English Requirements for GMC Registration: IELTS or OET for IMGs?

To work as a doctor in the United Kingdom, you must register with the General Medical Council (GMC), the public body responsible for maintaining the official register of medical practitioners.

For IMGs, meeting the English language requirement is a key step in the GMC registration process.
This article explains those requirements in a clear, IMG-focused way.

English Qualifications Required for GMC Registration

To register with the GMC, you must meet one of the following English language standards:

IELTS: Overall 7.5 or higher, with no section below 7.0
OET: Grade B (350 or above) in all four components

After meeting the English requirement, IMGs typically proceed to PLAB or MRCP to obtain eligibility for full registration. For more details on PLAB/MRCP, please refer to the official guidance.

These English standards apply to doctors who have already completed medical training and are currently practicing.

However, if you wish to start from the Foundation Programme (postgraduate year 1–2) in the UK, the English requirement is even higher:

IELTS: 7.5 in every section
OET: 400 or above in every section

Although the difference may seem small, in practice the gap is extremely large. Reaching OET 400 is especially challenging.

References:

IELTS

IELTS is one of the most widely taken English proficiency tests globally, with millions of candidates each year. It is available year-round across many countries, and in major cities like Tokyo, test dates are offered almost daily.

Scores are reported on a 0–9 scale, in 0.5 increments. Because the scoring increments are small, a 0.5 change is significant. On average, it may take around one year for many learners to improve by a full band score.

Key features include:

Writing: requires interpreting and describing graphs or charts
Speaking: progresses through increasingly challenging parts

IELTS is known for rigorous evaluation in Writing and Speaking. While achieving band 6.0 is attainable with focus on grammar, vocabulary, and output quantity, crossing from 6.5 to 7.0 can be extremely difficult. Many candidates spend years attempting this jump.

OET

OET is an English language test designed specifically for healthcare professionals. Its purpose is to assess whether non-native medical professionals have the communication skills needed to practice safely in English-speaking healthcare environments.

Reading & Listening: same test for all professions
Writing & Speaking: profession-specific (e.g., separate tests for Medicine, Nursing, etc.)

Scores are reported using both letter grades (A–E) and numerical scores (0–500):

Grade A: 450–500
Grade B: 350–440
Grade C+: 300–340

Because OET uses real medical communication scenarios and job-relevant tasks, the Writing and Speaking sections tend to feel more intuitive and practical for IMGs.

However, OET is famous for its difficult Listening section. Accents (UK, Australian, NZ) can be strong, and the audio often moves quickly. Most candidates find that Listening determines whether they pass.

Which Test Should You Prepare For?

Many IMGs wonder whether to prepare for IELTS or OET.
In practice, most candidates reach passing scores faster with OET.

While achieving an IELTS Overall 7.0 is not extremely difficult, obtaining 7.0 in both Speaking and Writing can be a major obstacle. Many IMGs reach a plateau at 6.5 and struggle to move beyond it.

OET, on the other hand:

feels more relevant and motivating
directly builds skills used in clinical practice
usually leads to faster results for IMGs targeting Grade B (350)

But OET has a drawback:
There are fewer high-quality study materials available. If you start OET too early—before your general English ability is stable—you may run out of practice resources. IELTS offers far more materials for building foundational skills.

My recommendation:
Raise your IELTS level to around 6.5, then switch to OET. This is the fastest route for most IMGs.

Some IMGs, however, are unable to overcome the OET Listening section, and succeed instead via IELTS. Flexibility is important—choose based on your strengths and weaknesses.

For those aiming for the UK Foundation Programme, IELTS may be more realistic.
OET 350 is achievable for many learners, but OET 400 is an extremely high bar. In fact, I have never personally seen a candidate score 400 in all sections.

For a detailed comparison between IELTS and OET, please refer to related articles.

Summary

Key points from this article:

To register as a doctor in the UK, you must meet the English requirement via IELTS or OET.
For most IMGs, OET leads to faster results.
For entry into the Foundation Programme, IELTS is often the more realistic option.
Test preference varies from person to person, so try sample questions from both tests to see which feels right.

For many IMGs, language qualification is the largest barrier.
Expect to spend several months to one year preparing.

⭐️ Closing

If you’re preparing for OET, consider exploring our practice resources at OET Bank.

We’re designed not just as mock tests, but as powerful review tools that make it easier to analyze weaknesses and focus on what’s needed to pass.

Explore professional learning materials and courses:
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