Brilliant news for overseas nurses as the NMC has officially announced that it is changing the IELTS requirements for NMC registration.
No longer will you be required to achieve a band score of 7.0 in the writing exam. Instead, a score of 6.5 only is needed.
What does this mean?
For a long time the IELTS writing exam has been a significant challenge for nurses. It requires for you to complete two tasks: one in which the candidate discusses a graph or table and another in which an opinion essay is written.
To pass the IELTS exam for NMC registration you will require:
Writing: Band Score 6.5
Listening: Band Score 7
Reading: Band Score 7
Speaking: Band Score 7
In 2018, a petition to decrease the band score attracted nearly 24,000 signatures (correct as of writing).
The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) released a statement which read:
The moderate and proportionate change is in line with the NMC’s commitment to better, safer care and will ensure that only those nurses and midwives with the right skills, knowledge and command of English are able to work in the UK.
The change will take effect from 5 December 2018. IELTS results under two years old that meet the new requirements will be considered by the regulator. [Source]
What is now the best option, IELTS or OET?
In a recent article, we asked Is OET Easier Than IELTS?
Despite the changes announced today, it is the opinion of Fast Track IELTS that the OET exam is still a preferable and easier option for overseas nurses. Even with the lowering of the band score to 6.5, the IELTS exam will expect for you to:
- Have a larger vocabulary and a firmer grasp of grammatical rules.
- To write essays on a variety of topics including but not limited to politics, government and science.
Every student has different skills however the OET still remains the simplest option for healthcare professionals.
What do you think of these changes? Will you decide to take the IELTS exam instead? Is IELTS still too difficult? We’d love to hear from you.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Want to find out whether IELTS or OET is the best option for you? Book a free consultation with one of our teachers today to find out more.
