If you are getting ready to take IELTS, one of the first questions to settle is which test to sit. Choosing the wrong one can cost you time and money, so it is worth being clear from the start. This guide explains the main options in plain terms.
The main IELTS tests
IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is offered in a few forms. The two most common are IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. There is also IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), used for certain UK immigration routes.
IELTS Academic
IELTS Academic is usually taken by people applying to a university, or to a professional body that registers members on the basis of their English. The Reading and Writing sections use material in an academic style.
IELTS General Training
IELTS General Training is usually taken for work, for training programmes, for migration to some countries, or for secondary education. The Reading and Writing sections focus on everyday and workplace English.
IELTS for UKVI
IELTS for UKVI is the same test taken at a session approved for UK immigration purposes. Whether you need it depends on the specific visa route you are applying for.
Who decides which one you take
This is the part that matters most: the institution, employer, or immigration authority you are applying to decides which test and which score they will accept. They are the final word. Always check their requirement before you book, because taking the wrong test means sitting it again.
Not sure which to book?
We can talk you through the differences so you can confirm the right test with confidence. See our IELTS preparation course and exam services, or contact us in Bamenda.