Overview of IELTS General Training (GT)

The IELTS General Training test is for those who are going to English-speaking countries for secondary education, work experience, or vocational training programs. It is also a requirement for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. It focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts.

1. Exam Structure and Timing

The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes. The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are completed in one sitting with no break in between. The Speaking test may be on the same day or up to a week before or after the other tests.

Section	Time Allotted	Number of Questions/Tasks	Details
Listening	Approx. 30 minutes (+10 minutes transfer time for paper-based test)	40 questions (4 sections)	You listen to four recordings and answer questions. Recordings get progressively more difficult.
Reading	60 minutes	40 questions (3 sections)	You read three texts of increasing difficulty and answer questions. No extra time is given to transfer answers.
Writing	60 minutes	2 tasks	You must complete both Task 1 (a letter) and Task 2 (an essay).
Speaking	11-14 minutes	3 parts	A face-to-face (or video call) interview with a certified examiner.

2. Question Formats by Section

Here is a detailed breakdown of the types of questions you can expect in each part of the test.

A. Listening (Same for both Academic and General Training)

Section 1: A conversation between two people in an everyday social context (e.g., booking a hotel).
Section 2: A monologue set in an everyday social context (e.g., a welcome speech).
Section 3: A conversation between up to four people in an educational or training context (e.g., students discussing an assignment).
Section 4: A monologue on an academic subject (e.g., a university lecture).

Common Question Types:

Multiple Choice
Matching (e.g., matching speakers to opinions)
Plan, Map, Diagram Labelling
Form, Note, Table, Flow-chart, Summary Completion
Sentence Completion
Short-answer Questions

B. Reading (Different from Academic)

The texts are taken from notices, advertisements, company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines, and newspapers.

Section 1: “Social Survival” – Contains two or three short factual texts on topics relevant to everyday life (e.g., public notices, advertisements).
Section 2: “Workplace Survival” – Contains two short factual texts focusing on work-related issues (e.g., job descriptions, staff development materials).
Section 3: “General Reading” – Contains one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest.

Common Question Types:

Multiple Choice
Identifying Information (True / False / Not Given)
Identifying Writer’s Views/Claims (Yes / No / Not Given)
Matching Information (matching paragraphs to specific details)
Matching Headings (matching headings to paragraphs)
Matching Features / Sentence Endings
Sentence Completion
Summary, Note, Table, Flow-chart Completion
Short-answer Questions

C. Writing (Different from Academic)

Task 1 (Letter Writing – at least 150 words, ~20 minutes suggested)
- You are given a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation.
- The letter can be personal, semi-formal, or formal in style. You must use the appropriate tone.
Task 2 (Essay Writing – at least 250 words, ~40 minutes suggested)
- You are given a point of view, argument, or problem.
- You need to write a discursive essay in response. You may be asked to provide factual information, outline and present a solution, justify an opinion, or evaluate and challenge ideas.

D. Speaking (Same for both Academic and General Training)

Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4–5 minutes)
- The examiner introduces themself and asks you general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies, and interests.
Part 2: Individual Long Turn (3–4 minutes)
- You are given a cue card that asks you to talk about a particular topic.
- You have 1 minute to prepare and make notes.
- You then speak on the topic for 1–2 minutes.
Part 3: Two-way Discussion (4–5 minutes)
- The examiner asks further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. These questions allow you to discuss more abstract ideas and issues.

3. Expected Scores for “Passing”

There is no official “pass” or “fail” score for the IELTS exam.

The score you need is determined by the organization, institution, or immigration body you are applying to. They set their own minimum band score requirements. Scores are reported on a 9-band scale (from Band 1 “Non-user” to Band 9 “Expert user”).

Here are some common examples for immigration:

Canada (Express Entry – Federal Skilled Worker Program): The minimum requirement is CLB 7 (Canadian Language Benchmark), which translates to 6.0 in all four IELTS skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking). Higher scores grant more points.
Australia (Department of Home Affairs): Requirements vary by visa type. For example, a “Competent” level of English is often a minimum, which is an IELTS score of at least 6.0 in all four bands. “Proficient” (7.0 in all bands) or “Superior” (8.0 in all bands) will earn more points for skilled migration.
United Kingdom (UKVI): For a Skilled Worker visa, you generally need to prove you can read, write, speak, and understand English to at least level B1 on the CEFR scale, which is typically an IELTS score of 4.0 overall and in each skill.

Always check the specific requirements of the organization you are applying to.

4. Key Regulations

Identification: You must bring the same valid passport or national ID card that you used to register for the test. No other form of ID is accepted.
Prohibited Items: You cannot bring mobile phones, smartwatches, or any electronic devices into the test room. Personal belongings must be stored in a designated area.
Test Materials: For the paper-based test, pencils and erasers will be provided. You may bring a transparent bottle of water.
Punctuality: Arrive early. If you are late, you may not be allowed to take the test.
Cheating: Any form of cheating or malpractice will result in your disqualification, and you may be banned from taking IELTS in the future.

5. Important Updates & Formats

A. IELTS on Computer vs. Paper-based IELTS

You can choose to take the test on a computer or on paper. The content, timing, and structure are identical. The key differences are:

Feature	IELTS on Computer	Paper-based IELTS
Results	Results are available in 3-5 days.	Results are available in 13 days.
Writing	You type your answers. A word counter is provided.	You handwrite your answers. You must estimate the word count.
Reading	You view texts and questions on a split-screen. You can highlight text and make notes.	You have a question booklet and a separate answer sheet.
**Listening