If we talk about IELTS, there are two kinds of test appear as the
choices. They are general training and academic. So, what makes these
two test different each other?
The choice of IELTS test is based
on the purpose of test taker itself. If he or she wants to go
English-speaking country for taking secondary education, work experience
or training program, general training is the appropriate choice. This
test is for test taker who wishes to migrate to Australia, Canada and
New Zealand.
Meanwhile, test taker who wants to study or train in
English-speaking universities or institutions of Higher of Further
Education needs to take academic test. This test is usually used as one
of the requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The
minimum score that must be achieved by test taker is based on the level
and program that is chosen.
Both kinds of test give the same
material of test for two skills: listening and speaking. The difference
is on reading and writing? So, which one is more difficult?
If we
see from the scope of materials that are tested, academic is more
difficult than general training. In academic test, reading materials are
taken from magazines, journals, books, and magazines. Meanwhile,
reading texts in general training are taken from notices, advertisement,
official documents, booklets, newspapers, instruction manuals,
leaflets, timetables, books and magazines. Comparing at this difference,
we can draw a conclusion that texts given in general training are
shorter and easier because it is about survival English.
The next
difference is on writing section. In the academic test, test taker is
asked to describe a graph or other visual information in 150 words while
in the general training, test taker will be asked to describe a
real-life situation such as writing a letter about that situation.
It
is very important for test taker to analyze first the appropriate test
for them. There are some cases happened that test taker took the wrong
exercises. Well, this condition for sure gives some disadvantages for
test taker. There should be enough preparation given before taking this
kind of test, so instead of wasting time taking the wrong exercise, it
is better for test taker to check the appropriate test for him or her
initially.
References:
http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/what_is_ielts/academic_or_general_training.aspx
http://www.your-ielts-guide.com/IELTS-Preparation-Reading.shtml, http://www.ielts-blog.com/ielts-preparation-tips/ielts-academic-or-general/
http://www.your-ielts-guide.com/IELTS-Preparation-Reading.shtml, http://www.ielts-blog.com/ielts-preparation-tips/ielts-academic-or-general/
