IELTS General Training 2026: Deep Dive Guide for Immigration & Work

This IELTS General Training deep guide is the definitive resource for Indian professionals, skilled workers, and immigration applicants preparing for the GT module in 2026. Whether you need the test for Canada PR, Australia permanent residency, a UK Skilled Worker visa, or New Zealand immigration, this IELTS General Training deep guide covers every section in detail — from the unique three-part GT Reading format to the letter-writing nuances of GT Writing Task 1. With IELTS accepted by 11,000+ organizations in 140+ countries and over 3.5 million tests taken annually, choosing the right module and preparing strategically can mean the difference between a successful visa outcome and a costly rejection. EEC — with 27+ years of experience coaching 50,000+ students across Gujarat — has built this guide from real classroom insights, official IELTS sources, and the success stories of thousands of GT candidates who achieved their immigration dreams.

GT vs Academic — Which Do You Need?

The single most important decision before registering for IELTS is selecting the correct module. IELTS comes in two versions — Academic and General Training (GT) — and submitting a score from the wrong module will result in an automatic rejection of your visa or immigration application. The Listening and Speaking sections are identical in both modules; the difference lies entirely in Reading and Writing. Understanding which module you need is therefore the first step in any IELTS journey.

Choose General Training if you are applying for permanent residency or immigration (Canada Express Entry, Australia skilled migration, New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category), work visas (UK Skilled Worker, Australia subclass 482), or secondary school training programs. GT Reading uses everyday English materials — advertisements, workplace notices, and general-interest articles — while GT Writing Task 1 requires a letter instead of the graph/chart description found in the Academic module. For a detailed comparison, see our IELTS Academic vs General Training guide.

Choose Academic if you are applying for undergraduate or postgraduate university admission, professional registration bodies (nursing, medicine, engineering) in countries that specifically require Academic IELTS, or certain government scholarships that mandate the Academic module. Some programs — particularly in Australia and Canada — accept either module for immigration but require Academic for university admission, so applicants pursuing both goals simultaneously should plan carefully.

GT Reading Deep Dive

The GT Reading test is 60 minutes long and contains 40 questions across three sections. Unlike Academic Reading — which uses three long academic passages — GT Reading progresses from short everyday texts to longer general-interest passages. This graduated difficulty structure means that Sections 1 and 2 are genuinely accessible for most candidates, but Section 3 can be just as challenging as Academic Reading. The entire module is scored on a band scale of 1–9, but the raw-score-to-band conversion is stricter for GT Reading: you need approximately 30 correct answers for a Band 7.0 in GT, compared to roughly 30 for Band 7.0 in Academic. Understanding each section's characteristics is key to strategic time allocation.

Section 1 — Social Survival (Questions 1–14)

Section 1 presents two or three short texts related to everyday social situations. These typically include advertisements (job listings, real estate, product offers), notices (community events, library rules, gym schedules), timetables (bus/train schedules, class timings), and instruction manuals (appliance usage, safety guidelines). The question types are usually matching information, sentence completion, and True/False/Not Given. EEC trainers recommend spending no more than 15 minutes on Section 1, as these questions are designed to be straightforward and should be your fastest section.

Common mistakes in Section 1 include misreading conditions in advertisements (e.g., "minimum 2-year experience required" vs. "experience preferred") and confusing "Not Given" with "False" in factual statements. Practice scanning techniques: run your finger down the text looking for specific names, numbers, dates, and keywords from the questions. This section is where you bank time for the harder Section 3.

Section 2 — Workplace Survival (Questions 15–27)

Section 2 features two texts related to workplace or training contexts. These might include job descriptions, employment contracts, company policies (leave, dress code, health and safety), staff training manuals, or workplace orientation guides. Question types expand to include matching headings, multiple choice, and summary completion. You should aim for 20 minutes maximum on Section 2. The texts are longer than Section 1 but still use practical, non-academic language. Pay attention to organizational structure — headings, bullet points, numbered lists — as these signal where specific information can be found.

