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.
There is no pass or fail for the IELTS exam. Instead, learners receive a band score between 1 and 9 for each of the 4 papers – Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking, and an overall average.
Doctors require a minimum of 7.0 in all 4 papers and an overall 7.5. Nurses require a minimum of 7.0 in the Reading, Listening and Speaking papers, a 6.5 in the Writing paper and an overall 7.0.
7.0 and 7.5 are within the advanced level C1 band. At C1, you can:
7.0 is at the lower end of C1. According to IELTS, scoring 7.0 demonstrates the candidate ‘has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning’.
To up 1 band in IELTS typically takes the average student approximately 200 hours of input, consisting of face-to-face tuition and guided self-study.
Learners receive their results 2 weeks after they take the IELTS test. If they do not achieve their required score, they may take the test again as soon as they can book a place in a relevant centre.
Both the GMC and the NMC state that an IELTS test needs to be less than 2 years old to be considered valid.
The IELTS for UKVI test costs around £200.
For both IELTS modules, there are 4 separate parts, each one focusing on a specific skill: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
There are 3 long texts on a variety of academic subjects. They are authentic and taken from books, journals, or magazines, and may be factual, analytical or opinion-based.
Candidates have to identify key points, important information, understand meaning, recognise the writer’s opinion, and summarise arguments effectively.
Candidates must write 2 texts. The first is a report on some data, such as a statistical table or a graph. The second is a discursive essay in which candidates respond to an opinion or statement about a particular topic.
Candidates are marked on whether they have answered the question set, used an appropriate style of language, and organised their thoughts clearly. They are also marked on grammatical accuracy, range of vocabulary, and their ability to connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs correctly.
There are 4 texts, 2 of them set in a social context, and 2 in a more educational or academic context. The texts may be conversations, discussions or a monologue, in a variety of accents.
Candidates need to listen for specific information, understand the main gist, and understand speakers’ opinions and attitudes.
This is a face-to-face speaking test with an IELTS examiner, divided into 3 parts. The first Is an introductory conversation; in the second, the candidate is given 1 minute to prepare a short presentation on a topic; in the third, the examiner and the candidate will discuss some questions connected with the topic in part 2.
Candidates are marked on their ability to express themselves clearly and accurately, to answer questions appropriately, their range of grammar and vocabulary, their level of ‘naturalness’, and their pronunciation and intonation.
Note: the test total time is 2 hours and 45 minutes. The Listening, Reading and Writing papers are always completed in one sitting. The Speaking test may be taken on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.
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