To Those Deciding on IELTS

[vicki ti-in]

Hello again. Just some updated news from information we are getting to our web site. Nurses who are required to take an English language proficiency exam to work in the US are now availing themselves of the IELTS in significant numbers. They are not taking the TOEFL-TSE. Once more I will advise that the IELTS is cheaper, not easier. You can go to www.ielts4nurses.org or to www.**************.org for more information about that. At any rate here are some vitally important things to remember about the IELTS:

1. Make sure that you take the "Academic" exam. Far too many nurses are taking the general exam and then asking us what to do with their non-acceptable score. Nothing can be done except to retake the correct exam.

2. Some are getting acceptable scores on the speaking module but their overall score is less than 6.5 (not acceptable for nurses). We are asked many times about "combining" the IELTS speaking module score with the TOEFL exam. Sorry, that is not acceptable. You either take the TOEFL-TSE or the IELTS. The two cannot be combined to get a "passing" rate.

3. Some of the new IELTS testing sites are less than comfortable. Nothing can be done about this. Just be prepared.

4. Be prepared also for distractions, especially during the speaking module. The raters sometimes do things that will be extremely distracting.

The best way to prepare for any of these exams? Get good preparation materials and then make sure you immerse yourself in English only right up until exam time.

Vicki Ti-in