In the fast-changing world of healthcare—where clear communication can literally save lives—English proficiency tests play a crucial role for international healthcare workers planning to work abroad.

The Occupational English Test (OET) is specifically made for 12 healthcare professions, including Nursing, Medicine, Physiotherapy, Dentistry, and Pharmacy.
General English tests like IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, and TOEFL iBT, however, assess English through wide and non-medical topics.

With global healthcare shortages in countries such as Australia, the UK, and New Zealand, choosing the right test can make a big difference in achieving faster career outcomes.

By 2025, regulatory bodies have updated their registration standards to be more flexible. Still, OET remains the most healthcare-relevant option, making it easier for medical professionals to showcase real-world communication skills.

This guide compares OET vs IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL—their formats, sub-tests, scoring, acceptance, pros/cons, and suitability for healthcare workers.

What Is OET? (Healthcare-Focused English Test)

OET is run by OET Pty Ltd and is designed specifically for clinical settings. This makes it highly relevant for healthcare workers.

Key Features of OET

• Cost: ~$455 USD

• Duration: ~3 hours

• Mode: Paper, computer, or online

• Score Range: 0–500 (Grades A–E)

• Score Validity: 2 years

• Result Time: 16 business days

• Profession-Specific Writing & Speaking

OET includes 4 sub-tests tailored to real-life healthcare communication:

- Writing referral/discharge letters
- Explaining symptoms, conditions, and procedures
- Understanding patient consultations
- Interpreting healthcare guidelines and articles

OET Listening Sub-Test (45 Minutes, 42 Questions)

This sub-test evaluates your ability to understand spoken English in clinical environments.

Part A: Consultation Extracts (15 minutes, 24 questions)

Two healthcare professional–patient conversations.

Question Subtypes

• Gap-fill (fill in blanks)

• Short-answer questions

Tests ability to capture symptoms, history, medications, and management details.

Part B: Short Workplace Extracts (15 minutes, 6 questions)

Six short clips from meetings, handovers, or training.

Question Subtypes

• Gist

• Purpose

• Inference

Similar to listening during team briefings or policy updates.

Part C: Presentation Extracts (15 minutes, 12 questions)

Two long presentations (lectures, interviews).

Question Subtypes

• Opinion

• Attitude

• Detail understanding

• Deep inference

Requires strong focus and understanding of complex ideas.

OET Reading Sub-Test (60 Minutes, 42 Questions)

Uses healthcare-related texts such as guidelines, patient notes, and journals.

Part A: Quick Reading (15 minutes, 20 questions)

Four short texts on one topic.

Subtypes

• Matching information

• Sentence completion

• Short answers

Designed to mimic rapid information-finding on busy wards.

Part B: Short Texts (Shared 45 minutes)

Six short texts such as memos, policies, emails.

Tests

• Inference

• Vocabulary in context

• Purpose and detail

Part C: Long Texts (Shared 45 minutes, 16 questions)

Two long articles or research extracts.

Tests viewpoints, purposes, relationships between ideas, and evidence-based reasoning.

OET Writing Sub-Test (45 Minutes)

Write a profession-specific letter of 180–200 words based on case notes.

Common Types

• Referral letters (to specialists)

• Discharge summaries

• Transfer/Advice letters

Assessed On

• Purpose

• Content

• Clinical accuracy

• Grammar and structure

• Organization and clarity

OET Speaking Sub-Test (20 Minutes)

Role-play based, using your profession's language.

Structure

• Warm-up (2–3 minutes)

• Two role-plays (5 minutes each)

Tests fluency, pronunciation, empathy, clinical communication, and clarity.

General English Tests: IELTS, PTE, TOEFL

General tests assess academic English but not medical English. This makes them feel abstract to many healthcare professionals.

Below is a breakdown of their structures.

IELTS Academic (2.75 Hours, $250 USD)

Listening (30 min + 10 min, 40 questions)

• Conversations

• Monologues

• Academic discussions

• Lectures

Subtypes: MCQ, matching, completion, labeling, diagrams

Reading (60 min, 40 questions)

Three long academic passages
Subtypes:

• MCQ

• True/False/Not Given

• Matching headings

• Summary completion

• Short answer

Writing (60 min)

• Task 1: Describe visual data (charts, processes)

• Task 2: Essay (opinion, discussion, problem–solution)

Speaking (11–14 minutes)

• Part 1: Personal questions

• Part 2: Cue card

• Part 3: Discussion

PTE Academic (2 Hours, $220 USD)

Integrated Format: Speaking + Writing (54–67 minutes)

• Read aloud

• Repeat sentence

• Describe image

• Re-tell lecture

• Essay writing

Reading (29–30 minutes)

• Reorder paragraphs

• Fill blanks

• Multiple-choice

Listening (30–43 minutes)

• Summarize spoken text

• Fill blanks

• Highlight correct summary

• Select missing word

TOEFL iBT (2 Hours, $255 USD)

Reading (35 minutes, 20 questions)

• Two academic passages

• MCQ, insert text, summaries

Listening (36 minutes, 28 questions)

• Lectures and conversations

Speaking (16 minutes, 4 tasks)

• Integrated and independent speaking

Writing (29 minutes, 2 tasks)

1. Integrated (read + listen + write)

2. Independent essay

Comparison: OET vs IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL

Test Comparison Table

---

Registration Requirements for 2025

Healthcare Registration Requirements Table

? OET is accepted by all key healthcare bodies
? IELTS accepted widely
? PTE/TOEFL accepted in limited healthcare pathways

Pros & Cons of OET vs General Tests

Advantages of OET

• Healthcare-specific

• Higher pass rates for medical professionals

• Real clinical scenarios

• Less abstract/complex reading topics

• Builds confidence for real work settings

Disadvantages of OET

• Higher cost

• Fewer test centers

• Not suitable for non-medical careers

Advantages of General Tests (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL)

• Cheaper

• More test dates

• More centers worldwide

• Faster results

Disadvantages

• Generic content (not healthcare-specific)

• Requires learning unfamiliar scenarios

• More challenging vocabulary for medical professionals

Why OET Is Better for Healthcare Workers

OET is specifically designed for:

• Nurses

• Doctors

• Physiotherapists

• Dentists

• Pharmacists

• Paramedics

• Allied Health Professionals

It mirrors actual clinical communication, making preparation more practical and registration smoother.

Preparation Strategies with OETPro

For OET

• 4–8 weeks structured preparation

• Healthcare vocabulary modules

• Profession-specific writing practice

• Simulation-based speaking practice

• Realistic listening/reading mock exams

For General Tests

• Grammar-heavy preparation

• Academic vocabulary

• Strict time-management practice

OETPro provides:
- Mock tests
- Personalized feedback
- Profession-specific tools
- Adaptive learning modules

Final Verdict: OET’s Edge in Global Healthcare

While general tests (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL) offer versatility, OET stands out for healthcare professionals because:

• It aligns with daily clinical communication

• It improves job performance

• It increases pass rates

• It simplifies registration

• It builds confidence in real patient interactions

For doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, OET often becomes the faster and more relevant choice.