IELTS General Training Practice Test: Why is it Important?

The IELTS General Training is one of the two main types of IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam, the other being IELTS Academic. It is designed specifically for individuals who are seeking to move to an English-Speaking country. The test includes four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. It is intended for individuals who wish to move to an English-speaking country for work, immigration or vocational training purposes rather than academic study. 

Also Read: Differences between IELTS Academic and IELTS General

What is the IELTS General Training Practice Test?

The IELTS General Training Practice Test acts as an auxiliary support to people who wish to get acquainted with the format and know-how of IELTS General Training exams. Attempt these practice tests to improve your performance and level up your scores in the main exams. 

Read on: IELTS Eligibility 

Explore More: Minimum IELTS Scores for Work Visas in Different Countries

Objectives of IELTS General Training Examinations

• This test demonstrates that applicants have the language skills needed for daily life and can work in an English-speaking environment. It also ensures that non-native speakers can communicate effectively in the workplace and have proficiency in the language. 

• Most importantly, this test helps test takers explore and open doors worldwide. It is the only English language test accepted for migration by all four governments in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK. 

We want you to do well in your tests, so below are IELTS General Training Practice Tests with answers pdf, IELTS General Training Tests format, IELTS General study material for excelling your performance. 

IELTS General Training Practice Test Structure and Format

Migrating to a country where English is spoken can be challenging for non-native English speakers. So, prepare for the world’s trusted test of the English language, IELTS General Training, by appearing for the IELTS General Training Practice Test following the same structure and providing you with the exact idea of the main exam. The test includes four sections:

Read on: IELTS Preparation 

SECTION	OVERVIEW	DURATION	TYPE OF QUESTIONS	NO. OF QUESTIONS	MARKING
LISTENING	It includes four recorded monologues and conversations.	Approx. 30 mins (plus 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet).	Multiple Choice, Matching, Plan/Map/Diagram Labeling, Form/Note/table/Flow chart/Summary Completion, Sentence completion, Short answer questions.	40 questions divided under 4 sections.	Each correct answer receives 1 mark.
READING	Section 1 may contain two or three short texts or several shorter texts. Section 2 contains two texts. In Section 3, there is one long text.	60 minutes (including transfer time).	Multiple choice, Identifying Information (true/false/not given), identifying writer’s views/claims (yes/no/not given), matching of (information, headings, features, sentence endings), sentence completions, summary/note/table/flow chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.	40 questions divided under 3 sections.	Each correct answer receives 1 mark.
WRITING	Two tasks are given and BOTH must be completed.	60 minutes.Task 1 – 20 mins.Task 2 – 40 mins.	In Task 1, you have to respond to a situation by writing a letter in 150 words. In Task 2, you are given a point of view, argument or problem which you need to discuss in 250 words.	2 tasks – Task achievement and Task Response.	Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
SPEAKING	The Speaking test is a face-to-face interview between the test taker and an examiner. The Speaking test is recorded.	11-14 minutes.	Introduction and Interview, Long turn, Discussion.	3 parts.	No specific mentions.

Learn more: IELTS Syllabus

Explore: 5 Expert Tips on How to Prepare for IELTS

IELTS General Training Practice Test Benefits

Taking the IELTS General Training Practice Test has various benefits, the first and foremost being that it acclimatizes candidates to the elementary format, structures, and guidelines of IELTS General Training exams. Some of the benefits of taking this test are mentioned below:

• Familiarity with Test format and structure. 
• Improved time management. 
• Identify your strengths and weaknesses, bolster the formal, and improve the latter.
• Increased confidence and reduced anxiety.
• Enhanced skill mastery in all four sections. 
• Accurate benchmarking for progress tracking. 
• Better preparation for real-life English use. 

Section-Specific Practice Tips

We know how important your IELTS General Training Practice Test is, and that is why we’re here to help you get the result you desire. Here are some tips you can follow to score and prepare yourself to write your own success story. 

LISTENING	READING	WRITING	SPEAKING
Read the instructions and the title of the map/plan if there is one. Circle or underline labels on the map/plan. Check if the questions go in order from bottom to top, left to right, etc. as this tells you how the information in the recording will be organized and may indicate where the recording will start from. Look at the list of places you need to identify.Draw your place on the map/plan as you listen as this will keep you focused on following the directions/description. Listen for words/phrases that tell you the direction to move in or where something is as these will help you follow the directions/description and identify answers. Listen for the locations given in the numbered questions or possible answers as the recording will use these names not synonyms. Avoid distractors as an alternative but incorrect answers will be mentioned in the recording.Guess any answers you don’t know as you won’t lose marks for wrong answers and you could guess right!	You should be careful when writing your answers on the answer sheet because you will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar. You must be careful not to use any information you already know about the topic of the text when choosing your answer. No heading may be used more than once. You need to be able to skim and scan the text to find the information quickly so that you can then read that part more carefully for detail. You will lose the mark for writing more than the word limit. Contracted words such as ‘they’re’ will not be tested. Hyphenated words such as ‘check-in’ count as single words.	You must write your answers using full sentences.  You must not write your answers as notes or bullet points. You must write your answers on the answer sheet. You are allowed to write notes on the question paper but these will not be seen by the examiner. You need to choose a style that is appropriate for your audience and will help you achieve your purpose for writing. You will be penalized if- what you write is not related to the topic, your answer is not written as a whole piece of connected text, your writing is plagiarized (i.e. copied from another source).You do not need to write any addresses at the top of your letter.	Speak at a normal speed without too much hesitation. It’s not about only using vocabulary but how accurately and appropriately you use it to express meaning. It also includes the ability to express yourself using alternative vocabulary when you don’t know a particular word. You should be able to speak in a way which can be understood without too much effort.

