[lynnie]

hi,

has anyone taken one of these yet and which is the best to go for in regards to price and convenience (hope that spelling isn't part of it ;))

thanks in anticipation.

[carahafner]

Hi Lynn,

I am assuming that you are a native English speaker and if so, there should be no need to take any sort of test for your nursing registration. My understanding is that the test is only required for those registrants who are not native English speakers. Same goes for when you apply to Immigration too.

Cara

[JandM]

I remembered someone commenting on this quite recently, and have found this article. So it looks as if, unless things have changed since January, you do have to do a test.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/discrimination/news/article.cfm?c_id=177&objectid=10551078

It might be worth following up some of these other threads for details.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=NZ+nurses+English+language+tests+for+foreigners&aq=f&oq=

[lynnie]

thanks for your replies.

JandM you are right all international applications now need to have passed the english test whatever your country of origin or first language is.

its actually putting me off at the moment as im wondering whether the extra expense and stress is worth it. so wanted opinons of anyone who has been through it yet.

[IanW99]

Yep, rules changed since the 1 January 2009...

Internationally qualified nurses applying for registration in New Zealand

Since 1 January 2009, all international applicants from all countries (except Australia) are required to sit an English Language assessment before submitting an application.

The assessment can be either the International English Language Testing (IELTS) Academic Test, or the Occupational English Test (OET).

• You must forward original documentary evidence of an English Language Assessment to the Nursing Council with your application. We will verify this with the relevant testing authority.
• You must achieve a score of seven (7) in all areas of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic Test); or
• You must achieve a B pass in all areas of the Occupational English Test (OET)
• The IELTS scores of 7 in each band do not need to be achieved in a single sitting of the test. You may choose to sit the test more than once and gain the necessary scores over a series of tests. The total of seven in each band must be achieved within 12 months of first sitting the test.
• You can take the test either onshore or offshore. (We strongly recommend you complete this test before emigrating to New Zealand).
• The English Language Assessment must be less than two years old at the time of application.

Sorry, can't help with the actual tests though.

Ian

[JandM]

Here are some sample papers. http://www.world-english.org/ielts_free_tests.htm

And you might find something helpful by following up some of the links here. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=IELTS+Level+7+sample+papers&aq=f&oq= (There's one that mentions reasons why a student was given a certain level.)

[carahafner]

This has to be one of the most ridiculous moves on the part of the nursing council. If your native tongue is English and you have a degree in nursing from an English speaking country, what is the point? The council seems to want to make it harder to get nurses over to NZ when they are desperate for qualified nurses. ugh.

Sorry to hear that this is a new requirement....I got my application in a mere 4 months before the requirements changed.

Cara

[Achavar]

Mrs Achavar took the IELTS in London back in January,and passed without any revision,though she would recommend that you do revise. there are online sample tests on the IELTS web site which enable you to familiarise yourself with how the questions are asked.
Steve

[Achavar]

I completed my test in January in London. There are many sites over the country that you can apply to, I just googled IELTS and came up with all info. The cost is £105.00 + £2.00 card handling fee and £ 5.00 for them to forward results to NZ nursing Council. I agree that it is diabolical that this test has to be taken when English is your first language! It is not very clear on the websites whether nurses have to take academic or general and when I asked the assistants on the telephone, they were not allowed to tell me. I emailed NZ Nursing Council and they informed me that it was the academic test. When I took the test, I found about 80% of the candidates appeared to be foreign students. I think that if English is not your first language, then it may be a bit of a struggle to get 7 or above in each of the four sections. The test took me by surprise as I assumed the papers would not be a little easier! There are on line tests that you can take just to get you into the swing of things. As with all tests, I think you have to pace yourself and not spend an overly long time on each question as there are about 40 questions on each paper - well on my test papers there were, however, I guess each test is different! Good luck if you go for it!

[IanW99]

...
It is not very clear on the websites whether nurses have to take academic or general and when I asked the assistants on the telephone, they were not allowed to tell me. I emailed NZ Nursing Council and they informed me that it was the academic test.
...


This must have been improved since you took the test as the information that I posted from the Nursing Council website clearly states " You must achieve a score of seven (7) in all areas of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic Test);"

Ian

[lynnie]

thanks for the info.
just a bit annoying that its another chunk of money to pay out.
at the moment im pricing up how much it will all cost so that we will have enough money when the time comes.

[Achavar]

Yes, I see the NZ Nursing Council have now updated their website, however, it had not been updated when I originally began looking for details. Did not see your earlier post as posted a reply earlier, but for some reason only known to broadband deliverers it did not send, so just enlarged slightly and resent it without checking other posts. Doh!