EEC students often report that Section 2 feels like reading real documents they might encounter in a foreign workplace, which is exactly the point. IELTS GT Reading is designed to test whether you can function in an English-speaking work environment. If you are targeting Canada or Australia for immigration, this section directly mirrors the reading skills you will need in daily professional life.

Section 3 — General Reading (Questions 28–40)

Section 3 is a single long passage (approximately 700–1,000 words) on a general topic — not academic, but more complex than Sections 1 and 2. Topics might include the history of an invention, the impact of technology on society, environmental awareness, or cultural practices. This section uses the same question types as Academic Reading: matching features, paragraph-information matching, Yes/No/Not Given, and multiple choice. Allocate 25 minutes for Section 3, as the passage length and question difficulty increase significantly.

The key strategy for Section 3 is to read the questions before the passage, identify keywords, and then skim the passage for those keywords. Do not read the entire passage word by word — that wastes precious time. Instead, use paragraph headings (if available) and topic sentences to understand the passage structure, then locate specific answers. For more reading strategies, see our IELTS Reading tips for Band 7–8.

GT Writing Task 1 — Letter Types

GT Writing Task 1 requires you to write a letter of at least 150 words in approximately 20 minutes. The prompt specifies a situation and asks you to write to a specific recipient. You must identify the correct tone — formal, semi-formal, or informal — based on who you are writing to. Getting the tone wrong is one of the most common reasons EEC students lose marks in this task. The letter is assessed on four criteria: Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy, each contributing equally to the Task 1 band score.

Formal Letters

Formal letters are addressed to someone you do not know personally — a manager, a company, a government office, a newspaper editor. The greeting should be "Dear Sir/Madam" (if the name is unknown) or "Dear Mr./Ms. [Surname]" (if the name is given). The closing should be "Yours faithfully" (for Dear Sir/Madam) or "Yours sincerely" (for named recipients). Formal letters use full forms (do not → do not, can't → cannot), avoid contractions, and maintain a professional, impersonal tone throughout. Common formal letter prompts include complaints about a product or service, requests for information, applications for a position, and suggestions to a local authority.

Example prompt: "You recently purchased an electronic item that is not working properly. Write a letter to the store manager. In your letter: describe the item and when you bought it, explain the problem, and say what you would like the manager to do." A Band 7+ response will clearly state the purpose in the opening paragraph, provide specific details (date, receipt number, product model) in the body, and make a reasonable request in the closing.

Semi-Formal Letters

Semi-formal letters are written to someone you know in a professional or acquaintance context — a landlord, a neighbor, a colleague, a teacher. The tone falls between formal and informal: you can use the person's first name in the greeting ("Dear David") and sign off with "Yours sincerely" or "Best regards." Limited contractions are acceptable (I'm, don't), but slang and overly casual language should be avoided. Common semi-formal prompts include writing to a landlord about a repair, thanking a colleague for help, or inviting an acquaintance to an event.

Semi-formal letters are the trickiest for Indian students because the tone boundary is subtle. EEC trainers use a simple rule: if you would use "Aap" (formal "you" in Hindi) with the person, the letter is semi-formal or formal. If you would use "Tum" (informal "you"), the letter is informal. This cultural parallel helps students instinctively select the right register. For more writing strategies, see our GT Writing Task 1 letter guide.

Informal Letters

Informal letters are written to close friends or family members. The greeting is casual ("Dear Priya," "Hi Rahul,"), and the sign-off can be "Love," "Take care," "See you soon," or similar. Contractions are expected (I'm, we've, don't), and the tone should be warm, friendly, and conversational. You can use idioms, exclamation marks, and direct questions. Common prompts include inviting a friend to visit, sharing news about a life event, or asking a friend for advice.

