IELTS General Training preparation

IELTS General Training tests English for everyday life and work. It is the IELTS test that immigration departments ask for when you apply for permanent residence or skilled work visas, for example Canada's Express Entry or skilled migration to Australia and New Zealand.

Listening and Speaking are exactly the same as in IELTS Academic. Reading and Writing use everyday and workplace material: notices, adverts, job descriptions and a letter instead of a chart description.

It is not the right test for university admission. If you are applying for a degree, book IELTS Academic instead.

• Professionals applying for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry
• Applicants for Australian or New Zealand skilled migration
• People moving abroad for work experience, vocational training or secondary school

Commonly accepted for

• Canada: Express Entry and other economic immigration programmes, scored in Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels
• Australia and New Zealand: skilled migration and some work visas
• Some employers and vocational training providers

1. 01

   General Training vs Academic

   Same Listening and Speaking. General Training Reading uses everyday and workplace texts; Writing Task 1 is a letter rather than a description of data.

2. 02

   General Training vs PTE Core

   Both are accepted by IRCC for Canadian PR. PTE Core is computer-scored with Speaking recorded into a headset; IELTS Speaking is face to face.

3. 03

   General Training vs IELTS for UKVI

   If a UK work or family route asks for a SELT, you need IELTS for UKVI General Training at an approved centre, not the standard test.

• IELTS Academic
• IELTS for UKVI
• IELTS Life Skills
• PTE Academic
• PTE Academic UKVI
• PTE Core
• Interview Preparation

• Bands from 0 to 9 for each section and overall, calculated the same way as IELTS Academic.
• For Canada, IRCC converts each section band to a CLB level. CLB 7 in all four skills means at least 6.0 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
• CLB 9, which earns more Express Entry points, needs Listening 8.0 and Reading, Writing and Speaking 7.0.
• Because CLB is set per skill, your lowest section usually decides your immigration points.

1. 1Confirm the exact test your university, regulator or visa route asks for before you pay.
2. 2Check your passport is valid on the test date: you must book and sit the test with the same passport.
3. 3Create an account on IDP India's website (or visit an IDP branch), choose the test type, city, delivery and date.
4. 4Enter your name exactly as in your passport and upload a scan of the passport.
5. 5Pay online. Your Speaking time is confirmed separately and may be on a different day.
6. 6Choose up to five institutions to receive your result electronically at no extra cost.

IDP India lists IELTS General Training at ₹19,000 on computer or Writing on Paper (2026). Check IDP India for the current fee before booking.

• Start with a full timed diagnostic test so the plan is built on your actual section bands, not a guess.
• Small batches at our centre, so the trainer can hear every student speak and read every essay.
• Writing and Speaking feedback against the four public band descriptors, with an error log you keep updating.
• Weekly full-length timed mocks in the same format you will sit (computer-delivered Listening and Reading).
• Your trainer and counsellor share one plan, so your test date fits your application and visa deadlines.
• We don't promise a band: your score depends on your preparation and your performance on the day.

• Work out the CLB level you need first: your weakest skill sets your points.
• Practise letter tone: a complaint to a landlord and a note to a friend need very different language.
• Reading Section 3 is the hardest; leave enough of the hour for it.
• Book well ahead of an Express Entry draw you want to target, so your result is ready in your profile.

Choose a start date and timing. A counsellor calls to confirm the batch and fee.

1. IELTS official website (ielts.org) (opens in a new tab)
2. IDP India: IELTS test fee (opens in a new tab)
3. IDP India: IELTS results timelines (opens in a new tab)
4. IRCC: language test equivalency charts (CLB) (opens in a new tab)
5. British Council India: IELTS in India (opens in a new tab)