The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS, and Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

There are two versions of the IELTS exam: IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic. Both IELTS tests assess your English language skills in listening, reading, writing and speaking. If you are planning to migrate to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the UK, the IELTS General test is the one for you. If you want to attend college or university in an English-speaking country, then click here for more information about the IELTS Academic test.

The main difference between the two versions is that the Writing and Reading sections of the two tests are different. The IELTS General Training test contains topics based on general interest and features everyday English language skills that you will need in social and workplace environments. The IELTS Listening and Speaking sections are the same, regardless which test you choose.

The IELTS General test takes a total of 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete, with Listening, Reading and Writing on the same day, and Speaking up to a week before or after. You can take the IELTS General test on paper in a test centre, or on a computer, either in a test centre or in the convenience of your own home.

To achieve the score you need in IELTS General, you need to be familiar with all parts of the test. You need to learn tips & strategies for tackling each question type successfully. You also need to complete lots of practice, with practice activities, assessments and mock tests. Plus, you need support from real teachers who are IELTS General experts, through one-on-one tutorials, live classes and feedback on your Speaking and Writing. You can get all this and more with E2 Test Prep’s online IELTS General test preparation courses. No matter your time and budget, there’s a course to suit you. Check out all of our package options below.