Familiarizing IELTS

Before heading on to battle, you need to have the right weapons to increase your chances in winning. It would also be wiser to have a strategy in mind. Having the right weapons and the right plans on how to tackle the enemy, then you are sure to win every battle. The same goes when you take an exam, specifically, the IELTS.

When you speak of IELTS, what comes first in your mind? Hmm..an English proficiency exam, perhaps? Yes, that’s correct but do you know what happens in an IELTS exam? The answer is probably “no”. Read on to know how an actual IELTS exam would be.

In the exam, all candidates must complete four Modules - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking to obtain an IELTS Test Report Form. The candidates are tested in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking English. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules.

Listening
This contains four sections with 40 items and it is to be done within 30 minutes.
Reading
For both Academic and General Training Version, this part consists of three sections with 40 items to be finished in 60 minutes
Writing
For both Academic and General Training Version, this part consists of two tasks, 150 and another 250 words, to be accomplished in 60 minutes.

Speaking
This is the last module and is usually done on 11 to 14 minutes.

The Total Test Time is 2 hours 45 minutes. The first three modules - Listening, Reading and Writing - must be completed in one day. The Speaking Module may be taken, at the discretion of the test centre, in the period seven days before or after the other Modules.
For the Reading and Writing Modules, the difficulty level is different from the Academic Version and The General Training Version. The tests are designed to cover the full range of ability from non-user to expert user.

Now that you know what happens in the exam, you will not be lost and confused when you are finally there.

Studying For The NCLEX

For nurses who want to practice the profession in the United States of America, it is vital that they pass the NCLEX. Passing this exam will award a nurse a license so that she can legally practice in whichever state she applied in.

U.S. educated nurses can easily apply and take the exam right after graduation. For foreign educated nurses, the story is different. They still need to undergo credentials evaluation, which could take months, in order to be qualified to take the NCLEX. Additional payment is also required if the exam is to be taken outside U.S. territory.

RN and LPN
There are two types of the NCLEX exam. There’s the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN. The former is to be taken by registered nurses and the latter is for licensed practical nurses.
When applying for the NCLEX, you have to be sure that it’s the right type of exam you’re going to be taking. There have been numerous cases wherein a candidate indicated the wrong type of exam. Although this can be remedied, additional fees have to be paid.

Review
When studying for an important exam such as the NCLEX, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Enroll in a review class so that you will be guided as to which topic to focus more. There will also be other students who will be reviewing with you and this can pressure you in a good way.
Tips and test taking strategies will also be taught in review classes which can help you when you a lot. When you’re faced with a question that you have absolutely no idea what the answer is, test taking strategies can help you eliminate the distracters and lead you to the correct answer.

For those who aspire to be a U.S. registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, one of the most important exams is the NCLEX. Study for it well and invest on a good review class.

What's Next After Nursing School?

So here you are fresh off from Nursing School and you thought all the stresses from school are over. Wrong. The real world has just begun.

Imagine what you’ve been doing in Nursing School and duty days with your clinical instructor and classmates at the hospital -- minus all the note writing, clinical instructors and classmates, of course. There won’t be clinical instructors following you around, guiding you and telling you what should be done. Here, you’ll have your nursing judgment to rely on.

Before you can practice Nursing, you still need a license for the profession. Usually, you’re going to take a local licensure exam, which you have to pass, after graduation. Now this would vary depending on the country where you’re from and the field of nursing that you studied in school.

There are different kinds of Nursing programs, as you may already know. There are Baccalaureate programs, Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, and others. To be able to practice, you would need a license.

It is best that you take a review class before taking the licensures. Sure you will have to spend a considerable amount of money for that but it will also increase your chances in passing. Instead of studying on your own, there will be others studying with you and this can inspire you to study harder.

Graduating from Nursing School and passing the licensures is just the beginning of your journey. Good luck!