What is IELTS?

Overseas doctors applying for registration must be able to demonstrate to the General Medical Council (GMC) that they have the necessary knowledge of English. This may be demonstrated through either the International English Language Test System (IELTS) or the Occupational English Test (OET).

These tests don’t apply if you are a national of a country where English is the first and native language and you were awarded your primary medical degree from a country where English is the first and native language.

What is the difference between IELTS and OET?

Both the IELTS and the OET exams are accepted by the GMC, however, the OET tests your ability to communicate in a healthcare setting specifically, and IELTS tests your overall ability to communicate in English. Here’s some more information on IELTS.

IELTS is designed to help you work or migrate to a country where English is the native language. It’s used by overseas doctors to demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively in English and support their application to register with the GMC and subsequently a licence to practise medicine in the UK.

What are the GMC’s requirements?

For your IELTS certificate to be accepted by the GMC, it must meet the following criteria:

• You must take the academic version of the test
• You must score at least 7.0 in each testing area and an overall score of 7.5
• You must have for these scores in the same test
• You must obtain these scores in your most recent sitting of the test.
• It must show the original stamp and test report form number

How do I register for IELTS?

Step one: Choose your location, there are more than 1,600 test locations in 140 countries.

Step two: You can register and pay online or download an application form to print, complete, and submit to your local test centre. Don’t forget to provide a copy of your valid identity document. You will need to present the same identity document on the day of the test

Step three: Once your application has been processed your test centre will send you a written confirmation of the date and time of your test. The speaking test can be completed up to a week before or after the other tests, your test centre will advise. More information is available here.

What does the test look like?

There are two types of IELTS: academic and general training. All test takers take the same listening and speaking exams but the reading and writing test differs. Please make sure you take the academic version of the test as outlined by the GMC.

The listening, reading, and writing tests are all completed on the same day, with no breaks in between

The speaking section can be completed up to a week before or after the other tests, this will take 2 hours and 45 minutes.

What sort of questions will I be asked?

You can prepare for your IELTS test with free sample questions available here.