LanguageCert Academic or IELTS: which should you take?
Both are accepted for Australian visas. LanguageCert Academic plays every listening part twice, includes role plays and a read-aloud task in Speaking, and reports 0–100 per skill. IELTS plays each recording once and uses a three-part interview. Choose the format that suits your strengths, then check your institution accepts it.
For years IELTS was the default English test for Australia. Since August 2025, LanguageCert Academic sits on the same list of tests accepted for visas, and more students are asking which one to take. There is no universal answer, but the differences are clear enough to make a good decision.
The main differences
| LanguageCert Academic | IELTS Academic | |
|---|---|---|
| Total time | about 2 h 34 min | about 2 h 45 min |
| Listening | 30 questions, every part heard twice | 40 questions, heard once |
| Reading | 30 questions, five task types | 40 questions, three long passages |
| Writing | Infographic report with an opinion + discursive essay | Describe a visual + essay |
| Speaking | Questions, two role plays, read-aloud, presentation | Interview, long turn, discussion |
| Scores | 0–100 for each skill | Bands 0–9 for each skill |
Listening: twice versus once
This is the difference people notice first. In LanguageCert, you hear everything twice. If you tend to panic when you miss an answer, that is a real advantage. The questions are written with this in mind, though: Part 4 in particular tests whether you can follow who agrees with whom across a three-person discussion.
Reading: shorter tasks versus long passages
IELTS Reading is three long passages and 40 questions. LanguageCert breaks reading into smaller tasks: vocabulary in context, a gapped text, sentence insertion, matching four short texts, and one long argument text. Candidates with strong vocabulary often find LanguageCert Part 1 quick, which leaves more time for the harder parts.
Find out where you are todayTry a free LanguageCert Academic-style practice in any skill, then sit a full timed practice test with 0–100 scores, your CEFR level and a visa check.
Start free practiceWriting: opinion from the start
The biggest surprise for IELTS candidates is LanguageCert Writing Part 1. You write about an infographic, but you are expected to take a position, for example what a university should do in response to the data. A purely descriptive answer, which is exactly what IELTS Task 1 asks for, will lose marks.
Speaking: role plays and reading aloud
LanguageCert Speaking includes two role plays, one of which you start. You need to ask questions, explain a problem and agree on a solution. There is also a read-aloud task. Confident speakers who find the IELTS long turn stressful sometimes prefer this variety; people with strong accents may find the read-aloud task exposes pronunciation problems.
Scores for Australian visas
For Competent English, Home Affairs asks for:
- IELTS: at least 6 in each component
- LanguageCert Academic: at least 57 Listening, 60 Reading, 64 Writing and 70 Speaking
The full table for every level is in our guide to LanguageCert for Australian visas.
How to decide
- Check acceptance first. If you need the result for a university or a registration body, confirm they accept LanguageCert Academic. Visa acceptance does not automatically mean every institution accepts it.
- Try both formats. Do one practice section of each skill in both tests and compare how you feel, not just your score.
- Think about your weak skill. If listening is your problem, hearing everything twice helps. If writing opinions is hard for you, IELTS Task 1 may feel safer.
- Look at dates and price. Availability near you can be the deciding factor when you have a deadline.
AIL runs practice tests for both: IELTS practice tests and LanguageCert Academic-style practice tests, with free practice in every skill.
Find out where you are todayTry a free LanguageCert Academic-style practice in any skill, then sit a full timed practice test with 0–100 scores, your CEFR level and a visa check.
Start free practiceQuestions people also ask
Is LanguageCert easier than IELTS?
Neither test is simply easier. LanguageCert plays listening twice and splits reading into shorter tasks, but its Writing Part 1 needs an opinion and its Speaking includes role plays and reading aloud.
Do Australian universities accept LanguageCert?
Many do, but acceptance varies. Check the English requirements page of your course before you book.
Can I use LanguageCert instead of IELTS for an Australian visa?
Yes, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 at a test centre, as long as you meet the minimum score for your English level in every skill.