IELTS Information

International English Language Testing System

What is IELTS?

International English Language Testing System - designed to help overseas Veterinary Surgeons (and other occupations) work, study or migrate to the UK or a country where English is the native language.

What will be assessed?

Your ability to listen, read, write and speak in English will be assessed and graded on a scale of 1-9.

How does IELTS apply to Vets?

Since Brexit Vet Surgeons must provide proof that they meet the minimum required standards in the English language to be able to register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). There are other assessments which can be used but IELTS is the most common as these tests are run the most frequently. The Occupational English Test (OET) is alternative exam.

What score do vets need to achieve?

If you are looking to come to the UK and work in a veterinary job you must achieve a score of at least 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in one of the listening, reading, writing and speaking components of the academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

What if my native language is English and/or my Veterinary Degree was taught in English?

If you can demonstrate that your first native language is English and that your veterinary degree was taught and assessed entirely in English, you may be able to apply for an exemption but you must provide;

A letter sent directly to the RCVS from your university that formally confirms your whole veterinary degree was obtained at an English-speaking University where the whole course was taught and assessed solely in the medium of English. This letter must be written in English and be sent directly from the University to the RCVS at [email protected]

When shall I take my IELTS TEST?

If you are planning to come and work in the UK as a vet and you do not have a British passport then you will need to find a veterinary job with an employer who will sponsor you on a skilled worker visa.

You need to have passed an IELTs test BEFORE you can register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and once you have registered with the RCVS your employer can then start your visa sponsoring process.

Therefore, if you are wanting to come to the UK and work as veterinary surgeon, it is a good idea that you plan ahead so that it doesn’t delay your employer starting your visa/sponsorship application.

We recommend that you start the process at least 3 months in advance to allow for;

Preparation for the exam and techniques
Finding a local training centre/school if possible, otherwise a private tutor that specialises in IELTs preparation
Booking a date for your test that will allow you enough time to get to the level required

Is the IELTS exam difficult?

IELTS is not difficult in itself although, it can be challenging without enough preparation. In less than 3 hours, it assesses your abilities in listening, reading, writing and speaking. According to several surveys on IELTS modules, the Writing module is the toughest among the four. The writing is considered as the most difficult module of any exam and ideally you should allow a minimum of 8 weeks to prepare for the test.

- IELTS trainers recommend test takers to spend about 3 to 4 hours every day preparing for IELTS preparation.

Some useful tips for IELTS preparation.

Preparing for your test can be daunting and leave you feeling incredibly overwhelmed about where to begin. Please find below some useful tips for preparing.