GOT MY IELTS RESULTS. Writing ruined it.

[quinchaotic]

hey guys! so i just got my ielts result.

Listening - 8.5
Reading - 8
Speaking - 7.5
Writing - 6.5
Overall - 7.5

So as you can see, everything's good except for the Writing subtest. I'm really disappointed about it cause I need a 7 in all subtest so I can work in UK. But I came across this site where it says 6.5 is still accepted, does anyone know about this, or if there are certain places in UK where a 6.5 is accepted? I mean, my total band score is pretty decent as well as the other subtest.

Can anyone tell me if I can still apply as a nurse at any place in UK that will accept the freaken 6.5? How about universities? cause I was planning on enrolling to a university if working there wont work out for me. Also, if you guys know the required band scores for different countries, I qualify for US and Canada I know that much. Or if not, if you could at least provide the site.

Thanks so much!

[siminre]

Hi, that is a great score. Hope it is acceptable.
Actually I do need overall 7. Two times I tried I got 6.5. Can u please help me how did u practice. How can I improve my reading .
Thanks

[ielts2u]

I can tell you that in Australia the nursing boards will not accept 6.5, but the universities will.
0.5 is so close. Did you do any formal study to prepare for your writing, or did you do it by yourself? If you did it by yourself, the problems might be quite minor...
Regards,
Mike
ielts2u - an IELTS writing help site

[teacherdominic]

Something similar happened to my wife - now happily working as a doctor in the UK. Her scores varied between 9 for speaking and a barely there 7 in writing. To my knowledge, nowhere in the NHS will take without 7 across the board.

My advice is do the test again. Practically, there is unlikely to be anything particularly wrong with your language quality, given your speaking grade. Pretty much without question you made the same mistake as my wife: you didn't answer the question. Or better put, the examiner didn't think you had. This is one of the curiosities of the IELTS system: if the examiner thinks you haven't answered the question, they can deduct up to 2 marks from your score and that can kill you.