IELTS General Training — IRCC-Accepted English Test
The general-purpose version of the IELTS English-language test, accepted by IRCC for all immigration applications (Express Entry, PNP, citizenship-related applications, etc.). NOT IELTS Academic — which is for university admissions but not accepted by IRCC.
What is IELTS General Training?
The IELTS General Training test is the IRCC-accepted version of IELTS for Canadian immigration purposes. IELTS has two versions — General Training and Academic — and only General Training is accepted by IRCC. Academic is for university admissions.
IELTS General format
Four sections, total ~2h 45m:
- Listening (~30 minutes) — 40 questions, mixed accents
- Reading (~60 minutes) — General-purpose reading passages
- Writing (~60 minutes) — Task 1 (letter) + Task 2 (essay)
- Speaking (~11-14 minutes) — Face-to-face with a human examiner
Scoring (band scores)
Each section scored 0-9 in 0.5 increments. Overall band = average of four sections (rounded). For Express Entry, each section is converted separately to CLB.
IELTS General → CLB conversion
Approximate conversion table (each section assessed separately):
| IELTS Band | Listening CLB | Reading CLB | Writing CLB | Speaking CLB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 8.0-8.5 | 9 | 9-10 | 9 | 9 |
| 7.0-7.5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 6.0-6.5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 5.0-5.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 4.0-4.5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
IELTS General vs Academic — critical distinction
- General Training: IRCC-accepted for immigration; everyday English
- Academic: NOT accepted by IRCC; for university admissions; harder reading + writing
Taking the wrong version is a common applicant error — Academic results cannot be substituted for General.
Validity for IRCC
IELTS General results are valid for 2 years from the test date. If your IELTS is older than 2 years at the time of profile or application, you'll need to retake.
Cost + availability
- Cost: ~CAD 320-350 depending on country
- Availability: every major city worldwide; British Council, IDP, or local IELTS partners
- Booking: typically 4-6 weeks ahead of test date
Halani's note
IELTS General is the standard English test for the vast majority of our Pakistani / Indian / Filipino / Gulf clients. CELPIP-General is an accepted alternative but availability is more limited outside Canada. We help clients pick the right test for their geography + strengths.
Not sure how IELTS General applies to your file?
Halani Immigration Services Inc. — Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB R711322). Free eligibility assessment, no obligation.
Free Eligibility Assessment →