IELTS Academic or General Training: Which One Do You Need?

Short answer: If you are applying to a university, take IELTS Academic. If you are applying for permanent residence, a work visa or Canada's Express Entry, take IELTS General Training. Booking the wrong one means paying ৳31,100 again, so check before you book.

Checked on 30 October 2026. Visa rules change; always confirm with the university or the immigration website before you book.

What is the same in both

• Listening is identical: four parts, 40 questions, about 30 minutes.
• Speaking is identical: an 11–14 minute conversation with an examiner in three parts.
• The fee in Bangladesh is the same, ৳31,100 on computer.
• Both are scored from band 0 to 9.

What is different

Reading. Academic has three long passages from books, journals and magazines, the kind of text you meet at university. General Training has shorter everyday texts first (notices, adverts, workplace documents), then one longer passage. General Training Reading needs more correct answers for the same band: 30 out of 40 is about band 7 in Academic, but in General Training you need around 34.

Writing Task 1. In Academic you describe a chart, graph, table, map or process in at least 150 words. In General Training you write a letter (formal, semi-formal or informal) of at least 150 words.

Writing Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words in both, though General Training topics tend to be more everyday.

You can try both formats free: our Academic and General Training mock tests follow the real computer test.

Which one for Canada?

• Express Entry, permanent residence and most work pathways: General Training only. IRCC says it directly: "You must take the IELTS General Training option" (IRCC language testing). Academic results are not accepted. Your results must also be less than two years old when you apply.
• Study permit: your college or university sets the English requirement, and almost all ask for IELTS Academic.

Which one for the UK?

• University at degree level: the university decides. Most accept the normal IELTS Academic.
• Courses below degree level, work and family visas: these need a Secure English Language Test, which for IELTS means IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training, depending on the visa). It costs ৳34,850 in Bangladesh.

Which one for Australia?

• University: IELTS Academic.
• Skilled migration: the Department of Home Affairs sets which tests count. Check its current list before you book.

Which one if I'm not sure yet?

Take Academic if there is any chance you will apply to a university. Universities rarely accept General Training, while some work and migration routes do accept Academic (Canada's Express Entry is the big exception).

A quick way to decide

Next step

Once you know your version, find out where you stand:

• Take a free band check: one Listening part and one Reading passage, about 25 minutes.
• Read the guide to Academic vs General Training for worked examples from both Reading formats.
• If you are taking General Training, our guide to the General Training letter shows how to score well in Task 1.

Skillora English is not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council, IDP or any government.