If taking-up IELTS is on your bucket list then we would suggest knowing this globally recognized English competency exam at first. There are two versions of this exam and each serves different purposes.
Which version is suitable for you?
What are the differences between these two versions?
Figuring out the answers to these questions isn’t a tough task as we’re presenting them right here, right now.
Academic IELTS v/s General IELTS – Difference In the Scoring
This is the front where these IELTS versions differ the most.
The process of scoring and score requirements are different for both of these two versions. Speaking of scoring, the Reading section is scored differently in both these two versions. This section accounts for 25% of the total exam score.
Let’s understand the scoring difference in this section. If you’re taking up IELTS Academic version then a score of 30 out of 40 will account for a 6.0 band score. The same score will account for the 5.0 band score in the General IELTS version.
If an acceptable score is concerned then it’s hard to comment on this as each university, college, and the country is allowed to decide the eligibility criteria. In general, a band score of 5 is considered good for immigration purposes while a band score of 7 or above is enough to grab a seat in the institute of repute. Still, we would suggest referring to the related guidelines for the minimum score.
Academic IELTS v/s General IELTS – Difference in the Purpose
Academic IELTS
As the name suggests, Academic IELTS is designed for students willing to pursue an educational course in overseas universities and colleges where English is the medium of education. It’s taken up by non-native speakers to prove their expertise over English and make their candidature strong.
Depending upon the university/college requirements, an Academic IELTS score can be needed for graduate and post-graduate courses. In countries like the UK, Ireland, the UK, Australia, and a few more, an Academic IELTS score is needed for medical work as well.
A wide range of medical jobs requires a score of Academic IELTS.
General IELTS
General IELTS is for those non-natives who are looking for immigration and occupational opportunities in a native country like Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Ireland, Canada, and many more.
Let’s understand the difference with the help of examples:
- Sam is from a non-native country and has completed BBA back home. Now, he wants to study MBA in a US college/university. He has to take up Academic IELTS as a part of the admission process.
- Maria was on a holiday visa in Canada and met the love of her life. They both decided to stay together. As Maria is not a native of Canada, she has to apply for Canadian immigration, using IELTS General.
- John is working In South Africa and has to stay in the UK for two years as a part of a project. He has to take up IELTS General to process the visa formalities.
Academic IELTS v/s General IELTS – Difference In the Format
Speaking of the format of these two versions, not much of a difference is there. Both these two versions cover four skills: English reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
However, certain question types and their difficulty levels vary. We will explain them in detail.
Listening and speaking sections have no difference. All the question types and topics covered are the same.
Reading and writing sections are a bit different. These two sections of Academic IELTS are a bit tougher than General IELTS. Academic IELTS tests examinee’s reading and writing skills beyond regular and common communication.
It’s a bit more detailed and demands a thorough understanding of grammar concepts, vocabulary, and sentence formation.
In the Academic IELTS Reading section, there are 40 questions in total and candidates are granted 60 minutes for this. Question types involve reading passages and answering questions.
The passages would feature long paragraphs with complex English words. It would be more analytical and research-oriented. Mostly, the source of these paragraphs is research papers, journals, magazines, and newspapers.
General IELTS Reading features the same number of questions. But, the passages that are easy to understand are picked from advertisements and brochures. Passages will feature commonly used words and simple English.
Similarly, the difficulty level of General IELTS writing and the Academic IELTS writing section varies. In Academic IELTS, candidates are asked to pen down an essay related to their undergraduate or postgraduate learning. The allotted duration is an hour for this.
The exam is divided into two tasks. The first task involves describing given data, graphs, and tables in their own words while the second task demands writing down the essay on the data. The vocabulary used should be heavy and more on the technical side.
The General IELTS Writing section demands test-takers to write an essay on the topic of general interest. The tone could be semi-formal, formal, or personal. Words of common use can be used in the essay.
Ending Notes
Academic IELTS and General IELTS are here to help non-natives to be a part of the native world. However, they are used for different purposes. If studying and medical work is your dream then Academic IELTS is the best choice to make. For immigration and occupational purposes, General IELTS will help you out.
