Which One Is Easier: The IELTS General Or The IELTS Academic?
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the most reputed English proficiency tests globally. It is usually conducted in two formats—IELTS General and IELTS Academic.
With over 3 million people taking the IELTS exam each year, it has grown exponentially in stature and demand. From the test format to the syllabus and the purpose of the application, there are various things one needs to consider before applying for the IELTS 2022.
A common question among people is, “Between the two formats of IELTS, which one is easier?”
Here is a detailed comparison of both.
IELTS General
It is ideal for candidates looking to undertake non-academic training, gain work experience, or for immigration. The purpose is to test everyday English skills for entry into secondary education, training centres, or migration.
IELTS Academic
Ideal for candidates who want to enrol in higher education or professionals who want to study or practice in English-speaking countries. The test determines if a candidate is ready for undergraduate or postgraduate level education or professional work.
However, for the IELTS 2022 exam, you may opt for the IELTS Online Academic test, giving you the flexibility to take your test from anywhere.
The IELTS General and IELTS Academic are divided into four parts: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The test format for Listening and Speaking is similar for both formats, whereas Reading and Writing may differ depending upon the format.
- Listening Test (common to both)
This test is divided into four sections, with ten questions in each section. The total duration of this segment is 30 minutes. Section 1 is a conversation between two people, Section 2 is a monologue, Section 3 is an educational or training context conversation between people, and Section 4 is an academic speech by one speaker.
- Reading Test
This test is divided into three sections, with a variety of questions. The total duration of this segment is 60 minutes.
- IELTS Academic – It comprises three reading paragraphs, which are taken from books, magazines, journals, and newspapers. The reading part has a variety of text which might be factual, descriptive, or analytical and includes diagrams, charts or graphs.
- IELTS General – It has three sections. Section 1 contains two to three short texts, section 2 contains two short texts, and section 3 contains a long text on everyday topics, work, and general interest. The reading part of IELTS General is comparatively easier.
- Writing Test
This test is divided into two tasks, with candidates required to write at least 150 words in 20 minutes before writing at least 250 words in 40 minutes for the second task.
- IELTS Academic
- Task 1: The candidate has to describe a chart, diagram, graph, or map.
- Task 2: Candidates need to discuss a point of view, problem, or argument, formally.
- IELTS General
- Task 1: The candidate has to write a letter in response to an everyday situation, both formal and informal.
- Task 2: The candidate has to write an essay about a topic of general interest,
- Speaking Test (Common to both)
This test is a face-to-face interview of the candidate and is divided into three sections. The total duration of this segment is 11-14 minutes. Section 1 is an introduction and interview, with many general questions. Section 2 comprises a task wherein the candidate has to speak on a topic for 2 minutes. Section 3 involves questions related to the topic on which the candidate spoke in Section 2.
The total duration of the IELTS exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes. The candidates receive a score for every test, after which the average of each is calculated and rounded off for an overall band score. The IELTS exam is scored on a nine-band scale, ranging from non-users (score 1) to experts (score 9).
Conclusion
After analysing the above pointers, we can clearly say that both modules serve different purposes. As far as the difficulty level is concerned, IELTS General is easier than the academic test, with its Reading and Writing sections being comparatively easier.
Check out the more information about IELTS 2022 at https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/exams/ielts
