The most popular international standardized test of English language proficiency is IELTS (International English Language Testing System).This test is introduced in 1989.IRLTS is designed for non-native English language speakers. It is created and supervised by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

These testing programs are conducted for people who are seeking immigration, work or study s in foreign countries like England, Australia, Canada, and Singapore.

Millions of people take this test to optimize their study and career selection opportunities, and/or to get residency permission in western progressive countries like New Zealand, Australia, Canada or the U.S. a high IELTS score can give you a chance to study in some world’s best universities. Good IELTS score give an extra flavor to your resume especially when you are applying in a multinational organization.

There are two main categories of IELTS exam

IELTS Academic:

Generally students who are seeking admission in a graduate or postgraduate degree program, or applying for certified professional registration in the UK. Or other European countries take this exam. After these programs you can use titles like engineer (Eng.) Dr. etc.

General Training:

Those people who want to immigrate to UK, Canada or other English speaking countries do not attempt the academic IELTS test; rather they take IELTS General Training test which is bit simpler than the academic one.

There are four sections of IELTS exam

• Reading
• Writing
• Listening
• Speaking differences in two out of the four sections of

IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests differ in the Reading and Writing sections whereas the Listening and Speaking parts are the same for both kinds.

The Academic Reading section of IELTS exam consists of three longer and academically specific yet complex texts as compared to the four or five shorter and simpler texts in the General Training test.

In case of the General Training writing test, you will be asked to write general description or letter while for the Academic test you will be given a chart or diagram with a word limit of 150 words. From writing prospective, IELTS examiners will be judging three important aspects: format, vocabulary and fluency.

Suppose you are applying to get into university in Brazil or Australia or any other English speaking country’s university to complete your graduate or post graduate degree, Sometime you need to appear for an IELTS exam although you are graduated from an English-speaking university in your own country, the foreign university will ask you to take an IELTS test. For such purpose the student will need to complete the Academic IELTS. Likewise if you are on a Working Holiday visa and has applied for a job in an English speaking nation like Australia or London. The company might ask you to submit your IELTS scores and again you have to appear for the IELTS Academic. However if you are planning to migrate to these countries to reside with your spouse or other family member then you have to take the general training test.

IELTS Life Skills

This UK Government-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) is another and the latest version of the IELTS test. The test is designed to support UK Visa and Immigration applications for international English speakers who require specific immigration requirements. Here two parameters are analyzed: speaking and listening.

• IELTS Life Skills A1 is a 16-18 minutes test if you are applying for a family, spouse or partner visa from UK Visas and Immigration.
• IELTS Life Skills B1 is a 22 minutes test Tests for UK Visa applicant applying for citizenship/residence.

Thus it is clear that according to your requirements you have to opt for the IELTS general or academic test

If you want to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level or want to join a professional organization in an English-speaking country You should take IELTS Academic, while if you want to get training or study program below degree level or need work or taking work-related training in an English-speaking country or you need an immigration in an English-speaking country, you should take IELTS general training test.