three young people talking in front of a computer

The IELTS General Training test measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and tests reflect both work and social situations.

Why take IELTS General Training?

IELTS General Training is the best option if you want to:

  • Train or study at below degree level
  • Emigrate to an English speaking country
  • Get a better job in your own country.
  • Work or undertake work-related training in an English speaking country

You can choose between a General Training IELTS test on paper or on a computer and take either format in various of our official test centres in the Caribbean.

If you are applying for a UK University, that has requested you to take an IELTS for UKVI (Visas and Immigration) you must take another type of test. 

Learn more about the IELTS for UKVI.

Cost
  • In Cuba, 233 CUC
  • In Jamaica, 36.000 JMD
  • In Trinidad y Tobago, 2.200 TTD

Our IELTS price includes access to the exclusive online preparation resources and more than 40 practice tests IELTS Ready: Premium, as well as IELTS preparation resources. Find here more benefits of booking your IELTS test with the British Council
Duration Two hours and 45 minutes.
Parts

The exam has four parts: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
Format You can choose between taking your test on paper or computer. Both with the same content and level of difficulty.

Your Speaking test may be offered on the same day as the other parts of the test, or up to a week before or after. You will receive notification in advance if your Speaking test is on a different day to your main test day.

IELTS Academic: parts of the test

Listening

Duration 30 minutes plus 10 minutes to transfer your responses to the answer sheet.
Format Four audio recordings in varying accents.
Number of questions 40, ten per section.

You will write your answers using:

  • multiple choice
  • matching points
  • diagram labelling 
  • sentence completion

You will listen to four recordings of native English speakers and then write your answers to a series of questions.

  • Recording 1 (social needs): a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.
  • Recording 2 (social needs): a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.
  • Recording 3 (education and training): a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.
  • Recording 4 (education and training): a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.

Assessors will be looking for evidence of your ability to understand the main ideas and detailed factual information, the opinions and attitudes of speakers, the purpose of an utterance and evidence of your ability to follow the development of ideas.

Note that:

  • Before the start of each part of the listening test, you will have time to read the questions.
  • After the end of each part of the listening test, you will have time to review your answers.
  • At the end of the listening test, you will have 2 minutes to check your answers.
  • The time to complete the listening comprehension test is 30 to 34 minutes.
  • Response times for the listening test are slightly different when the test is presented on a computer. This is because the paper test requires users to transfer their answers to an answer sheet. This step is skipped when responding directly from a computer.

Reading

Duration 60 minutes
Format

Three reading passages with tasks:

  • Section 1 - two short or three short factual texts
  • Section 2  - two short work-related, factual texts
  • Section 3 -  one longer text on a topic of general interest

The Reading section consists of 40 questions, designed to test a wide range of reading skills. These include reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument and recognising writers' opinions, attitudes and purpose.

This includes extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines. These are materials you are likely to encounter on a daily basis in an English-speaking environment.

Writing

Duration 60 minutes
Format
  • Letter writing task (minimum 150 words)
  • Short essay writing task (minimum 250 words).

Topics are of general interest. There are two tasks:

  • Task 1: you will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information, or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.
  • Task 2: you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be fairly personal in style.

Speaking

Duration Ten to 15 minutes
Format
  • Face-to-face interview.
  • Short questions and speaking at length about a familiar topic.

The Speaking section assesses your use of spoken English. Every test is recorded.

  • Part 1: the examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies and interests. This part lasts between four and five minutes.
  • Part 2: you will be given a card which asks you to talk about a particular topic. You will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner will then ask one or two questions on the same topic.
  • Part 3: you will be asked further questions about the topic in Part 2. This will give you the opportunity to discuss more abstract ideas and issues. This part of the test lasts between four and five minutes.

Book your IELTS General Training test

Success starts with IELTS. If your goal is to study below degree level or emigrate to an English speaking country, then you will need to take the IELTS General Training test.

At the British Council, we are committed to providing you with the support you need to enable you to do well in the test. When you book with us, you get IELTS Ready access. 

Before booking your test, make sure to check which test you need with the organisations you are applying to.

See also

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