Vijay Divakaran

Yes there are differences between both, speaking and listening are same for academic and general, but writing and reading are different. In academic writing, a student has to attend task one and task two, in that task one is analyzing a graph table map or chart . In this task student is not supposed to use first person and their interpretations. However task 2 is almost the same pattern for academic and general, and I certainly believe that general section is easier than academic. In general writing task one , student has to write a letter which is easy and can use first person in 150 words. General reading is easier than academic reading and possible to achieve high score.

The purpose for writing general ielts is only for migration , whereas academic is for studies and registration as nurse or doctor.