IELTS, OET and OSCE exams
This guide will help nurses who qualified overseas prepare for the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), OET (Occupational English Test) and OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) exams. It has details of key resources and useful books.
Last updated:
18/06/2021
IELTS, OSCE and OET
RCN Immigration Advice Service: Preparing for IELTS, OET and OSCE exams
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Explains who needs to complete the IELTS, OET, CBT and OSCE exams. Links to practice tests and other helpful information.
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Nursing and Midwifery Council: Coronavirus (Covid-19): Information and advice for overseas candidates
Nursing and Midwifery Council: Accepted English language tests
Nursing and Midwifery Council - Register as a nurse or midwife if you trained outside the UK
Nursing and Midwifery Council - EU/EEA applications started before 1 January 2021
Career development
RCN: Careers resources for nurses and midwives
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Includes advice for nurses on applying for jobs, CV writing, the interview process and career progression tips.
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RCN: Nursing careers resource
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This careers resource, which has been jointly developed by the Royal College of Nursing and Health Education England, will help registered nurses and the clinical support workforce across the UK plan their health careers effectively
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RCN: Leadership skills. How to demonstrate leadership within your career
RCN forums and networks
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RCN forums and networks are free to join as part of RCN membership. They cover a wide range of areas within nursing and are a great way to get involved with the profession.
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OSCE books
Bloomfield J, Pegram A and Jones C (2010) How to pass your OSCE: a guide to success in nursing and midwifery. Florence: Taylor and Francis.
Godson N (2011) Nursing and health: objective structured clinical examination survival guide. Harlow: Pearson Education.
Harding D (2014) Deconstructing the OSCE. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cabellero C, Creed F, Gochmanski C and Lovegrove J (eds.) (2012) Nursing OSCEs: a complete guide to exam success. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Lister S E, Hofland J, Grafton H (2020) The Royal Marsden manual of clinical nursing procedures. Professional edition. 10th edn. Wiley Blackwell: Hoboken.
IELTS books
Sorrenson M (2017) McGraw-Hill Education IELTS. 2nd edn. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
Cambridge Assessment English (2020) IELTS 15: Academic with answers: authentic practice tests. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chong S W and Xuejun Y (2020) Developing writing skills for IELTS: a research-based approach. New York: Routledge.
Cullen P, French A and Jakeman V (2014) The official Cambridge guide to IELTS: for academic and general training. Student's book with answers, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Occupational English Test (OET) books
Cambridge Boxill Language Assessment (2018) OET nursing: official practice book 1. Melbourne: Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment.
Kaplan Publishing (2020) Official guide to OET. 2nd edn. New York: Kaplan. Publishing.
Khaira G (2018) Nurses' guide to the updated OET 2.0: speaking and writing modules. Chennai: Notion Press.
Leyshon C, Khaira G and Allum V (2020) The Cambridge guide to OET nursing. Student’s book. Cambridge English.
McNally B and Mackenzie A (2017) Grammar booster for OET nursing: language and grammar for effective communication in healthcare settings. Brisbane: ELTWorks.
Study skills books
Aveyard H, Sharp, P and Woolliams M (2015) A beginner’s guide to critical thinking and writing in health and social care. 2nd edn. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Read S H (2018) Academic writing skills for international students. London: Macmillan Education. -
This is book is aimed at non-native English speakers who need to write university assignments.
View this eBook
Cottrell S (2019) The study skills handbook. 5th edn. London: Macmillan International Higher Education.
Williams A (2013) Research: improve your reading and referencing skills. London: Collins. -
This book is designed to help international students to achieve academic success at an English-speaking institution. Learn how to choose the right sources, access information, think critically when reading texts, make concise notes.
View this eBook - Borrow from RCN Library services
Book subject searches
Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.
Nursing and Midwifery Council: Coronavirus (Covid-19): Information and advice for overseas candidates
Oxford Brookes University: OSCE resources
NMC competency test centre at Oxford Brookes University
About the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Candidate information booklet
University of Northampton: OSCE resources
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Test of competence
Candidate information booklet
Preparing for your OSCE examination
University of Ulster: OSCE resources
NMC Competence Test Centre (CTC)
Preparing for the OSCE
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Caroline Lynch
Editor of this guide
RCN Library and Archive Service
Page last updated - 18/06/2021
