What are IELTS categories a and a g?

The definitions of IELTS test categories A and A-G are as follows:

Category A IELTS is Academic IELTS, which is mainly used to apply to countries where English is the mother tongue (such as the United Kingdom, Australia, (Canada, etc.) universities, professional courses, or other jobs that require a high level of English proficiency.

The A-G IELTS test is General Training IELTS, which is mainly used to apply for immigration, work visas and some occupations that require a certain level of English proficiency. In addition, international student applications from some countries also require IELTS scores in categories A-G.

It should be noted that although the test content, difficulty and scoring standards of Category A IELTS and Category A-G IELTS are the same, the test question types may be different due to different purposes. Therefore, candidates must choose the corresponding examination category according to their own needs when applying.

Main differences in purposes and question types

Type A IELTS is suitable for those who require a high level of English, such as some high-end occupations; while Type A-G IELTS is mainly used to apply for immigration , work visas and some occupations that require a certain level of English, these generally do not require a particularly high level of English.

The reading questions of Category A IELTS are relatively academic, and mainly test candidates’ understanding and analysis ability of academic articles; the writing part is also relatively academic, mainly requiring candidates to write an essay of about 400 words. Articles that are rigorously written, fluent in language, and in line with academic standards.

The reading questions of Category A-G IELTS are more oriented towards real life, mainly testing candidates’ ability to understand and analyze non-academic articles such as advertisements, instructions, news and so on; the writing part is also more oriented towards real life. Candidates are mainly required to write letters, such as announcements, letters of advice, letters of complaint, etc.