IELTS General Training 2026: Test Pattern, Fees, Score, Practice Tests

| Updated On - Feb 3, 2026

The IELTS General Training focuses on basic English language skills in a broad social and workplace context. If you want to get accepted for migration, secondary education, and work experience, IELTS General Training is the test for you. The test is accepted for visa applications in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The IELTS General Training fees, dates, test centers, and test duration are the same as those of the IELTS Academic. The only difference is in the test pattern of the Reading and Writing sections. While the IELTS Academic focuses on a formal, academic context, the IELTS General Training has a more informal, everyday context. For example, the sources of reading passages in the academic test come from academic books and journals, while those of the general test include advertisements and handbooks. Similarly, the Academic test requires you to write a formal answer, while the General test requires a slightly informal way of answering.

In this article, we will discuss the IELTS General Training test in detail, including its booking process, test pattern, syllabus, and where the scores can be used.

Table of Contents

IELTS General Training Practice Tests 2026
IELTS General Training Highlights
How to Book an IELTS General Training Test?
3.1 IELTS Online Test Booking 2026

3.2 IELTS Offline Test Booking 2026
IELTS General Training Test Pattern 2026
How is the IELTS General Training Scored in 2026?
Where are the IELTS General Training Scores Used in 2026?
IELTS General Training Preparation 2026
FAQs

IELTS General Training Practice Tests 2026

Check out some free IELTS General Training practice papers from Collegedunia below:

IELTS General Training Practice Papers 2026
Speaking Practice 1	Speaking Practice 2	Speaking Practice 3
Listening Practice 1	Listening Practice 2	Listening Practice 3
Writing Practice 1	Writing Practice 2	Writing Practice 3
Reading Practice 1	Reading Practice 2	Reading Practice 3

IELTS General Training Highlights

The table below mentions the key highlights of the IELTS General Training that candidates must know.

Particulars	Details
Name of Exam	IELTS General Training
Purpose	Secondary education and work experience in English-speaking countries.
Exam Fee	INR 18,000
Exam Duration	2 hours and 45 minutes
Exam Pattern	4 sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking
Exam Formats	Computer-based and Paper-based
Score Range	0-9

How to Book an IELTS General Training Test?

The General IELTS booking process is the same as regular IELTS. You just need to choose General Training under the “Test Format” option. Here’s the step-by-step process:

IELTS Online Test Booking 2026

Visit the official IDP IELTS website.
Click ‘Book Now’.
Choose the test type (IELTS on Computer or IELTS on Paper).
Choose the test format: General.
Select location, test center, date, and time slot.
Fill out your details.
Pay the fee via credit card, debit card, or net banking.
You’ll receive an email or SMS confirming your booking.

IELTS Offline Test Booking 2026

Download this application form and fill it out - IELTS Application Form
Attach:
1. Passport photocopy
2. A Demand Draft for the fee, payable to IDP Education India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
Submit the form and documents at any IDP branch or the head office.

Head office address:
IDP Education India Pvt. Ltd.
Global Gateway Towers, Tower B, 5th Floor
Sikanderpur Ghosi, Sector-26, M.G. Road
Gurugram - 122002, Haryana, India
Contact: +91-124-4445999

What ID proof is required on the test day?

A valid Indian passport is the mandatory ID. Make sure it is not expired and matches the details you used during registration.

IELTS General Training Test Pattern 2026

The IELTS General Training test assesses your ability to use the English language in an everyday context. The table below explains the test pattern.

Section	Questions	Duration	Prompt Type	Question Types
Reading	3 passages, 40 questions	60 minutes	Passage 1: Everyday life in an English-speaking country, taken from notices, advertisements, or timetables. Passage 2: Taken from job descriptions, contracts, staff development and training manuals, and pay and workplace condition documents. Passage 3: More complex and based on a topic of general interest. Texts are taken from newspapers, magazines, or books.	Diagram label completion Analyzing a writer's views or claims Information identification Feature matching Heading matching Matching information Sentence ending matching Multiple choice questions Sentence completion Short-answer questions Summary, note, table, flow-chart completion
Writing	2 Tasks	60 minutes	Task 1: Response to a situation given in either an informal, semi-formal, or formal way. Task 2: Response to a point of view, argument, or problem.	Task 1: Letter Task 2: Essay
Speaking	3 Tasks	11-14 minutes	Task 1: Introduce yourself and talk about your work, family, studies, and hobbies. Task 2: You will be given a card with a topic written on it. You will be given 1 minute to take notes and then speak on the topic for 2 minutes. Task 3: 2-way discussion with the examiner, where they will ask questions related to the topic discussed in Task 2.	Face-to-face conversation with examiners.
Listening	4 recordings, 40 questions	30 minutes	Rec 1: General conversation between 2 English natives. Rec 2: Monologue on a general topic. Rec 3: Conversation between 2-4 people around academics. Rec 4: Monologue on an academic topic.	Multiple-choice Matching Map or diagram labeling Form completion Short-answer questions

Note: Similar to the IELTS Academic, the General Training Reading, Writing, and Listening tests must be completed on the same day without any breaks in between. The Speaking test can be taken on the same day or 7 days before or after the scheduled test date, depending on your test center.

