OET vs IELTS: Which Test Should Nurses and Doctors Take?
For nurses and doctors registering with a healthcare regulator, OET is usually the better fit: its Writing and Speaking tasks are written for your profession, and regulators such as the NMC, GMC and Ahpra accept it. IELTS tests general or academic English and is also used outside healthcare. In OET's own benchmarking, grade B (350–390) compares with IELTS 7.0.
OET or IELTS: the short answer
If you are a nurse, doctor or other health professional registering with a regulator that accepts OET, OET is usually the better fit. If you need a test outside healthcare, or your regulator does not list OET, IELTS may be the right choice.
Choose OET if…
you are registering as a health professional, your regulator accepts OET, and you would rather write a referral letter and role-play a patient conversation than discuss general academic topics.
Choose IELTS if…
you also need the score for purposes outside healthcare, your regulator does not list OET (for example the GDC for UK dentists), or you want a one-skill retake your regulator accepts.
Check first
the exact scores, sitting rules and test modes your regulator accepts. These differ more between regulators than between the two tests.
OET to IELTS score conversion
OET publishes its own benchmarking against IELTS and the CEFR. Grade B, the score most regulators ask for, sits at IELTS 7.0 to 7.5 and CEFR C1.
| OET score (grade) | IELTS band | CEFR level |
|---|---|---|
| 450–500 (A) | 8.0–9.0 | C2 |
| 400–440 (B) | 7.5 | C1 |
| 350–390 (B) | 7.0 | C1 |
| 300–340 (C+) | 6.5 | B2 |
| 250–290 (C) | 6.0 | B2 |
| 200–240 (C) | 5.5 | B2 |
| 0–190 (D and E) | Below 5.5 | Not shown in OET's table |
Source: OET's published IELTS benchmarking and CEFR benchmarking, linked from OET results and scoring. Regulators set their own equivalences, and the NMC, for example, treats OET B with Writing C+ as equivalent to IELTS 7 with Writing 6.5. To check your own scores, use the OET score calculator.
How OET and IELTS differ
The biggest difference is content. OET tests the English you use at work in healthcare; IELTS tests general or academic English.
| OET | IELTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Content | Healthcare scenarios. Writing and Speaking are specific to your profession (12 professions); Listening and Reading are the same for all | General or academic topics, not specific to healthcare |
| Writing | One letter from case notes, such as a referral or discharge letter: 5 minutes reading time plus 40 minutes writing, 180–200 words | Not profession-specific; check the official IELTS website for the current format |
| Speaking | About 20 minutes: two role-plays with an interlocutor playing your patient, a relative or a carer | Not profession-specific; check the official IELTS website |
| Listening and Reading | Each has 42 questions in 3 parts; Reading takes 60 minutes, Listening about 40 minutes, using healthcare texts and recordings | General or academic texts and recordings |
| Scores | Each sub-test from 0 to 500 with grades A to E; no overall score | Band scores |
| Delivery | Paper, computer at a venue, OET@Home (OET@Home accepted by the NMC and GMC, not by Ahpra, NMBI, the GPhC or the HCPC) | Check your regulator: the GDC accepts IELTS Online; NMBI does not accept IELTS online |
| Re-taking one skill | Paper re-sit of single sub-tests after a full test, not in the USA; not accepted by the NMC, Ahpra, MCNZ or ECFMG | IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted by Ahpra and the GDC |
OET details from the OET Test Handbook 2026 and oet.com. For IELTS, always check the official IELTS website for the current format, fees and dates.
Which regulators accept OET and IELTS?
Both tests are widely accepted for healthcare registration, but the rules differ by regulator. These are the verified OET requirements for the most common destinations.
