Your Ultimate Guide to Success
There are different types of IELTS tests that you can take for various purposes, whether it be for your higher education abroad, career growth or simply to improve English proficiency. These types are:
1. IELTS Academic
2. IELTS General Training
3. IELTS for UKVI and Life Skills
IELTS Academic is taken by individuals that are planning to study higher education or gain professional registration in an English-Speaking country. The test assesses your ability to comprehend and use complex academic language and texts.
IELTS General Training is taken to migrate to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, or the USA or to acquire secondary education or vocational training. It assesses your English proficiency in a more general context, focusing on everyday language skills.
Both tests assess 4 areas: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. However, there are slight differences in the modules’ format:
IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is specifically designed for those applying for visas to the United Kingdom which meets the requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration for certain visa categories.
For both IELTS and IELTS for UKVI, there are Academic and General Training Tests. In terms of the exam formats, there are no differences! The only difference is the test centers and the Test Report Form (TRF).
For the UKVI test, the test centers need to meet the administrative requirements outlined by the UK Home office. And only the Test Report Forms (TRF) look slightly different.
There are additional IELTS UKVI tests which are called the Life Skills Test. This test is specifically for those who need to prove their Speaking and Listening Skills at levels A1 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
There are 3 types of Life Skills Test:
1. IELTS UKVI Life Skills Test A1
A1 is taken by international company executives, athletes, and family members who need to prove proficiency in English.
2. IELTS UKVI Life Skills Test A2
A2 is taken for a family extension visa and can only be given in the UK.
3. IELTS UKVI Life Skills Test B1
B1 is taken by those who want to settle in the UK.
Again, in terms of format for all the types of test mentioned above, there are no differences between Computer-based and Paper-based IELTS.
If you are comfortable with using a computer and typing your answers instead of having to write with pencil, then choose Computer-based. If writing with pencil is more convenient for you, then choose Paper-based.
The major difference between these are the prices and the time for results to get published. Paper-based IELTS test results are available after 13 days whereas Computer-based IELTS test results are available after 3 to 5 days. In terms of pricing, Paper-based IELTS tests are slightly more expensive than the Computer-based. But don’t just consider price as a factor to choose the IELTS test. It is better to choose the test that you are comfortable with so that you don’t affect your score. Better to ace the exam at once rather than having to retake it.
However, for the Speaking Module, regardless of Computer-based or Paper-based, the test is taken face-to-face by an examiner except for a few rare times when Speaking was also tested electronically.
The only official providers for these tests are IDP and British Council. It doesn’t matter who you register your IELTS test with. IELTS tests registered from both the providers are exactly the same!
Hope this helps and Best of Luck on your IELTS Exam!