A common mistake is writing an informal letter in a formal tone — examiners will penalize this under Task Achievement because you have not addressed the task appropriately. If the prompt says "Write a letter to your friend," the letter must sound like you are actually writing to a friend, not composing a business email. EEC's GT course includes 30+ letter templates across all three tone categories, giving students a reliable framework they can adapt to any prompt on test day.

“I was stuck at 6.0 in Writing for two attempts. EEC\u2019s letter templates and tone-matching exercises helped me understand exactly what examiners want. I scored 7.0 on my third attempt and got my Canada PR ITA within four months.”

— Darshan P., EEC Ahmedabad \u2014 Canada PR (2025), EEC Student

GT Writing Task 2

GT Writing Task 2 is identical to Academic Writing Task 2 — you must write an essay of at least 250 words in approximately 40 minutes. The essay types include opinion (agree/disagree), discussion (discuss both views), problem/solution, and advantages/disadvantages. Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1 in your overall Writing band score, so it is essential to allocate sufficient time and energy to this section. Your essay is assessed on the same four criteria: Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.

For GT candidates targeting immigration, the Writing score is often the hardest to achieve at the required level. Canada PR applicants targeting CLB 7 need a minimum Writing band of 6.0, while CLB 9 applicants need 7.0 in Writing — a score that demands well-organized paragraphs, a clear thesis statement, relevant examples, and a range of complex sentence structures. EEC's GT course dedicates 12 hours specifically to Task 2 essay practice, with individual feedback from trainers on every practice essay. For comprehensive essay strategies, visit our Writing Task 2 essay guide.

Key differences in GT Task 2 topics: while the topics are the same in nature as Academic Task 2, GT prompts tend to be slightly more accessible and everyday — e.g., "Some people believe that children should not be given homework. Do you agree or disagree?" rather than a highly specialized academic topic. However, the scoring criteria and expectations are identical, so do not treat GT Task 2 as easier.

GT for Canada PR — CLB Conversion

Canada's Express Entry system uses the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) to assess English language proficiency. Your IELTS GT scores are converted to CLB levels, which directly determine the CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) points you receive for language ability. Language is the single largest CRS factor for most applicants — up to 136 points for first official language alone, and an additional 24 points with a second language. For detailed CRS strategy, see our CELPIP CLB guide and PTE Core Canada PR guide.

The minimum CLB requirement for Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) is CLB 7 in all four abilities. For Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the minimum is CLB 7 for NOC TEER 0/1 and CLB 5 for NOC TEER 2/3. However, the practical reality is that most successful Express Entry applicants in 2025–2026 draws have CLB 9 or above. Achieving CLB 9 requires L:8.0 / R:7.0 / W:7.0 / S:7.0 — a target that demands focused preparation over 8–12 weeks for most Indian candidates.

Reading the table: To achieve CLB 9, you need Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, and Speaking 7.0 in IELTS GT. Note that Reading and Writing benchmarks differ — a Reading score of 7.0 maps to CLB 9, but a Writing score of 7.0 also maps to CLB 9. The asymmetry in CLB conversion means that Listening is the hardest skill to hit at CLB 9 (requiring 8.0) while Reading is the most accessible (7.0). EEC trainers structure GT preparation to account for this by front-loading Listening practice in weeks 1–4.

Compare IELTS GT with other Canada PR language tests: CELPIP for Canada PR | PTE Core for Canada PR | IELTS vs CELPIP comparison. For comprehensive Canada immigration planning, visit EEC Canada counseling.

GT for Australia PR

Australia's points-based immigration system (Subclass 189, 190, 491) awards English language points based on your IELTS score level. Unlike Canada, Australia accepts both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training for skilled migration — but the vast majority of immigration applicants choose GT because the Reading and Writing sections use more accessible, everyday English. The points tiers are structured around three proficiency levels: Competent, Proficient, and Superior.

