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IELTS, OET and OSCE exams

This guide will help nurses who qualified overseas prepare for the IELTS, OET and OSCE exams. It has details of key resources and useful books.

Last updated: 02/10/2020

IELTS, OSCE and OET

RCN Immigration Advice Service: Preparing for IELTS, OET and OSCE exams
  • Explains who needs to complete the IELTS, OET, CBT and OSCE exams. There are different requirements for nurses trained inside and outside the EU or EEA. 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 - Registering as a nurse or midwife in the UK. For applicants trained in the EU or EEA
Nursing and Midwifery Council - Registering as a nurse or midwife in the UK. For applicants trained outside the EU or EEA

Career development

RCN: Careers resources for nurses and midwives
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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. 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 & health: objective structured clinical examination survival guide, Harlow: Pearson Education. 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. Harding D (2014) Deconstructing the OSCE. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cabellero C (2012) Nursing OSCES: a complete guide to exam success. 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 ed. Wiley Blackwell: Hoboken. Lister S E, Hofland J, Grafton H (2020) The Royal Marsden manual of clinical nursing procedures. Professional edition. 10th ed. Wiley Blackwell: Hoboken.

IELTS books

Sorrenson M (2017) McGraw-Hill Education IELTS (second edition), New York: McGraw-Hill Education. Sorrenson M (2017) McGraw-Hill Education IELTS. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
Cambridge Assessment English (2019) IELTS 14: Academic with answers: authentic practice tests. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. Cambridge Assessment English (2019) IELTS 14: Academic with answers: authentic practice tests. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
Cullen P, French A and Jakeman V (2014) The official Cambridge guide to IELTS: for academic & general training. Student's book with answers, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 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 (2018) Official guide to OET. New York: Kaplan Publishing. Kaplan Publishing (2018) Official guide to OET. New York: Kaplan Publishing.
Khaira G (2018) Nurses' guide to the updated OET 2.0: speaking and writing modules. Chennai: Notion Press. 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 Student edition. Cambridge English. Leyshon C, Khaira G and Allum V (2020) The Cambridge guide to OET nursing. Student’s book. Cambridge English.

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 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.
Williams A (2013) Research: improve your reading and referencing skills. London: Collins Williams A (2013) Research: improve your reading and referencing skills. London: Collins.
  • Learn how to choose the right sources, access information, think critically when reading texts, make concise notes. This book is designed to help international students to achieve academic success at an English-speaking institution.
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Van Geyte E (2013) Writing: learn to write better academic essays. London: Collins. Van Geyte E (2013) Writing: learn to write better academic essays. London: Collins.
  • Learn how to interpret the question, structure your work, paraphrase, quote and reference your sources, avoid plagiarism, understand your reader. This book is designed to help international students to achieve academic success at an English-speaking institution.
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Cottrell S (2019) The study skills handbook (5th edition), London: Macmillan International Higher Education. Cottrell S (2019) The study skills handbook. 5th edn. London: Macmillan International Higher Education.

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)
Candidate information booklet
Supporting documentation

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RCN Immigration Advice Service: Preparing for IELTS, OET and OSCE exams
RCN library staff

Caroline Lynch

Author of this guide

RCN Library and Archives

Page last updated - 02/10/2020

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