The IELTS Academic test is for the candidates applying for higher education or professional registration in an English speaking environment. It reflects some of the features of academic language and assesses whether he/she is ready to begin studying or training and is widely supported by the institutions that recognize IELTS.
Speaking
In the Speaking test, you have a discussion with a certified examiner. It is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get.
There are three parts to the test and each part fulfills a specific function in terms of interaction pattern, task input, and test taker output.
In Part 1, you answer questions about yourself and your family. In Part 2, you speak about a topic. In Part 3, you have a longer discussion on the topic.
The Speaking test is the same for both Academic and General Training versions. Each of the three parts is designed to test a different aspect of your communication ability.