- IELTS Academic: at least 7.0 in each area and 7.5 overall, from the same test and most recent sitting.
- OET (Medicine version): at least grade B in speaking, listening, reading and writing.
- Both certificates are valid for two years.
- The IELTS Indicator test is not accepted.
IELTS and OET side by side
| IELTS | OET | |
|---|---|---|
| Version | Academic, including UKVI | Medicine |
| Formats accepted | In person, IELTS Online, one-skill retake | On paper, on computer, OET@Home |
| Minimum | 7.0 in each area, 7.5 overall | Grade B in each of the four areas |
| Proof | Test report form with number and original stamp | Candidate number |
| Rule on sittings | Same test, most recent sitting | Same test, most recent sitting |
The GMC must be satisfied you can communicate effectively in English: speaking, reading, writing and listening. The evidence you need before you sit PLAB can differ from the evidence for registration. The GMC also warns that what it accepts is subject to change and that your application is judged against the rules in force when you submit it.
Missing one score: the one-skill retake
If you miss the mark in one part of a full IELTS, the GMC accepts a One Skill Retake pass in that part, once. You qualify only if the full test was IELTS on computer, taken at a centre that offers the retake, and you sit the retake within 60 days of the full test. It is not available for the online or paper versions.
Verification and timing
- For PLAB, log in to GMC Online and enter the scores under My Tests. If you took a retake, enter that TRF number.
- For OET, select the General Medical Council as your recognising organisation in the my OET portal, so the scores can be verified without delay.
- Verification can take up to two working days.
- Check the certificate is still valid: on the day you sit PLAB Part 1, or when the GMC approves a registration application.
If your certificate is more than two years old
For PLAB, you can submit the certificate with references covering at least three months of full-time study or employment within the last two years, from a postgraduate tutor or lecturer, or an employer, in a country where English is the first and native language. For registration, the GMC may extend validity if the certificate is under three years old on the date your application is received and you passed PLAB 2 less than three months before that date. Otherwise it may consider references of the same kind. On the sponsorship route the validity cannot be extended.
Routes that do not need a test certificate
| Evidence | When the GMC may accept it |
|---|---|
| Primary medical qualification | Sometimes; the GMC publishes a list of universities whose degrees it will not accept as evidence |
| Employer confirmation | Registration only; at least the past two years working in a medical capacity in a country where English is the first and native language |
| UK job offer | Registration only; from a UK healthcare organisation that is a designated body |
| Language test for another regulator | At the GMC's discretion; pass must be under two years old and from a country where English is the first and native language |
For PLAB the only options are IELTS, OET or an acceptable primary medical qualification. The GMC lists countries where English counts as the first and native language, and stresses this is not the same as having it as an official language. Secondary or non-medical university education is not accepted anywhere, because it does not show you can deal with patients and colleagues. The GMC cannot assess evidence before an application is submitted.
Warnings
IELTS may not satisfy visa requirements, which are separate; check with UK Visas and Immigration. If you have previously sat IELTS or OET and missed the scores, the GMC says it is unlikely to accept other evidence and recommends re-sitting. Results come only from the test provider, so anyone selling a “result” is selling a forgery: fake IELTS certificates. The rest of the route is in PLAB explained.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score does the GMC require?
At least 7.0 in each area and 7.5 overall in the Academic version, achieved in the same test and your most recent sitting, according to the GMC.
Does the GMC accept the OET?
Yes, the Medicine version, with at least grade B in speaking, listening, reading and writing, from the same test and your most recent sitting.
How long is a certificate valid?
Two years for both IELTS and OET. For PLAB it must be valid on the day of Part 1; for registration, when the GMC approves the application.
Can I use my medical degree as proof of English?
Sometimes, for registration, if the awarding university is not on the GMC's list of institutions it does not accept. It can be used for PLAB if acceptable.
What if my certificate is too old?
You may add references covering at least three months of study or work in an English-first country in the last two years, or, for registration, an extension may apply if you passed PLAB 2 recently.
Does IELTS satisfy a visa?
Not necessarily. The GMC says IELTS may not be acceptable for visa purposes and tells applicants to check with UK Visas and Immigration.