The IELTS Writing paper is the most difficult of the four papers for the majority of candidates taking the Academic version of the test. Here are some essential tips to remember when you take the test.
The IELTS Writing paper is the most difficult of the four papers for the majority of candidates taking the Academic version of the test. Here are some essential tips to remember when you take the test.
The IELTS Academic test was originally designed for students who wish to study in English speaking universities at either degree or postgraduate level. It is now also required by the GMC and NMC to demonstrate that overseas-trained doctors and nurses have sufficient English skills to practise safely and effectively in the UK.
What’s the difference between IELTS writing 6.5 and 7.0?
At the beginning of 2016, the NMC introduced a new regulation which required all nurses from outside the UK to achieve a score of 7.0 or above (out of 9.0) in all four areas of the Academic IELTS exam – reading, listening, writing and speaking – in order to obtain a license to practise as nurses in the UK. The purpose of this was to address concerns over patient safety in relation to the ability of overseas nurses to communicate effectively in English. The score needed for Writing was recently reduced to 6.5. SLC's Programme Manager Beth explores the difference between 6.5 and 7.0 in this detailed report.
Both IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and OET (Occupational English Test) are used to test the English language of healthcare professionals in different parts of the world.
The IELTS exam is perhaps the most widely taken international English language test. Over 2.5 million people sit the test every year from around the world. IELTS is recognised by universities, companies, professional bodies such as the GMC and NMC, immigration authorities, and government institutions all around the world as a measure of English language ability.
IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System.
The IELTS exam is now taken by over 2.5 million people every year. It is recognised by universities, companies, professional bodies such as the GMC and NMC, immigration authorities, and government institutions all around the world as a measure of English Language ability.
The listening component of the IELTS test is divided into four sections. The time allowed is roughly 30 minutes, followed by 10 minutes to transfer your answers to a machine readable sheet. It is worth knowing that questions and answers follow the same order as the listening. You will only hear the recording ONCE.
The speaking test consists of three sections. Together they take about 12-15 minutes. There will be you and an examiner, they may be either male or female and are native or near-native speakers of English. They may be from anywhere in the world, though the majority are British or Australian speakers of English.
The IELTS reading test is one hour long and consists of three passages taken from a variety of sources. These sources might be journals, books, magazines, reports, etc. You have to answer 40 (usually) questions based on the texts. 12-14 questions per passage. The texts are usually of a similar level of difficulty, the three sections do become slightly more difficult from one to three, and this is achieved by making the questions more difficult.
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 requires you to write a report on a set of data in 150 words in 20 minutes.
Writing Task 2 requires you to write an essay in a minimum 250 words in 40 minutes. You should aim to write between 260 and 300 words.
Students generally think that the IELTS listening paper is going to be the easiest, however often find its fast pace challenging.
Try these techniques to get yourself prepped for the big day!
