IELTS is available in two test formats Academic and General Training. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking modules but different Reading and Writing modules.
Academic
The Academic format is, broadly speaking, for those who want to study or train in an English-speaking university or Institutions of Higher and Further Education. Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is based on the results of the Academic test.
General Training
The General Training format focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts. It is typically for those who are going to English-speaking countries to complete their secondary education, training programs, or to work. People migrating to Australia, Canada and New Zealand must sit the General Training test.
Please note, certain professions require an Academic test result for registration and migration purposes.
The Listening, Reading and Writing modules must be completed in one day. For paper-based IELTS exam, the Speaking module may be offered on the same day or up to a week before or after the other modules. For computer-delivered IELTS exam, the Speaking test can be made available on the same day or up to 5 days before, or 1 day after the test.