OET or IELTS? The English scores doctors need for Australia, the United States and the UK
The OET and IELTS Academic scores the Medical Board of Australia, ECFMG and the GMC ask for, including Australia's new OET minimums for tests taken from 23 April 2026.
Almost every route to practising abroad starts with an English test, and each regulator sets its own minimum scores. These are the scores the three biggest destinations for our students ask for in November 2026.
| Regulator | OET | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Board of Australia | 350 in Listening and Writing, 360 in Reading and Speaking | 7 overall, with 7 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 6.5 in Writing |
| ECFMG (United States) | OET Medicine: 350 in Listening, Reading and Speaking, 300 in Writing | Not accepted |
| GMC (United Kingdom) | OET Medicine: grade B in each sub-test | 7.5 overall, with at least 7.0 in each module |
Australia: new OET minimums from 23 April 2026
For tests taken on or after 23 April 2026, the National Boards, including the Medical Board of Australia, replaced OET letter grades with numeric minimums: 350 in Listening and Writing and 360 in Reading and Speaking. Tests taken on or before 22 April 2026 are judged on the old minimums: grade B in Listening, Reading and Speaking and C+ in Writing. The IELTS Academic minimums stayed the same.
- Results are valid for two years before the date you apply for registration.
- You can combine two sittings taken within 12 months. For IELTS, each sitting needs 7 overall and no module below 6.5. For OET, each sitting must include all four sub-tests, with no score below 320 in Listening, 340 in Reading or 350 in Writing and Speaking.
- Results from different test providers cannot be combined.
United States: OET Medicine only
ECFMG certification needs OET Medicine with 350 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 300 in Writing, all in one sitting. For the 2026 Pathways, ECFMG accepts tests taken on or after 1 January 2024. IELTS is not accepted.
United Kingdom: OET or IELTS for the GMC
The GMC accepts OET Medicine with at least grade B in each sub-test, all from the same test and from your most recent sitting. An OET certificate is valid for two years. For IELTS Academic, the GMC asks for 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each module.
Which test should you take?
- If the United States is on your list, take OET Medicine. It is the only English test ECFMG accepts.
- For Australia or the UK, both tests are accepted. OET is set in healthcare, with case notes and patient role-plays, so its material is familiar to most doctors. IELTS Academic uses general academic topics.
- Dentists should check the General Dental Council's current requirements before booking.
Requirements change, so confirm the current minimums with your regulator before you book a test.
How we can help
Our OET course and IELTS Academic course aim at the exact score your regulator asks for. A new batch of each starts every month.