Understanding The Difference
Students who are relocating to a country with English as native language must take an English language proficiency exam. This is necessary to validate the registration with the General Medical Council. The exam also facilitates potential medical students to attempt the PLAB tests.
There are two exam options in this regard. One is the Occupational English Test (OET) and the other is IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
All About OET
The Occupational English Test is specially designed for individuals who are trying to make a career in the healthcare sector. Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment of CBLA conducts the test. The test is widely accepted in various nations. These include most popular study destinations like Australia, Canada, the US, the UK, and Singapore.
The test assesses all four language skills and uses test materials reflecting model communication scenarios from the healthcare industry. Furthermore, OET is specifically for 12 healthcare professionals. They are:
- Dentistry
- Occupational Therapy
- Veterinary Science
- Speech Pathology
- Dietetics
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Radiotherapy
- Physiotherapy
- Pharmacy
- Podiatry
- Optometry
Things To Know About IELTS
IELTS or International English Language Testing System is an English language test for candidates who are planning to move to countries with English as native language. One will come across two types of IELTS.
- IELTS General Training
- IELTS Academic
Difference Between OET And IELTS
Both OET and IELTS are English proficiency tests. However, there are several differences between them.
OET is for healthcare professionals wanting to work in the medical sector. It takes into account the ability of individuals to communicate efficiently in medical scenarios. Candidates are required to write a discharge or referral letter, recognize a patient’s consultation and follow the next steps.
The test has 12 versions. The listening and reading tests are the same for all these versions. However, the speaking and writing sections are modified according to specific scenarios.
IELTS on the other hand is idle for candidates wanting to study, work, and migrate to English-speaking countries. It includes the individual’s ability to follow lectures, write essays, and take up a wide range of topic discussion.
This test has two versions. They are academic and general training. Listening and speaking sections are the same for both these modules. Reading and writing modules are crafted in a different way to suit both the modules.
It is crucial for candidates to understand the admission requirement of a particular university. More often, universities prefer one exam over the other. It is worth remembering that the OET exam evaluates healthcare professionals. On the other hand, the IELTS covers a wide range of topics and entails a more generic student base.
Hope you found this information useful. Wishing you all the luck for the exam of your choice
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