IELTS: Test Types
IELTS stands for “International English Language Testing System”, which has been around since 1989 and is trusted globally for assessing English Language skills: Listening, Reading, and Writing, and Speaking. However, if you are wondering what types of tests does IELTS offer, you are not alone.
IELTS administers two types of tests: IELTS Academic and General Training, both serving different purposes. However, there are additional test types, specifically for United Kingdom (UK). Let’s briefly analyze each test type to help you understand the purpose, and help you make a more informed decision about which test to choose!
1. IELTS Academic – This is a popular test type that is based on academic context and is best suited for students who are planning to pursue their academic journey. Just as the name suggests, IELTS Academic is used for admission into universities or other high education institutions to assess your English proficiency. If you are planning to study abroad in a country where English is widely spoken, it is likely that you will have to take the IELTS Academic test. Besides undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate studies, this type of test can also be required for professional registrations if you belong to a medical field such as Doctor, Nurse, Dentist, etc.
2. IELTS General Training – This particular test type is based on social context and is suited for those who would like to pursue immigration, employment, or training abroad in an English-speaking country. IELTS General Training focuses on practical everyday English that is used to communicate. Although, IELTS is globally accepted, but the more primary countries who accept IELTS General Training are Australian, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom (UK). If you wish to migrate to another country for the purpose mentioned here, then you should consider opting for this type of test.
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3. IELTS UKVI – To understand this type of test, we will break the abbreviation “UKVI: United Kingdom Visa.” This version of the test is best suited for those people who wish to apply for UK Visas and will be accepted by the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as proof of your ability to communicate in English for the purpose of studying, working, and living in the UK.
IELTS UKVI is a secure English Language Test (SELT), which is approved by the UK Home Office. An important difference with this type of test is that unlike IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, IELTS UKVI can only be taken in-person at an official IELTS for UKVI Test Centre. Finally, the tests used by UKVI as: (IELTS UKVI, IELTS for UKVI Life Skills A1, A2, and B1) will basically depend on the type of visa you are interested in applying for under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).