IELTS or OET – which is easier for nurses?

Good question, many people ask this. The NMC accepts both. For IELTS Academic you need 7.0 overall and at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking, with 6.5 in writing. For OET you need grade B in reading, listening and speaking and C+ in writing. Many nurses find OET writing easier because it is a referral letter, which is real nursing work. If writing is your problem, OET is worth trying. The NMC also lets you combine results from two sittings within 6 months, as long as you meet the rules for each sitting. Always check the latest rules on the NMC website before booking.

Thank you Cindy! I did not know the writing score for IELTS was 6.5. I think I will switch to OET.

I switched to OET after two IELTS attempts and passed first time. The referral letter takes practice but it is very logical once you learn the structure.