IELTS Score for Nurses in Different Countries

If you are planning on moving to an English-speaking country to study or look for a job as a Nurse, the first requirement you must meet is to demonstrate a high level of  English proficiency.

You will be meant to take the International English Testing System (IELTS) test as a way of providing your level of proficiency in English.

There are three types of  IELTS tests available for immigrants: IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, and IELTS Life Skills test. The type of test you are to undertake depends solely on your aim and objectives.

The IELTS Academic test is conducted to find out whether your English language skills are suitable in the academic environment.

The IELTS General Training test evaluates your level of English Proficiency in everyday situations both in your workplace and social settings. It also measures your ability to speak and communicate effectively in English in the real world.

Lastly, the IELTS Life Skills test evaluates the speaking and listening skills of migrants and it is available for CEFR Levels A1, A2, and B2, this type of IELTS is only administered by the UK to meet the UK visa and immigration requirements.

Different countries have different IELTS scores for accepting foreign nurses, before seeking to travel to any English-speaking country to study or work as a nurse, ensure you find out their IELTS scores, this will enable you to prepare fully for the exam.

This content will provide you with full details about IELTS scores for nurses in different countries, make sure you read till the end.

IELTS Score for Nurses in Different Countries 

As a Nurse wishing to study or work in an English-speaking country, you are to either take the IELTS Academic or the IELTS Training Exam.

Also, IELTS scores are determined according to profession and the type of visa application.

Here is the list of IELTS Score for Nurses in Different Countries 

IELTS Score for Nurses in United Kingdom 

• Nursing body: NMC ( Nursing and Midwifery Council)
• IELTS Test: Academic
• IELTS Score: Overall Band 7 ( minimum of 6.5 in writing/ 7 in all tests)

IELTS Score for Nurses in Ireland 

• Nursing body: NMBI ( Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland )
• IELTS Test: Academic
• IELTS Score: Overall Band 7 ( minimum of 7 in 3 sub-tests and 6.5 in any other sub-test)

IELTS Score for Nurses in Canada

• Nursing body: Registered Nurses Association of a specific province 
• IELTS Test: Academic
• IELTS Score: The IELTS score depends on the province E.g British Columbia requires an overall band 7 with 7.5 listening

IELTS Score for Nurses in USA

• Nursing body: Registered Nursing Board of a specific State.
• IELTS Test: Academic/General
• IELTS Score: Overall Band 6.5 ( 7.0 in Speaking)

IELTS Score for Nurses in USA

• Nursing body: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
• IELTS Test: Academic
• IELTS Score: Overall Band 7 (minimum of 7 in all 4 tests)

IELTS Score for Nurses in New Zealand 

• Nursing body: Nursing Council of New Zealand.
• IELTS Test: Academic
• IELTS Score: Overall Band 7 (minimum of 7 in all 4 tests)

Understanding IELTS Exam scores 

You will be assessed and evaluated using the following four components of the IELTS test. 

Listening

The IELTS Listening test contains 40 questions, each correct answer is awarded 1 mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9- band Scale.

Below is the IELTS grading system for the listening section according to the listening test score.

Marks out of 40

• Band Score 5: Listening 16
• Brand Score 6: Listening 23
• Band Score 7: Listening 30
• Band Score 8: Listening 35

Reading

The IELTS Reading test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded 1 mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band Scale. Both the IELTS Academic and IELTS tests are graded using the same scale.

Below is the IELTS grading system for the Reading section according to the Reading test score.

Mark out of 40

Academic

• Band Score 5: Reading 15
• Brand Score 6: Reading 23
• Band Score 7: Reading 30
• Band Score 8: Reading 35

Mark out of 40

General Training 

• Band Score 4: Reading 15
• Brand Score 5: Reading 23
• Band Score 6: Reading 30
• Band Score 7: Reading 35

Writing

In the writing component, you will be Evaluated using these four criteria 

• Task achievement (for task 1) and task response (task 2)
• Coherence and Cohesion
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy 

Each task is evaluated independently, The criteria are weighted equally and the score on the task is average. The IELTS writing component is assessed using some set of criteria.

Speaking 

In the writing component, you will be Evaluated using these four criteria 

• Fluency and Coherence 
• Lexical resources
• Grammar range and accuracy 
• Pronunciation 

Each of these criteria carries equal weight and the overall average gives the IELTS score for speaking. The IELTS grading in speaking is done using some set of key assessment criteria.

Final Thought | IELTS Score for Nurses in Different Countries

IELTS had more than 4 million test takers in a year, thereby making it the world’s most popular English Language Proficiency test for higher education and global migration.

Meeting the IELTS cutoff mark of a particular country gives you access to study and also work in that country as a Nurse.Most countries can only award visas to you on the condition that you pass their IELTS exam.

As an immigrant or educated nurse seeking to work or study in an English-speaking country, you will need to pass the English Proficiency test  (IETS) to be issued any of the following types of visas 

• Basic Citizenship 
• Federal Skilled Worker
• Permanent Residency
• Tier 2 General Visa
• Tier 1 General Visa
• Tier 4 Student Visa 
• Work Visa

Now that you’ve known the IELTS scores for different countries, the next thing you need to do is to prepare for the exam.

Several bodies offer free and paid preparation resources to guide you through your IELTS Journey. Some of these bodies include but are not limited to pass IELTS and the IELTS Ready by the British Council.

Once you sit and pass the IELTS test, you will be awarded an IELTS certificate. The IELTS certificate is only valid for two years, once it expires it cannot be renewed, you will have to retake the test.