IELTS General Training Test - Format, Fees and Preparation Tips

The IELTS General Training test is designed for candidates aiming to migrate, gain work experience, or undertake training below the degree level in English-speaking countries like the UK, Canada, the US, and Australia. It assesses practical, everyday English language skills for social and workplace environments and is essential for those entering foreign schools, colleges, or employment training programs. The test comprises four papers: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. While the Speaking and Listening sections are the same for both IELTS Academic and General versions, the Reading and Writing tests differ. 

Candidates taking the IELTS General test have 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete the test, which can be taken on paper or computer. For the paper-based test, the speaking section is scheduled before the written test, while the computer-based test allows candidates to select their speaking time. The general test is scored on a band scale from 1 (non-user) to 9 (expert user). Though Academic and General Reading tests use the same scoring scale, General test takers need more correct answers to achieve the same band score, as Academic is often more complex. The test fee for IELTS General, on paper or computer, is INR 18,000. This article provides an overview of the IELTS General test format, section breakdown, question types, and strategies for success.

IELTS General Test Format

Before preparing, understand the IELTS general test format. The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections of the general test are completed on the same day without breaks, totalling 2 hours and 45 minutes, whereas the Speaking test can be scheduled either on the same day or up to a week before or after. Candidates can book their preferred time for the speaking test online, or an automatic slot will be assigned. The IELTS general test consists of four sections. They are:

IELTS General Listening Test

The IELTS General Training Listening test assesses a candidate’s ability to understand and interpret spoken language in various contexts. It includes four parts, each containing 10 questions, totalling 40 questions. Each correct answer gets 1 mark, and the final score will be given as a band score. The questions follow the sequence of the recording, so answers appear in order. In the IELTS listening test, there are 4 audio clips provided to answer the questions. They are as follows.

Parts 1 and 2 cover everyday social situations: Part 1 is a conversation between two speakers, while Part 2 features a single speaker discussing topics like local facilities.

Recording 1: A conversation between two people in any everyday social context.
Recording 2: a monologue about any social content will be played.

Parts 3 and 4 address educational or training contexts: Part 3 involves a discussion between two people (often students) and Part 4 features a single speaker on an academic topic.
Recording 3: A group of 4-5 people will discuss any educational topic. They will discuss any university, its facilities, etc.
Recording 4: A university lecture or any other academic related monologue will be given.

The recordings, which will be played only once, include a range of English accents. Candidates will have about 30 minutes to complete the listening, with an additional 10 minutes to transfer their answers to the answer sheet, ensuring careful spelling and grammar to avoid losing marks.

There are 9 question types in the IELTS general listening section. They are:

1. Multiple choice
2. Matching
3. Plan/map/diagram labelling
4. Form/Summary completion
5. Flow chart completion
6. Table completion
7. Note completion
8. Sentence completion
9. Short-answer questions

IELTS General Reading Test

The IELTS General Reading test assesses the test taker’s ability to read and understand English in practical, everyday contexts, often encountered when living in an English-speaking country. It includes three sections, featuring long texts that range from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. These texts are selected from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. The total text length is 2150–2750 words.

Section 1 features short texts, like notices or advertisements, requiring candidates to identify key information.
Section 2 focuses on workplace topics, such as job descriptions and staff training materials.
Section 3 is a single, longer text on a general interest topic.

In the general reading section, candidates have 60 minutes to complete the test, including time to transfer their answers to an answer sheet—no additional time will be provided. The test includes 40 questions, each worth one mark, with the final score given as a band from 1 to 9, including half bands. Test takers should read the passage quickly while effectively identifying the main ideas and keywords to answer the questions within the time limit. Careful attention to spelling and grammar is essential, as errors can result in lost marks.

The IELTS general reading test has below 14 question types:

1. Multiple choice questions
2. Identifying information (True/False/Not given)
3. Identifying writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not given)
4. Matching information
5. Matching headings
6. Matching features
7. Matching sentence endings
8. Sentence completion
9. Summary completion
10. Note completion
11. Table completion
12. Flow-chart completion
13. Diagram label completion
14. Short-answer questions

IELTS General Writing Test

The IELTS General Training Writing test evaluates a candidate’s writing skills across two tasks, each assessed on four band descriptors: task achievement (Task 1) or task response (Task 2), coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy.

Task 1: Candidates are asked to write a letter of at least 150 words in about 20 minutes, responding to a situation, with the style being personal, semi-formal, or formal, depending on the task.
Task 2: It involves writing a semi-formal or neutral essay of at least 250 words in about 40 minutes, where candidates discuss an opinion, argument, or problem based on the provided instructions.

Both tasks of IELTS general writing must be completed in full sentences; no notes or bullet points are allowed, and answers must be written on the answer sheet. Task 2 carries more weight in the final writing score. The total time allowed for both tasks is 60 minutes, with Task 2 contributing twice as much as Task 1 to the final score.

IELTS General Speaking Test

The IELTS general speaking test assesses test takers' ability to communicate in English, with the examiner awarding band scores for their spoken language skills. Conducted as a face-to-face interview lasting 11–14 minutes, the test is recorded and divided into three parts. Evaluation is done based on the band descriptors including fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Examiners look at how well candidates speak at a natural pace, organise their ideas, use an appropriate range of vocabulary, and maintain grammatical accuracy. Pronunciation is also assessed to ensure clarity and ease of understanding. These combined criteria determine their overall IELTS speaking score, reflecting their ability to communicate effectively in English.

The IELTS general speaking test consists of three parts. The rounds are as follows,

Part 1 - Introduction & Interview: In this self-introduction part, the examiner introduces themselves and verifies the candidate's identity. They will then ask general questions on familiar topics like home, family, work, studies, or interests. Part 1 lasts for 4–5 minutes.
Part 2 - Long turn (speaking cue card): The examiner gives candidates a task card with a topic and points to include in a 2-minute talk. They have one minute to prepare, with paper an-d pencil provided for notes. After speaking, the examiner may ask follow-up questions. Part 2 takes 3–4 minutes in total, including preparation time.
Part 3 - Discussion (Follow-up): In Part 3, the Test taker and the examiner engage in a broader and more in-depth discussion related to the Part 2 topic in a general and abstract manner. This part lasts 4–5 minutes.

A clear knowledge of the IELTS general test format is required before starting preparation. As the syllabus and the test format are updated regularly by the official IELTS conducting boards, applicants have to keep themselves equipped with the latest format, while preparing for the exam.

Tips & Strategies to Crack the IELTS General Test

Use these preparation tips and strategies, which have helped many students achieve a band score above 8 in the IELTS General Training test.

• Practice as many tests as possible to improve IELTS general reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
• Pay equal attention to all four sections of the IELTS general while preparing for the exam as the final score is given as a cumulative score of each section.
• Understand the IELTS general test format and prepare to answer all the question types.
• Use the best study materials to prepare for the exam. The preparation materials must cover all the topics given in the IELTS general test syllabus.
• Self-evaluate with regular tests. This evaluation will reveal where the focus is required to score more.
• Learn time management, as all the IELTS general test sections are timed. Thus while practising one must learn to manage their time as per the sectional time limit.
• Vocabulary plays an important role in clearing the IELTS general exam. Thus applicants must enhance their vocabulary through regular practice.