The IELTS General Training test is one of the two versions of the IELTS, and it is the least popular of the two. It is intended primarily for people who are applying for a visa to the UK or other countries with an English-language visa requirement, although the more popular IELTS Academic can be used for that purpose as well. The IELTS General Training test cannot be used at most universities and colleges to prove English proficiency. Students are instead asked to take the IELTS Academic, or another more academically-oriented English test.
The IELTS General Training lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes in total with four skills tested: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The written parts of the test are different on the IELTS General Training and the IELTS Academic, with more emphasis placed on everyday subjects and workplace settings on the General Training test. The spoken parts of the two tests are identical and do not include academic subjects.
The IELTS General Training is scored on a scale from 0 to 9 and there is no passing or failing score. IELTS General Training score reports are valid for 2 years.