Guidance notes for completing a structured reference to assess knowledge of English for European

nationals and International medical graduates

Why we need this form completing

The doctor named below has received an offer of employment from your organisation but they do not have the type
of standard evidence we routinely accept to demonstrate knowledge of English such as achieving the required scores
in the academic version of IELTS. We will however consider a reference that has been provided by the doctors
employer (this must be a senior supervising doctor with clinical oversight) confirming that they are
satisfied the doctors English is at the standard required to practise safely in the UK. Section 1 of this form should be
completed by the senior doctor giving as much detail as possible to enable us to effectively assess this doctors
English language proficiency.

Endorsing the reference

The GMC would not generally accept a reference as the sole evidence of English language however the Assistant
Registrar has agreed that it is reasonable to consider these when supported and endorsed by the relevant Responsible
Officer for the employing organisation. Therefore once the form has been completed by the employing consultant it
should be passed to the Responsible Officer 1 to complete section 2. By signing the form, the Responsible Officer is
confirming their organisations offer of employment and acknowledging the responsibility they have for only recruiting or
appointing doctors that have the necessary skills to undertake particular roles, including language skills.
Where an applicant has previously taken IELTS but failed to reach our minimum scores very careful consideration should
be given before providing supporting references and it should only be in exceptional cases.

What happens next?

If the responsible officer is happy to support and endorse the offer of employment on that basis, the Assistant
Registrar will be satisfied that the applicant has the necessary knowledge of English for the purposes of granting a
licence to practise. If not the application will be referred back to the Assistant Registrar for further consideration and
the applicant may be asked to provide further evidence to demonstrate their knowledge of English. The doctor will be
informed.
Returning the form to us

By email: regeeaman@gmc-uk.org
By fax: +44 161 923 6655
By post: General Medical Council
Registration Support Team (International)
3 Hardman Street
Manchester
M3 3AW

1
Responsible Officer of the organisation employing the doctor, not the employing consultants Responsible Officer which may be different
SECTION 1 Reference from the doctors senior clinical supervisor

Please provide examples to illustrate how each of the four skills have been addressed

About the doctor you are employing

Name

GMC reference number

The role that you have offered within
your organisation
Has the doctor previously taken the If Yes, on Did they achieve our
Yes/No dd/mm/yyyy 2 Yes/No
IELTs test? which date? minimum current scores?
About the senior clinical supervisor

Your name
Name of your
organisation
Your current role

Do you hold registration with the GMC? If yes provide GMC reference number below Yes No

GMC reference number

Your organisations full
address

Telephone number

Email address

This should be an official work email

address not a webmail address
such as hotmail or Googlemail.

About your assessment of the doctors English

Face to face interview
By taking up references with their current/previous employer
Objective written test
Observation of them in a clinical attachment
Please tick by what
Role play (set in a clinical setting)
method(s) you assessed
Telephone/skype interview
the doctor
Evidence of passing a medical examination in English
Their previous work experience
Written publications
Evidence of passing an English language test other than IELTS

Any other information

that supports the doctors
assessment

2
Please refer to the guidance at www.gmc-uk.org/IELTS

This form was last updated on 7 November 2016

Please make sure that you are using the most up-to-date version of the form.
Telephone us on 0161 923 6602 (or +44 161 923 6602 if calling from outside the UK) Page 2 of 5
Speaking skills

Please tick which evidence you have assessed and/or witnessed and explain how the applicant has demonstrated their
proficiency in this area. You may be asked to provide evidence of this. If only the boxes are ticked the form will not be
accepted.

Case presentations

Presentations

Ward rounds

Other

Listening skills

Please tick which evidence you have assessed and/or witnessed and explain how the applicant has demonstrated their
proficiency in this area. You may be asked to provide evidence of this. If only the boxes are ticked the form will not be
accepted.

Attendance at
lectures/presentations

Participation in case
conferences

Discussions with patients

and colleagues

Effective taking of patient

histories

Morbidity and mortality

meetings

Other

This form was last updated on 7 November 2016

Please make sure that you are using the most up-to-date version of the form.
Telephone us on 0161 923 6602 (or +44 161 923 6602 if calling from outside the UK) Page 3 of 5
Writing skills

Please tick which evidence you have assessed and/or witnessed and explain how the applicant has demonstrated their
proficiency in this area. You may be asked to provide evidence of this. If only the boxes are ticked the form will not be
accepted.

Operation reports

Ward round reports

Journal articles

Patient notes

Article reviews

Other

Reading skills

Please tick which evidence you have assessed and/or witnessed and explain how the applicant has demonstrated their
proficiency in this area. You may be asked to provide evidence of this. If only the boxes are ticked the form will not be
accepted.

Presentations at journal
clubs

Summaries of journal
articles

Clinical research

Other

This form was last updated on 7 November 2016

Please make sure that you are using the most up-to-date version of the form.
Telephone us on 0161 923 6602 (or +44 161 923 6602 if calling from outside the UK) Page 4 of 5
About the doctors English proficiency

Does the doctor have the knowledge of English necessary to practise in the UK? Yes No

If you have answered no, please

provide reasons

Senior clinical supervisors declaration

The information I have provided is correct and true.

I agree to the GMC to carry out checks on its behalf, making any necessary checks to verify the information I have given
and to the recipient of any enquiries providing the information requested.

Signature Date

Name

Name and address of organisation Official stamp

SECTION 2 Responsible Officer endorsement

Declaration
I endorse the doctors offer of employment on the basis outlined in the guidance.

Signature Date

Name

GMC reference
number if you have
one

This form was last updated on 7 November 2016

Please make sure that you are using the most up-to-date version of the form.
Telephone us on 0161 923 6602 (or +44 161 923 6602 if calling from outside the UK) Page 5 of 5