| Regulator | OET requirement | IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| NMC (UK nurses and midwives) | OET Nursing: B in Listening, Reading and Speaking; C+ in Writing | Accepted; the NMC treats IELTS 7 with Writing 6.5 as equivalent. OET and IELTS cannot be combined |
| GMC (UK doctors) | OET Medicine: B in all four sub-tests from the same, most recent sitting | See the GMC's English language page |
| GPhC (UK pharmacists) | OET Pharmacy: B in all four, one sitting; paper or computer only | The GPhC calls OET B in all four equivalent to its IELTS requirement |
| GDC (UK dentists) | Not on the GDC's routinely accepted list | Accepted, including IELTS One Skill Retake and IELTS Online |
| Ahpra (Australia, all National Boards) | Tests from 23 April 2026: Listening 350, Reading 360, Writing 350, Speaking 360 | Accepted, including IELTS One Skill Retake; different providers cannot be combined |
| NMBI (Ireland nurses) | OET Nursing: B in Listening, Reading and Speaking; C+ in Writing; one sitting | Accepted test list on the NMBI page; NMBI does not accept IELTS online |
| ECFMG (USA, 2027 Pathways) | OET Medicine: 350 in Listening, Reading and Speaking; 300 in Writing; one sitting on or after 1 January 2025 | OET Medicine is the test named on ECFMG's Pathways page |
For every regulator, the minimum scores, validity rules and accepted test modes are in the OET score requirements guide. Always confirm on the official page before you book.
Is OET easier than IELTS?
Neither test is easier for everyone, and we do not publish pass-rate comparisons we cannot verify. What matters is which test plays to your strengths.
- Writing: OET asks for one letter from case notes, with a clear reader and purpose. Many clinicians find selecting and organising patient information more natural than writing an essay on a general topic. Our OET Writing tips explain how the letter is marked.
- Speaking: OET Speaking is two role-plays with a patient, relative or carer. If you talk to patients every day, the scenarios feel familiar; the challenge is structure and patient-friendly language. See our OET Speaking tips.
- Listening and Reading: OET uses healthcare recordings and texts. Medical vocabulary helps, but Reading Part A is a strict 15-minute scanning task that needs practice.
- Re-sits: if your regulator accepts a single-skill retake, IELTS One Skill Retake can be an advantage. OET single sub-test re-sits are not accepted by the NMC, Ahpra, MCNZ or ECFMG.
Not sure where you stand? The free placement test gives an indicative CEFR level for each skill before you choose.
Can you combine OET and IELTS results?
Usually not. The NMC states that OET and IELTS cannot be combined, and Ahpra does not accept results from different test providers in one application. Some regulators let you combine two sittings of the same test, but the rules are strict. The NMC, for example, allows two OET sittings within 12 months, with no score below C+ (Writing C) in either.
Pick one test and plan to meet your requirement with it.
What does each test cost?
The full OET test costs AU$587 in every mode, or US$455 for OET on Computer and OET@Home in the USA. A paper re-sit of one, two or three OET sub-tests costs AU$315, AU$415 or AU$515 after a full test. See OET test dates and fees for rescheduling and re-marking costs.
IELTS fees vary by country and test centre, so check the official IELTS provider where you will sit the test. Remember to compare the cost of a possible re-sit as well as the first attempt.
OET vs IELTS FAQ
Quick answers for healthcare professionals choosing a test. More exam questions are on the full OET FAQ page.
Is OET easier than IELTS?
Neither test is easier for everyone. Many nurses and doctors find OET more familiar because the Writing and Speaking tasks use their own profession, such as a referral letter or a patient role-play. IELTS uses general or academic topics. The right choice is the test your regulator accepts that best matches your strengths.
What IELTS score is equal to OET grade B?
In OET's published benchmarking, an OET score of 350 to 390 (grade B) compares with IELTS 7.0, and 400 to 440 (also grade B) compares with IELTS 7.5. OET C+ (300 to 340) compares with IELTS 6.5.
Does the NMC accept both OET and IELTS?
Yes. The NMC accepts OET Nursing with B in Listening, Reading and Speaking and C+ in Writing, which it treats as equivalent to IELTS 7 with 6.5 in Writing. You cannot combine an OET result with an IELTS result.
Can I combine OET and IELTS results?
Usually not. The NMC does not allow OET and IELTS to be combined, and Ahpra does not accept results from different test providers in one application. Plan to meet your requirement with one test.
Which test should dentists take for the UK?
Check the GDC first. OET is not on the GDC's list of routinely accepted English evidence, while IELTS is, including IELTS One Skill Retake and IELTS Online.
Prepare for OET with a clinician who coaches it
Take the free placement test, then choose profession-specific OET preparation with feedback on your letters and role-plays.