IELTS General Training Pathway
IELTS General Training — Visas, Migration & Professional Registration
Designed for skilled migration, permanent residency applications, and professional registration in English-speaking countries. Our General Training pathway builds the practical English skills examiners reward.
The Four General Training Modules
The Listening and Speaking modules are identical to Academic IELTS. Reading and Writing differ significantly — and require a distinct preparation approach.
General Training Reading
60 minutes · 40 questions
Three sections of increasing difficulty. Section 1 contains two or three short texts from everyday sources (notices, advertisements, timetables). Section 2 covers workplace contexts. Section 3 is a longer, more complex text.
Question Types
- Multiple choice and matching information
- True / False / Not Given
- Sentence and summary completion
- Matching headings and short-answer questions
Tutor Tip
Section 3 texts are comparable in difficulty to Academic Reading. Do not underestimate the General Training Reading test — Band 8+ requires near-perfect accuracy.
General Training Writing
60 minutes · 2 tasks
Task 1 requires you to write a letter — formal, semi-formal, or informal — responding to a given situation. Task 2 is an essay responding to a point of view, argument, or problem (same format as Academic).
Question Types
- Task 1: Formal, semi-formal, or informal letter (150 words minimum)
- Task 2: Argumentative or discursive essay (250 words minimum)
- Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1
- Assessed on Task Achievement, Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammar
Tutor Tip
Matching your register to the letter type is critical. A formal letter written in an informal tone will be penalised under Task Achievement regardless of grammar quality.
Listening
30 minutes + 10 minutes transfer
Identical to the Academic Listening test. Four recorded sections of increasing difficulty — conversations and monologues in social and academic contexts. You hear each recording once only.
Question Types
- Section 1–2: Social and everyday contexts
- Section 3–4: Academic and training contexts
- Multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling
- Form, note, table, flow-chart, and summary completion
Tutor Tip
The Listening test is the same for both Academic and General Training. Strong Listening performance can significantly boost your overall band average.
Speaking
11–14 minutes · 3 parts
Identical to the Academic Speaking test. A face-to-face interview with a certified examiner covering familiar topics, an individual long turn, and an extended discussion on abstract themes.
Question Types
- Part 1: Introduction and interview (4–5 minutes)
- Part 2: Individual long turn with 1-minute preparation (3–4 minutes)
- Part 3: Two-way discussion on abstract topics (4–5 minutes)
- Assessed on Fluency, Lexical Resource, Grammar, Pronunciation
Tutor Tip
Speaking is the same test for both pathways. Practise discussing abstract topics — migration, technology, society — as these commonly appear in Part 3.
Understanding IELTS Assessment Criteria
Every IELTS examiner uses a structured set of assessment criteria — a detailed rubric that defines exactly what a Band 5, 6, 7, or 8 response looks like across four criteria. Our tutors are trained to assess your work against these same criteria, so the feedback you receive mirrors what a real examiner would give.
Task Achievement
How fully and accurately you address all parts of the task prompt.
Coherence & Cohesion
How logically your ideas are organised and how effectively you use linking devices.
Lexical Resource
The range, accuracy, and appropriacy of your vocabulary.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
The variety and correctness of your sentence structures.
Ready to Start Your General Training Preparation?
Take our free diagnostic test to receive an estimated band score across all four modules. Then choose a subscription plan to access the full practice portal, live online lessons, and certified tutor feedback.