IELTS Minimum Score
Increasing to 7.0

The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) has recently announced that it would, effective from 1 February 2007, be raising the minimum English language overall IELTS pass score for overseas-trained nurses and midwives coming to work in the UK.

The IELTS is compulsory for all nurses trained outside the European Economic Area (EEA), but the minimum overall score, in the academic version of the test, is currently set at 6.5 (out of a possible 9). From 1 February 2007, overseas-trained nurses and midwives in the academic test will have to achieve a score of 7.0 in the listening and reading sections, 7.0 in the writing and speaking section, and an overall average score of 7 (out of a possible 9).

Although compulsory for nurses, IELTS is a useful programme for anyone thinking of working or studying in the UK; the higher your level of English, the better your chances of succeeding in the English speaking world.

For further information on IELTS go to www.britishcouncil.org or see “Useful Websites” on www.immigrationmatters.co.uk