What is IELTS, and which version do you need?

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) measures how well you can use English to study, work and live in an English-speaking environment. It is accepted by more than 12,000 organisations, including universities, employers and immigration authorities.

The two main versions

• IELTS Academic: for university study (undergraduate or postgraduate) and professional registration, for example as a doctor or nurse.

• IELTS General Training: for migration to countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, for work experience, or for secondary education.

Listening and Speaking are identical in both versions. Reading and Writing are different: Academic uses longer, more academic texts and asks you to describe charts in Writing Task 1, while General Training uses everyday texts and asks you to write a letter.

What about IELTS for UKVI?

If you are applying for a UK visa, you may need IELTS for UKVI. The content is the same; the difference is that the test is taken at approved centres under extra security procedures.

Action step: Check the exact test and minimum band your university, employer or visa route requires. Write it down: it becomes your target.