The IELTS Academic test is one of the two versions of the IELTS, and it is by far the more popular version. It is intended primarily for students who are applying to university in the UK, although many universities outside the UK also accept IELTS Academic scores to prove English proficiency. IELTS Academic scores can also be used to prove English proficiency for visa and emigration purposes in the UK and other countries.
The IELTS Academic 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 Academic and the IELTS General Training tests, with more emphasis placed on subjects in an academic or university setting. The spoken parts of the two tests are identical and deal with everyday topics and situations.
The IELTS Academic is scored on a scale from 0 to 9 and there is no passing or failing score. IELTS Academic result reports are valid for 2 years.