The IELTS test has two forms-

✶ The Academic Test (or module) 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. ✶ The General Training Test (or module) The IELTS General Training test is for those people who are going to English-speaking countries for secondary education, work experience. The IELTS General test is also a requirement for migration to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. The test mainly focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts.

The module that one takes depends on the reason that he/she is taking it. Generally speaking, the Academic Module is for those people who are trying to gain entry onto undergraduate or postgraduate education courses or for professional reasons. The General Training Module is for those people who wish to join some kinds of vocational or training courses, secondary schools, or for immigration purposes.
Both Academic and General Training modules try and reflect real-life situations to test whether a test taker would survive in English speaking social and academic environments. For example, the Part 2 section of the speaking asks the test taker to talk, after 1 minute’s preparation, for 1 to 2 minutes on a given general topic. This would test the General Training test taker to see if they could give a “work-related presentation” to fellow work colleagues and would test Academic candidates if they can give a “university-style presentation” to fellow students. It tests whether candidates have the English language capability to perform these tasks under some kind of pressure.
The IELTS test Academic and General Training modules is divided into four parts:

The listening and speaking tests are exactly the same for the Academic and General Training modules but the reading and writing tests are different.
Click Here to know more about Academic and General Training modules
IELTS Quick Facts