Is there any negative marking in the IELTS General Training test?

No, there is no negative marking for wrong answers. So it's better to attempt all questions.

How is the IELTS General Training Scored in 2026?

The IELTS General Training total score is reported on a scale of 0-9, and is calculated as the average of the section scores. Each section is scored on a 0-9 band as well. Note that there is no direct formula for calculating the IELTS score, but a set of criteria, such as your usage of the language, vocabulary range, coherence, and task delivery, is taken into account.

The IELTS score reports for the computer-based test are available in 1-5 days, while those for the paper-based test are available in 13 days. You can check your score by simply logging in to your IDP IELTS account. The scores remain valid for 2 years, but the Australian Home Department accepts scores up to 3 years old.

How do I send my IELTS General results for Australian PR if the score is deleted from my account after the expiry period of 2 years?

Users on Reddit have cited that downloading and submitting a PDF version of your report will be accepted. The Australian DHA will confirm with IDP from its end. However, to be on the safe side, you are advised to try to submit your scores before the expiry.

Where are the IELTS General Training Scores Used in 2026?

The IELTS General Training is specifically designed for immigration, work visas, professional registration, or non-degree training in English-speaking countries. The sections below give the country-wise details on where and how the scores can be used:

Country	Visa or Pathway	Minimum Overall Score Requirement	Per-Skill Minimum	Notes
UK	Skilled Worker visa	CEFR level B2	5.5 in each skill (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)	UKVI IELTS General Training should be taken.
UK	Health and Care Worker	CEFR level B1	4.0 in each skill	-
Canada	Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker)	CLB 7	6.0 in each skill	CLB 7 = 6.0 per skill; Only General Training is accepted. One Skill Retake is not allowed for Express Entry.
Canada	Post-Graduation Work Permit and some lower-skilled	Varies (CLB 7 for university graduates, lower for others)	6.0 in each skill	Check NOC TEER level for exact minima.
Australia	Skilled migration (Subclass 189, 190, 491)	Competent English Check PR in Australia* article to understand this.	6.0 in each skill	Proficient = 7.0 in each (10 points); Superior = 8.0 in each (20 points). One Skill Retake accepted for eligible visas.
Australia	Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482, temporary work)	Sufficient English	5.0 in each skill	Functional English (some family and sponsor cases) = overall 4.5 average.
New Zealand	Skilled residence visas (Straight to Residence, Skilled Migrant Category, Work to Residence)	Overall 6.5 for the main applicant. 5.0 for partner and children over 16 years of age.	No per-skill minimum specified	Both IELTS Academic and General are accepted.

Check the following articles to understand the international language standards:
IELTS Score and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)	IELTS Academic Score and CEFR Levels

IELTS General Training Preparation 2026

The IELTS General Training exams are conducted throughout the year. Candidates planning to take the General Training exam should register at least 2-3 months before. Check preparation tips below.

Be familiar with every section of the test and how it is marked.
Never book your exam before you have prepared thoroughly.
Start with your preparation and take mock exams.
Once you have a constant score in the mock tests, then book your exam.
Give at least 6-8 weeks to prepare for the exam.
For the Writing section, spend more time on Task 2 than on Task 1. For task 1, do not write down every detail.
For the Speaking section, don’t speak fast and let the examiner finish his/her question before you start with your answer.

The IELTS General Training test is for people who want to work or settle in an English-speaking country. It checks your basic English skills in real-life situations. Knowing the test format and preparing well can help you get a good score. With regular practice and the right strategy, you can do well in the exam.

FAQs

Ques. Can I wear a watch during the IELTS General Training test?

Ans. No, wearing a watch is not allowed during the test. There will be a visible clock in the exam room to help you manage your time.

Ques. How many times can I take the IELTS General Training test?

Ans. There is no limit to how many times you can take the test. You can retake it as often as you want to improve your score, as there is no waiting period either.

Ques. Can I use a pen on the paper-based IELTS General Training test?

Ans. You must use a black ball-point pen for the entire IELTS exam.

Ques. Can I request a recheck of my IELTS General Training score?

Ans. Yes, you can apply for an Enquiry on Results (EOR) if you feel your score is unfair. It must be done within 6 weeks of your test date.