are you taking the exam for your visa application or registration for CNO? coz if you are taking for your visa application, they require GENERAL TRAINING. and like me, i am sending the same IELTS results (general training) i submitted for my visa application to the CNO for my RN registration.
this was the letter COLLEGE OF NURSES sent to me after i inquired regarding their IELTS requirements:
The CNO accepts both Academic and General categories for IELTS, accepted scores are: 6.5 over all (Writing, Reading, Listening) and 7.0 in Spoken. The CNO does not have an expiry date for fluency tests. Fluency is not a requirement to take the national exam but it will be required to obtain your nursing license in Ontario. If you have already completed the fluency test and would like it evaluated by the CNO please request the testing centre to mail your results directly to the CNO.
i don't know for others, but personally i think there's a better chance of getting a passing score with GENERAL TRAINING since it's only writing a simple business or friendly letter. of course, you have to organize the thoughts and point of your letter to get a good if not a passing score. Rather than with graph, charts, or diagram interpretation where there are certain rules you have to follow such as the use of certain words such as declining, escalating, sudden drop/rise, etc just to describe the image given, and making sure you are not being redundant and confusing at the same time. That was my fear and struggle before. Lucky if you get a simple diagram/process to interpret, but i still find it a challenge to not consume so much time figuring out how to interpret 2-3 graphs and correlate them to each other and having to organize your statements.
but that's just for me. i also know a lot of people who actually get good marks with the writing area. i guess if you'll do great at the ESSAY part, you won't have to worry so much with your graph interpretation since essay has more marks than graph/charts/diagram interpretation.
i suggest with the essay, you read lots of sample writings online. and if you have time, try writing on your own and compare it to other samples. you don't have to have the same ideas or points. there are no wrong or right answers. just organization of thoughts and opinions and how you relay it to the reader.
that's what i did when i reviewed for my ielts. i only joined the final coaching (a week before the exam date). i read a lot of writing samples online. i just familiarized how they just SIMPLY explained their essay and also, getting a glimpse of other people's opinion about certain topics won't be such a bad thing. it could come in handy to whatever topic you would be given during the actual exam.