Check Out: 50 New Difficult Words for IELTS in 2024

Learn More: How to Prepare for IELTS Speaking Test

Scoring and Band Requirements

The scoring in the IELTS General Training Practice Test is based on band score 0-9 indicating the applicant’s skill level. 

BAND SCORE	SKILL LEVEL
0-4	Did not attempt- limited
5	Modest
6	Competent
7	Good
8	Very Good
9	Expert

Band Score For Listening: Total Marks = 40

• Band Score 5 = 16 marks
• Band Score 6 = 23 marks
• Band Score 7 = 30 marks 
• Band Score 8 = 35 marks 

Band Score for Reading: Total Marks = 4

• Band Score 4 = 15 marks 
• Band Score 5 = 23 marks 
• Band Score 6 = 30 marks 
• Band Score 7 = 35 marks 

Band Score for Writing: Scoring is based on the below four criteria- 

• Task achievement (for task 1) and task response (for task 2)
• Coherence and cohesion
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy.

Each task is assessed independently. The criteria are weighted equally, and the score on the task is the average. The assessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1.

Band Score for Speaking: Scoring is based on the below four criterias – 

• Fluency and coherence
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy
• Pronunciation

Each of the criteria carries equal weight, and the overall average gives the IELTS score for Speaking. 

Recommended Practice Materials

While preparing for the IELTS General Training Practice Test, you need to focus on the authenticity of the material for accuracy. 

Teacher-led courses, attending expert Webinars, listening to past test-takers, and staying up-to-date with articles and books, of course, will help you prepare for the best results.

Some of the book recommendations are :

1. The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS.
2. Baron’s IELTS Superpack
3. IELTS Target Band 7 by Simone Braverman
4. IELTS Trainer
5. Focus on IELTS Foundation: Foundation Coursebook 

Test Day Preparations

Now, as we have come this far to IELTS General Training Practice Test day, we need to keep in mind some common mistakes to avoid and score perfectly well:

• Don’t try to remember them all; you can look at the list while listening or after listening if you take notes during the recording.
• If you do get lost, listen for a mention of one of the labels on the map/plan so that you know where you are again.
• If the possible answers are on the map/plan, remember that these do not tell you how information in the recording will be organized.
• Remember! You’re allowed to draw on the Listening question paper in the paper-based test.

Also, no need to take stress and disrupt your clam, just keep reading, maintain the score-booster techniques like vocabulary building, note-taking and active listening, follow the rule of time distribution and give the main exam with a peaceful mindset on the day.

Good Luck!

Useful Resources:

The best way ultimately to achieve your dreams and excel in your hindrances is to face them. Click here to access the practice test papers on all four sections and pass your main exam with flying colors.

Summary

An IELTS General Training is an essential tool for anyone preparing to immigrate, work, etc., in an English-Speaking country. This blog covers the guide to the IELTS General Training Practice Test to prepare you for the main exam, highlighting how to prepare, the section-specific tips, mistakes to be avoided, IELTS General Training Practice Tests with answers pdf, IELTS General Training Tests format and help in identifying strengths and weaknesses in each section. With targeted practice, candidates not only boost their IELTS scores but also build valuable real-world English skills for life in an English-Speaking environment.

FAQs

Ques 1. How can I prepare for IELTS General Training?

Answer 1.  You can prepare for IELTS General Training by taking the IELTS General Training Practice Tests by clicking on the above provided links. Some score booster techniques would be vocabulary building, note-taking and active listening. 

Ques 2. Is IELTS General easy or not?

Answer 2. Typically, it’s less complicated than IELTS Academic, but the Writing and Reading section could be challenging. However, enough practice never disappoints. 

Ques 3. Who is eligible for IELTS General Training?Answer 3. There are no strict eligibility criteria for the IELTS General test. Anyone older than 16 years of age, regardless of their educational qualification, is specified to attend the IELTS since the test is designed to assess the English proficiency of non-native English speakers. However, you must obtain the qualifying score in the test to meet your purpose of taking the IELTS General Training.