- IELTS General Training is usually asked for in work, training and migration settings. The texts and tasks reflect everyday life and the workplace.
Which version you need is decided by the organisation you are applying to, not by you. Always check their requirements before you book. If you are applying for a UK visa, check whether you need a version approved for UK visa purposes.
The four parts at a glance
| Part | Academic | General Training | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | Same for both | Same for both | About 30 minutes |
| Reading | 3 long passages from books, journals and magazines | 3 sections of everyday, workplace and general-interest texts | 60 minutes |
| Writing | Task 1: describe visual information. Task 2: essay | Task 1: a letter. Task 2: essay | 60 minutes |
| Speaking | Same for both | Same for both | 11 to 14 minutes |
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken in one sitting with no breaks between them. Speaking is a separate, face-to-face interview with an examiner. It may be on the same day or within a few days either side, depending on the test centre.
Exam tip: the whole written part runs for nearly three hours with no break. Do some practice working through long sessions at home so that your focus holds in the Writing section, which comes last.
Band scores from 0 to 9
Each of the four skills receives a band score from 0 to 9. Half bands, such as 6.5, are possible. The scale runs roughly like this:
| Band | In plain words |
|---|---|
| 9 | Full, accurate and fluent command of English |
| 7 to 8 | Strong user with occasional errors or slips |
| 5 to 6 | Competent or modest user, with clear limits in some situations |
| 3 to 4 | Limited user who manages only familiar situations |
| 0 to 2 | Very little usable English, or the test was not attempted |
How the overall band is worked out
Your overall band is the average of your four skill scores, rounded to the nearest half or whole band. The rounding works in your favour at the boundaries:
- An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band. For example, 6.25 becomes 6.5.
- An average ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band. For example, 6.75 becomes 7.
- Anything below those points rounds down. For example, 6.1 becomes 6.
A short worked example: Listening 7, Reading 6.5, Writing 6, Speaking 6.5. The total is 26, the average is 6.5, so the overall band is 6.5.
Many organisations set a minimum for each skill as well as for the overall band. A strong overall score will not help if one skill falls below their line.
Computer or paper
You can usually choose between two ways of taking the test.
| Computer-delivered | Paper-based | |
|---|---|---|
| Listening, Reading, Writing | Typed and clicked on a computer at a test centre | Written by hand on question papers and answer sheets |
| Speaking | Face to face with an examiner | Face to face with an examiner |
| Listening answers | Entered as you go; a short check period at the end | Written on the question paper, then copied to an answer sheet in extra transfer time |
| Results | Usually within a few days | Usually takes longer |
The questions, timings and marking standards are the same in both. Choose the format you work in most comfortably. If you type quickly, the computer may suit you for Writing. If you like to underline and make notes on the text, paper may suit you for Reading.
Exam tip: on paper, your handwriting must be readable and your Writing answers must fit the answer booklet. On computer, a word count is shown on screen. Practice in the format you will actually sit.
One Skill Retake
One Skill Retake was introduced in 2023. It lets some candidates who took the computer-delivered test retake just one of the four skills, rather than the whole test, within a set period after the original test. If the retake score is higher, you receive a new result showing it.
It is not offered everywhere, and not every organisation accepts a result that includes a retake. Check availability with your test centre, and check with the organisation you are applying to before you rely on it.
Where to find the current rules
Rules, dates, locations and results timings can change. The official source is ielts.org. Use it to confirm details before you book, and do not rely on any third-party summary, including this one, for the final word.
Key points
- Academic and General Training share the same Listening and Speaking tests.
- Reading and Writing Task 1 are different in each version.
- Each skill is scored from 0 to 9, with half bands possible.
- The overall band is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band; .25 and .75 round up.
- Computer and paper tests have the same content; only the delivery differs.
- One Skill Retake exists for some computer candidates; check availability with your test centre.
Next, read the guides to each part on the IELTS hub.