IELTS Examination Primarily having in two types of IELTS Test. IELTS is a prominent English language proficiency exam and has been framed by experts at Cambridge English Language Assessment.

These experts further receive inputs for IELTS exam contents from item writers around the globe. Separate teams to review the test contents have been formed in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many other English speaking nations.

Types of IELTS Test:

There are primarily two types of IELTS test –

1. IELTS Academic and 

2. IELTS General:

Each version of the IELTS exam has a definition and purpose of its own. However, both these have been defined to accurately examine full-range abilities of candidates ranging from non-user to expert user and intermediaries as well.

A vast variety of writing styles and accents are presented to the candidate in the test material to minimize any linguistic bias and offer a fair basis of assessment.

As per the current IELTS exam pattern, both Types of IELTS Exam have four sections each – reading, writing, listening and speaking. The listening and speaking sections are the same for both variants of the IELTS exam whereas the subject matter of the reading and writing sections are different for IELTS Academic and IELTS General.

The only significant difference in the Academic and General Training versions of the IELTS exam is the content and context of the tasks in each of the four sections. All the other test features like time allocation per segment, the word count of written responses and evaluation of the inputs to generate the mark sheet, are the same.

1. IELTS Academic Exam:

In the first Types of IELTS Test i.e IELTS Academic Exam If a candidate intends to study at a tertiary level in an English-speaking nation or seek professional registration, the candidate must undertake the IELTS Academic examination.

It is for candidates who want to apply at a university or any other educational institute for academic or higher level education. It is also apt for candidates looking for professional registration in a country where English is the primary language and IELTS scorecards are considered valid.

Anyone can undertake the IELTS Academic test. The test and its tasks are for everyone irrespective of the candidate’s subject focus.
After scoring well in the IELTS Academic exam, the applicant becomes eligible to apply for almost all undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses and also for professional registration.

The IELTS Academic test is appropriate for applicants planning to migrate to either Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the UK. It is also suitable for professionals like doctors and nurses who want to study further or practice in an English-speaking nation.

This exam examines the applicant for his/her readiness to undergo education or training in an English-speaking environment. It also evaluates the candidate’s necessary survival skill-set in social places like office, workplace, shopping complexes.

2. IELTS General Exam:

this is the second Types of IELTS Test. In this examination focuses majorly on the practical everyday use of the English language in an English-speaking country and assesses the candidates for their capabilities to participate and contribute to study, work or social environments.

It is an appropriate course for candidates willing to travel to a foreign land for below degree level courses, i.e., secondary schooling, non-academic work-related training, work experience or for immigration purposes to a nation where English is the primary language.
It is most suitable for candidates wishing to migrate to Canada, Australia, or the United Kingdom.

What is the IELTS Exam Schedule?

The IELTS exam time is 165 minutes, i.e., 2 hours and 45 mins. The first three sections of the exam – listening, reading and writing are to take on the same day in the same order. There are no breaks in between these sections.

The speaking section of the IELTS exam may or may not be conducted on the same day. If not taken on the same day, it must be completed in 7 days from the date of appearing for the first three sections.

The test center itself decides the schedule of the speaking section for each candidate by local arrangements and availability of test slots.

For the listening module, the test takers are made to listen to a variety of accents of English language ranging from North American, Australian, New Zealand, and British. However, all standard types of English literature are accepted.

The speaking module of the IELTS exams is the critical component in both variants – Academic and General Training. In this section, the candidate is made to interact with real people and not electronic systems.

It is conducted in the form of a personal interview with the examiner who may not necessarily be a native English language speaker.

The candidate is deliberately placed in real-life situations to test their English speaking capabilities. While the candidate converses with the examiner, the latter assesses his/her English communication skills.

The whole conversation between the candidate and examiner is recorded to be later evaluated by a certified and experienced IELTS examiner. The recorded conversation is also used to remark a candidate he/she appeals the IELTS score.

Know More About IELTS: IELTS Exam Pattern and Types,  IELTS Preparation tips, material and pdf.

IELTS Score Calculation:

The IELTS score is calculated based on the candidate’s performance in all four sections of the IELTS exam.
Following is a summary of the four sections of the IELTS exam.

• Listening :    30 minutes          4 sections,       40 items
• Reading :      60 minutes          3 sections,       40 items
• Writing :       60 minutes          2 tasks
• Speaking :    11-14 minutes     3 part                 one-on-one conversation

IELTS Life Skill Module:

This Types of IELTS Test is meant for applicants willing to showcase their English language proficiency at the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This test examines the speaking and listening capabilities only and is available at three levels – A1, A2(offered in the UK only), and B1
Candidates appearing for this examination are marked differently from IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training.

The result, generally available in 7 days from the date of test, is not a scorecard but just a Pass or a Fail mark. Failing this exam makes the candidate ineligible for visa applications.

Which Types of IELTS Test is right for You?

With two different Types of IELTS Test pattern, it can be at times confusing for the test takers to understand which exam should they appear. Choosing the right one will save sufficient time and effort of the candidate and assist in his/her career growth.

Most people looking to travel abroad for higher education register themselves for IELTS Academic test. However, is it utmost important for a candidate to check and confirm the pre-requisites of the university and course that they plan to apply to, before enrolling themselves for either Types of IELTS Test.

Each test taker can select at most five universities to which the IELTS conducting board will send his/her IELTS score at no additional charge. There is, however, a small fee for every other university to which the candidate wishes to submit their IELTS scores. The candidate can opt their score to be not sent to any university in case it’s lower than the threshold score.

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Which industries ask for an IELTS score?

•   Most English-speaking countries require an IELTS score for health care professionals like doctors, nurses, pharmacists. For whom English language proficiency is of supreme importance.

•   A list of other common professions for which an IELTS score is mandatory is engineering, law, accounting, and veterinary practice.

•   Employers from other industries like finance, aviation, construction, energy, tourism, and even some government organizations ask for an IELTS scorecard.

Conclusion:

This is all about the Types of IELTS Test/exam. If you have any doubt about your exam preparation. or do you have any suggestion for the IELTS aspirants you can comment below. we are waiting for every reply from your side. Enjoy.