- Purpose: The Academic IELTS is intended for individuals who want to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level in an English-speaking country, while the General Training IELTS is designed for individuals who are going to an English-speaking country for work experience, training, or immigration purposes.
- Reading and Writing sections: Both tests have a Reading and Writing section, but the content and tasks are different. The Academic IELTS Reading and Writing sections are more challenging and focus on academic texts, while the General Training IELTS Reading and Writing sections are less challenging and focus on everyday situations.
- Listening section: The Listening section is the same for both the Academic and General Training IELTS tests, and it assesses a person’s ability to understand spoken English in a range of everyday situations.
- Speaking section: The Speaking section is the same for both tests, and it assesses a person’s ability to communicate effectively in English through a conversation with an examiner.
- Scoring: Both tests are scored on a scale of 0-9, with 9 being the highest score. The scoring criteria are the same for both tests.
In summary, the Academic IELTS is more focused on academic language skills, while the General Training IELTS is more focused on everyday language skills. Depending on the person’s goals and needs, they should choose the appropriate test that aligns with their intended purpose.