OET vs IELTS: Which is Better For You?

Hello Future Doctors! You are clearly exploring and dreaming of pursuing a healthcare profession while moving abroad. Well, you’ll also need to prove that your English isn’t just “good,” but good enough to handle patients, prescriptions, and pressure. That’s where OET and IELTS come into play.

If you’ve ever watched The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, you must remember Sudha, the brilliant doctor whose credentials don’t quite pass muster in the U.S., but don't worry! OET might just be your golden ticket. While IELTS is the all-rounder, perfect for study, work, and migration, OET is a language proficiency test tailor-made for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare heroes.

In this blog, we’ll break down the key differences in format, scoring, cost, and acceptance, so you know exactly which test to pick for your journey abroad.

IELTS vs OET: What's the Difference?

The IELTS and OET exams measure English proficiency for different purposes. IELTS is a globally recognised exam for students, professionals, and migrants in the field, while the OET exam is designed for healthcare professionals who need to demonstrate their abilities in English in a medical setting. Let’s take a look at the major differences that each exam possesses:

Feature	IELTS	OET
Test Format	Paper-based & Computer-based	Paper-based, Computer-based and at Home
Target Audience	Students, professionals, immigrants (general use)	Healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, etc.)
Versions	Academic & General Training	Profession-specific (12 healthcare fields)
Skills Tested	Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking (general topics)	Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking (healthcare context)
Duration	2 hours 45 minutes	2 hours 45 minutes
Scoring System	Band score (0–9)	Grade A–E (500-0 scale)
Result Declaration	1-5 days	6–17 days
Acceptance	Global (study, work, PR)	Healthcare boards & councils in select countries
Cost (India)	₹18,000	Approximately ₹33,000

IELTS vs OET: Syllabus & Exam Pattern

By comparing the key components of two English language proficiency tests - IELTS and OET, the table highlights the different sections, including Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening, along with their respective formats and purposes. Let’s take a look at what each of these sections access.

Section	IELTS	OET
Speaking	Time: 11–14 minutes Task Type: Face-to-face interview with the examiner. Purpose: Tests fluency, coherence, lexical resource, and pronunciation	Time: 20 minutes Task Type: Profession-specific role-plays with an interlocutor (e.g., nurse–patient consultation) Purpose: Assesses fluency, clinical communication, pronunciation, and medical vocabulary use
Writing	Time: 60 minutes Task Type: Task 1 – Letter (General) / Report (Academic); Task 2 – Essay writing Purpose: Evaluate coherence, lexical resource, and grammar accuracy	Time: 45 minutes Task Type: Profession-specific letter (e.g., referral, discharge, transfer) Purpose: Tests clarity, relevance, grammar, and professional communication
Reading	Time: 30 minutes Task Type: Passage-based multiple-choice, matching headings, sentence completion, etc. Purpose: Assesses comprehension, skimming, and scanning skills	Time: 60 minutes Task Type: Part A – Short texts (scanning) Part B & C – Workplace extracts & long passages Purpose: Evaluates skimming, scanning, and understanding healthcare texts
Listening	Time: 30–35 minutes Task Type: Audio-based multiple-choice, sentence completion, short-answer questions Purpose: Tests the ability to understand spoken English and extract key information	Time: 40 minutes Task Type: Part A - Consultation notes; Part B - Short workplace extracts; Part C - Presentations/interviews Purpose: Tests comprehension of spoken English in healthcare contexts

IELTS vs OET: Score Comparison

In OET, each grade, from A to E, reflects a range of scores from 0 to 500, which aligns with equivalent IELTS bands. This classification helps assess the English language proficiency of healthcare professionals for effective communication in a medical setting.

OET Grade	OET Score Range (0–500)	Equivalent IELTS Band	Performance Level
A	450–500	8.0–9.0	Expert / Very Good
B	350–440	7.0–7.5	Good
C+	300–340	6.5	Competent
C	200–290	5.5–6.0	Modest
D	100–190	4.0–5.0	Limited
E	0–90	Below 4.0	Very Limited / Non-User

IELTS vs OET: Cost and Acceptance

The IELTS test is priced around INR 18,000, making it more cost-effective than the OET, which ranges from INR 31,000 to 33,000. IELTS is accepted by over 12,000 institutions globally, while OET is recognised by healthcare regulatory bodies in countries like Australia, the UK, and the USA. The choice between the two should depend on one's specific goals and needs.

Feature	IELTS	OET
Cost (approx.)	INR 18,000	INR 31,000-33,000
Acceptance	Accepted by over 12,000 institutions worldwide	Recognised by healthcare regulatory bodies in Australia, UK, NZ, Ireland, USA, Canada, Singapore, UAE, etc.

Similarities Between the IELTS and OET

Both IELTS and OET are internationally recognised English language proficiency tests widely used for study, work, and migration. While IELTS is designed for a broad audience and OET is tailored for healthcare professionals, both exams provide a reliable and secure assessment of English communication skills.

Here are the key similarities between IELTS and OET:

Both tests assess four core language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
Both exam do not have a strict pass or fail. They reflect proficiency levels with grades/scores in OET and IELTS, respectively.
Both are accepted globally for work, study, and migration. IELTS is accepted across multiple sectors, whereas healthcare boards and councils specifically accept OET.
The score validity for both exams is two years.
Tests are conducted multiple times a year, giving candidates flexible scheduling options.
Both offer computer-based and paper-based formats.
The IELTS test format incorporates academic and general contexts, while OET uses professional healthcare situations.
Both tests are designed to evaluate practical communication ability, ensuring candidates can use English effectively in real-world professional and social settings

IELTS or OET: Which is Easier?

If you are unsure whether IELTS or OET is easier, then it depends on what your background and end goal are.

If you are a healthcare worker (a nurse, doctor, pharmacist, etc.) and feel more comfortable with medical language in real-life scenarios, then take OET. Even the tasks in the test are profession-specific, like role plays, referral letters, patient consultations, etc. Therefore, many aspiring healthcare workers or practitioners find OET more relevant and easier to prepare for.

If you are looking for something broader in opportunities (study, work or immigration) across multiple industries and countries, then do IELTS. It is a better option if you are comfortable with general academic or workplace topics and would like wider recognition, not just health-related fields.

In the end, both tests have the same four skills - Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. So the easier option will be whichever one you prefer, either a general test (IELTS) or a more specific test about a profession (OET).

From the Desk of Yocket

If you're stuck between IELTS and OET, it depends on what you want to do. IELTS is the exam for study, work, and PR abroad, while OET is only for healthcare professionals. No matter what, smart preparation is key. Yocket Prep offers the structure and support to bring success to your preparation with practice, expert tips, and mock tests to enhance your practice and skill sets. Start preparing with Yocket Prep today and improve the odds of success when taking your exam!