Competent English (0 points): Minimum 6.0 in each band. This is the baseline requirement for most skilled visa subclasses but awards zero additional points. If your overall points from age, experience, qualifications, and state nomination are already sufficient, Competent is enough. However, most applicants need language points to reach the 65-point threshold. Proficient English (10 points): Minimum 7.0 in each band. This is the sweet spot for most applicants — 10 points can make the difference between an invitation and a rejection. Superior English (20 points): Minimum 8.0 in each band. Extremely difficult to achieve but awards the maximum 20 points, which virtually guarantees an invitation for most occupations.

For Indian applicants, the most common target is Proficient (7.0 each). Achieving this requires consistent band performance across all four skills — a single 6.5 in any section drops you to Competent and zero language points. EEC's coaching approach focuses on identifying your weakest band and pulling it up to 7.0 through targeted drills. The most common weak point for Indian GT candidates is Writing (specifically Task 2 essay structure), followed by Speaking (pronunciation and fluency). For detailed Australia PR strategies, see our PTE score for Australia PR guide and visit EEC Australia counseling.

GT for UK & NZ

United Kingdom: The UK requires IELTS for UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) — a special variant of IELTS that is taken at approved SELT (Secure English Language Testing) centers. For the Skilled Worker visa, the minimum requirement is CEFR B1 level, which corresponds to IELTS 4.0 in each component (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). This is a relatively low bar compared to Canada and Australia, but it is a strict minimum — scoring 3.5 in even one component will result in a rejection. For UK Student Route visas, IELTS Academic is typically required (not GT), with most universities demanding 6.0–7.0 overall. For settlement (ILR) and citizenship, the requirement is CEFR B1 (IELTS 4.0 each) for Life Skills or B2 for some routes. Visit EEC UK counseling for personalized guidance.

Important UK distinction: Regular IELTS (taken at British Council/IDP centers) is accepted by most universities for admission, but IELTS for UKVI is required for visa applications unless your university is a recognised UKVI sponsor that applies for exemption. EEC counselors help students determine exactly which IELTS variant they need based on their university and visa route, preventing costly mistakes. For more details, see our IELTS for UK visa guide.

New Zealand: The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) requires a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0) using either Academic or General Training. New Zealand also accepts PTE Academic (overall 58+) and TOEFL iBT (overall 79+). The 6.5 threshold is achievable for most well-prepared candidates within 6–8 weeks of focused study. For NZ-specific pathways, EEC offers tailored counseling that covers both language preparation and visa planning.

EEC GT Coaching — ₹7,500

EEC offers the most comprehensive and affordable IELTS General Training coaching in India at just ₹7,500 — available in three flexible modes: Classroom (26 centers across Gujarat including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Bhavnagar), Online Live (interactive Zoom sessions with expert trainers at scheduled times), and Pre-recorded (study at your own pace with lifetime access to video lessons). Every mode includes the full GT-specific curriculum: letter writing templates for all three tones, Section-by-Section reading strategies, Task 2 essay frameworks, and unlimited mock tests with band-score feedback.

What sets EEC apart from other coaching institutes is the seamless integration of IELTS preparation with FREE immigration and study abroad counseling at every branch. When you enroll for GT coaching, your trainer coordinates with EEC's immigration counselors to ensure your preparation is aligned with your specific visa requirements — whether that is CLB 9 for Canada Express Entry, 7.0 each for Australia Proficient, or 4.0 each for UK Skilled Worker. This end-to-end approach means you are never preparing in a vacuum; every practice session moves you closer to a real immigration outcome.

EEC's GT coaching includes 30+ letter templates covering formal complaints, semi-formal requests, and informal invitations; 20+ model Task 2 essays with examiner-level commentary; 500+ GT Reading practice passages organized by section type; and weekly speaking mock tests with individual pronunciation feedback. Whether you are targeting Canada, Australia, UK, or New Zealand, EEC's GT program has a proven track record of helping students achieve their target bands.

Explore EEC study abroad and test prep services: IELTS Coaching | Study in Canada | Study in Australia | Study in UK. Compare GT with other tests: IELTS vs PTE | IELTS vs CELPIP | Academic vs GT.

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