IELTS General Training – prove you have practical, everyday English language skills
IELTS General Training measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and tests reflect both workplace and social situations.
Download our free guide to the IELTS General Training test
Take this test if you would like to:
- train or study at below degree level
- work or undertake work related training in an English speaking country
- emigrate to an English speaking country
- get a better job in your own country.
You can take the test on paper or on a computer. Both test formats will take place at one of our official test centres.
If you need a visa for working or studying in the UK, then in some cases you may need to take IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration or IELTS for UKVI Life Skills.
Duration: 2 hours and 45 minutes (Listening, Reading and Writing) + 11-14 minutes (Speaking)
Format: TThere are four sections to the test: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. When you book your IELTS test with the British Council, the test will take place in an official British Council IELTS test centre, whether you take the test on paper or on a computer.
If you take your test on paper, your Speaking test may be offered on the same day as the other sections of the test, or up to 3 days before or 1 day after. You will receive notification seven days in advance if your Speaking test is on a different day to your main test day.
If you take your test on a computer, you have a free choice of Speaking test dates.