Which IELTS Do I Need? A Simple Way to Decide

Start with the organisation

You should always check entry requirements before choosing your test source: ielts.org. The version depends on where you want to live, work or study, and what you want to do source: ielts.org.

So the first step is to read what your university, employer or government office asks for. Note the version as well as the score. Who accepts IELTS? shows how to check.

If you are going to university

IELTS Academic is likely the right choice if you plan to study in a country where English is spoken source: ielts.org.

If you need professional registration

IELTS Academic is also for people seeking professional registration, such as doctors and nurses source: ielts.org. Check with your registration body.

If you want to train or study below degree level

IELTS General Training suits people who want to train or study below degree level source: ielts.org.

If you want to migrate

General Training is for migrating to a country where English is spoken source: ielts.org. But the government decides, and the rules differ.

Canada's Express Entry requires the IELTS General Training option source: IRCC. Australia's Department of Home Affairs accepts both Academic and General Training source: Home Affairs. New Zealand's skilled residence visas accept the General or Academic module source: Immigration New Zealand.

So "migration" does not always mean General Training. Read your own visa page.

If you want to work abroad

If you want to move abroad for work and need a visa, the test to choose is General Training source: ielts.org. The UK's Skilled Worker route is on ielts.org's list of routes that use IELTS for UKVI source: ielts.org.

If an employer asks for IELTS, follow what it asks for. If you need a visa as well, read the visa page too.

If you need a UK visa

IELTS for UKVI is the test for several UK routes, including Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker and Student source: ielts.org. The test you need depends on what you are applying for. Some routes need all four skills and others need only speaking and listening source: GOV.UK.

Citizenship and settlement routes use IELTS for UKVI Life Skills, which tests speaking and listening only source: ielts.org. For a Student visa at degree level or above, the test is IELTS or IELTS for UKVI source: ielts.org. Ask your university which it wants.

Check your route on GOV.UK before you book. IELTS for UKVI explained goes through it.

If you want to take it online

IELTS Online is for Academic only, and only in some countries source: ielts.org. Each organisation decides whether it accepts an online result source: ielts.org.

Australia's Department of Home Affairs does not accept IELTS Online source: Home Affairs. If you take General Training, or need a score for a visa, you must attend a test centre source: ielts.org.

If you are still not sure

Ask the organisation that wants your score. Do not choose a version by guessing, because a result in the wrong version may not be accepted. When you know, IELTS versions explained describes each one, and IELTS for beginners shows what to do next.

All facts on this page were checked on the owners' and governments' own pages on 27 October 2026.