NMC's new IELTS Writing score requirement creates opportunity for nurses aiming to work in the UK

MANILA,Philippines,Dec. 5,2018 -- The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in the UK has recently announced changes to its English language proficiency requirements for overseas nurses and midwives wishing to work in the UK.

Under the change,nurses and midwives wishing to work in the UK will still be required to achieve a minimum overall score of 7.0 in IELTS,however,a 6.5 score in the Writing section of the test will be accepted alongside a 7.0 score in each of the Reading,Listening and Speaking sections of the test.

The British Council in the Philippines,which administers IELTS across 17 locations nationwide,recognises the opportunity this change provides test takers wanting to work in the nursing profession in the UK.

The British Council has considerable experience providing test takers with the support and resources they need to achieve the band score they require,including a range of complimentary face-to-face services such as the IELTS Exceed Writing workshop. It also has an online test preparation course (Road to IELTS),practice test materials,and mobile apps,all of which are free for test takers.

Commenting on the NMC announcement,Country Director,British Council in the Philippines,Pilar Aramayo Prudencio,said:

"IELTS is one of the world's most popular high-stakes English language tests,with over three million tests taken in the past year. We look forward to continuing to provide support and guidance to nurses and midwives looking to work in the UK,so that they may achieve the IELTS score requirements announced by the NMC."

The NMC has stated that the change to the Writing score requirement will take effect from 5 December 2018.

IELTS is the most widely used test of English for migration to Australia,Canada,New Zealand and the UK. It is recognised by more than 10,000 universities,schools,employers and immigration bodies,including all universities in Australia and the UK and many leading institutions in the USA.

The success of IELTS rests on the high quality of the test,which measures the four key languages skills-- listening,speaking,reading and writing. It is backed by dedicated research teams in the UK and Australia and administered by centres in more than 140 countries around the world.

Notes to editors

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System,the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with more than 3 million tests taken in the last year.

Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure,valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education,immigration and professional accreditation purposes.

IELTS is jointly owned by British Council,IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities and provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries.

For more information on taking IELTS with the British Council in the Philippines contact +632 555 3000.

About the test

Test takers are measured in listening,reading,writing and speaking skills. All tests are scored on a banded system from 1 (non-user) through to 9 (expert user).

IELTS offers a choice of two tests,to serve both academic and non-academic purposes. IELTS Academic measures English language proficiency needed for an academic,higher learning environment. The tasks and texts are accessible to all test takers,irrespective of their subject focus. IELTS General Training measures English language proficiency in a practical,everyday context. The tasks and texts reflect both workplace and social situations. IELTS General Training is suitable for immigration purposes to Australia,New Zealand and the United Kingdom and Ireland.

A sample of government and professional associations who recognise or require applicants to hold an IELTS test result include:

Immigration,Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Department of Home Affairs (Australia)

UK Visas and Immigration

Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and National Council of State Boards of Nursing,USA

International Monetary Fund

For further media information,please contact:

Danica Tuliao,Exams Marketing Manager,+632 555 3000