IELTS for Nurses: NMC (UK) and NMBA (Australia) Score Requirements

Both regulators use IELTS Academic, not General Training.

The NMC asks for 7 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 6.5 in Writing. You can combine results from two sittings if they are within 12 months of each other, both cover all four skills, you meet the required score in each skill across the two, and both sittings meet the NMC's minimum scores. See NMC accepted English tests.

Once you are registered, the UK Skilled Worker visa may not need a separate English test, because GOV.UK exempts nurses who passed an English assessment accepted by their regulator. See IELTS for UK visas.

The NMBA's English language skills standard sets IELTS Academic at 7 overall, 7 in Listening, Reading and Speaking, and 6.5 in Writing. Two sittings can be combined within 12 months if each sitting has an overall score of at least 7 and no skill in either sitting falls below 6.5. The NMBA also accepts IELTS One Skill Retake. Read the NMBA English language skills standard for the current details.

• Writing at 6.5 is often the deciding skill. Learn exactly what the band descriptors reward and practise both tasks against the clock.
• Reading 7 in Academic means reading fast, not just accurately. A time plan for the three passages helps more than extra vocabulary lists.
• Listening 7 is roughly 30 correct answers out of 40; the Listening score calculator explains the conversion.
• Take full timed tests. Fatigue in the third hour costs marks that section-by-section practice never shows.

• Week 1: a full timed test to get a score in each skill. Note which skill is furthest from the target.
• Weeks 2 and 3: daily work on the weakest skill, plus two Writing tasks a week reviewed against the criteria.
• Week 4: Reading speed. Three passages in 60 minutes, with a fixed time limit per passage.
• Week 5: Listening with one play only, reviewing every mistake against the transcript.
• Week 6: two full mock tests on a computer, then rest.

Healthcare vocabulary does not help much in IELTS Academic, because the passages and essays cover general topics. Practise the exam itself; our IELTS Writing practice gives indicative feedback on both tasks.

Both regulators also accept the Occupational English Test (OET), which uses healthcare scenarios. IELTS Academic is more widely available and is accepted by universities and immigration departments too, so many nurses choose it to cover more than one requirement. Compare requirements across countries in the IELTS score requirements by country.