The version used for migration, work and school. Same Listening and Speaking as Academic, but with everyday/workplace Reading and a letter in Writing. Includes Band 8–9 model letters and essays.
Choose General Training (GT) if you're applying for skilled migration (Australia, Canada), work, or secondary school. Choose Academic for university or professional registration. The two tests share the same Listening and Speaking — only Reading and Writing differ.
| Skill | Academic | General Training |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Identical — 4 parts, 40 questions | |
| Reading | 3 long academic passages | Everyday notices, workplace texts + 1 longer text |
| Writing Task 1 | Describe a graph/chart/map | Write a letter |
| Writing Task 2 | Essay (250 words) — same for both | |
| Speaking | Identical — 3 parts, 11–14 min | |
Each skill is scored 0–9 in half steps; the overall band is their average, rounded to the nearest half. An average of 6.25 rounds up to 6.5.
Practise the shared skills free — the feedback works for GT just as well.
🎙️ Free speaking mock 📊 Free band checkFour recordings, 10 questions each, played once only, getting harder as you go: two everyday situations, then two study-related ones.
Multiple choiceMatchingPlan / map / diagram labellingForm / note / table completionSentence completionShort answer
Sample (short answer — NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS):
What should members bring to the first session?
Audio (paraphrased): "…and for your first class, just bring comfortable clothes and a water bottle — we provide everything else."
water bottle (or "comfortable clothes" if the question said list two — always match the number asked). "We provide everything else" tells you not to add more.
GT Reading uses real-life English, and the sections get harder as you go:
| Section | Texts | Example sources |
|---|---|---|
| Section 1 — "social survival" | Several short texts | Notices, advertisements, timetables, instructions |
| Section 2 — "workplace survival" | Two work-related texts | Job ads, contracts, staff handbooks, training material |
| Section 3 — "general reading" | One long text | A magazine/newspaper article of general interest |
The 11 question types are the same as Academic Reading: True/False/Not GivenMatching headingsMatching informationMultiple choiceSentence & summary completion and more.
Notice extract: "Gym membership includes free access to all classes. Guests may attend up to two classes per month at no charge; after that, a $10 fee applies per class. Personal-training sessions must be booked 24 hours in advance."
1. Members pay extra for classes. (True / False / Not Given)
2. A guest's third class in a month costs $10.
3. Personal training is free for members.
1. False — classes are "free" for members. 2. True — after two free guest classes, "$10 fee applies per class". 3. Not Given — the text says training must be booked ahead, but never states the price for members.
Timed practice + reviewing errors is how accuracy grows.
📖 Free GT reading testsTask 1 (20 min, 150+ words) = a letter. Task 2 (40 min, 250+ words) = an essay (same as Academic). Task 2 counts double.
You're given a situation and three bullet points to cover. The key skill is matching the tone to the reader:
| Tone | Use when writing to… | Opening / closing |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | Someone you don't know (a manager, company) | Dear Sir or Madam, … Yours faithfully, |
| Semi-formal | Someone you know a little (a landlord, colleague) | Dear Mr Khan, … Yours sincerely, |
| Informal | A friend or family member | Dear Sam, … Best wishes, / Take care, |
Task 1 prompt (semi-formal):
You recently stayed in a hotel and left an item behind. Write a letter to the hotel manager. In your letter:
– explain when you stayed and what happened
– describe the item you left
– say what you would like the manager to do.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing regarding a personal item that I believe I left in my room during a recent stay at your hotel. I stayed in Room 214 on the night of 3 July and checked out the following morning.
Unfortunately, in the rush to catch my flight, I left behind a black leather wallet. It contains my driving licence and a number of bank cards, so it is both valuable and important to me. I think it may have been left in the drawer of the bedside table on the left-hand side of the bed.
I would be extremely grateful if you could arrange for your staff to check the room and hold the wallet safely. If it is found, I would appreciate it if you could contact me by email so that I can arrange to have it couriered to my home address, and I am of course happy to cover any costs involved.
Thank you very much for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Ahmed Raza
The GT essay works exactly like the Academic essay: paraphrase the topic, take a position, develop two body paragraphs with examples, and conclude. Use this structure:
Task 2 prompt:
In many countries, people are working longer hours than in the past. What are the causes of this, and what effects does it have on family life?
"In recent decades, employees in many nations have found themselves spending more time at work than previous generations did. This essay will examine the main reasons behind this trend and consider its consequences for family life.
Body 1 (causes): rising cost of living forcing people to earn more; a competitive job market and 'always-on' technology blurring the line between work and home.
Body 2 (effects on family): less quality time with children and partners; higher stress affecting relationships; but also, in some cases, a higher household income that improves opportunities.
Conclusion: longer hours stem largely from economic pressure and technology, and while they can raise income, they often come at a real cost to family closeness — which suggests a need for better work-life balance."
Paste it in and get a band on all four criteria with fixes in your language.
📊 Check my writing bandA recorded one-to-one interview, scored on four equal criteria: Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Your accent is never a problem — being clear is what matters.
Everyday topics (home, work, hobbies). Answer in 2–3 sentences using the answer → reason → example pattern.
Q: Do you prefer living in a house or an apartment?
"I'd have to say a house, mainly because of the extra space. Growing up, we had a small garden, and I really valued being able to sit outside. An apartment can be more convenient and secure, but for me the freedom of having my own outdoor space wins every time."
Describe a place you enjoy visiting.
You should say: where it is · how often you go · what you do there · and explain why you enjoy it.
"The place I'd like to describe is a small lakeside park near my home. [where] It's about a fifteen-minute walk away, tucked behind a quiet residential street. [how often] I try to go at least once a week, usually early on weekend mornings. [what I do] I walk around the water, sometimes read on a bench, and often just watch the birds. [why] What I love about it is the calm — it's a complete escape from the noise of the city, and I always leave feeling refreshed and clear-headed."
Q: Why do you think green spaces are important in cities?
"I'd argue they're essential, for a few reasons. On a practical level, parks improve air quality and give people space to exercise. But just as importantly, they support mental wellbeing — in busy, stressful cities, having somewhere green to relax makes a real difference. A good example would be how many people started valuing local parks far more when other options were limited."
Real voice, 3 parts, instant score and exact mistakes, explained in your language.
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