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.
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 (UKVI) or IELTS Life Skills.
Duration: 2 hours and 45 minutes (Listening, Reading and Writing) + 11-14 minutes (Speaking)
Format: There 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. Your Speaking test may be offered on the same day as the other sections of the test, or up to a week before or after.
Some of our IELTS test centres are delivering the IELTS Speaking test via video calls. This means greater flexibility in delivering IELTS Speaking tests, along with increased availability.
You will take the Video-Call Speaking test at an official IELTS test centre with the same high standard of identity verification. The test will be exactly the same as the in-person Speaking test in terms of content, scoring, timing, question format and security arrangements.
Delivered by an IELTS Speaking Examiner, the Video-Call Speaking test will maintain the face-to-face features of the in-person Speaking test.
For more information, please watch the video.
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 access to IELTS Ready Premium.
Find an IELTS General Training test date.
Before booking your test, make sure to check which test you need with the organisations you are applying to.