IELTS or OET for ANMAC: Choosing the Test for Nurses
One of the biggest challenges for nurses and midwives lodging an ANMAC application is the English requirement — the level demanded is very high compared with many other visa types. The practical question is: should you choose IELTS or OET?
What English level does ANMAC require
ANMAC requires a higher level than most temporary visa requirements. Specifically:
IELTS Academic
- 7.0 in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
- No band may be below 7.0, even if the overall is higher
- Example: L:7.0, R:7.5, W:7.0, S:7.5 — passes. But L:8.0, R:8.0, W:6.5, S:8.0 — does NOT pass
- Validity: 2 years from the test date
OET (Occupational English Test)
- Grade B in each sub-test (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
- OET has a dedicated module for Nursing — this is the most suitable module
- Validity: 2 years
Other tests ANMAC accepts
ANMAC also accepts PTE Academic (65 in each component) and TOEFL iBT (above the “Competent English” level). However, these two tests are less common among nurses, so this article focuses on IELTS and OET.
Comparing IELTS and OET
Test context
IELTS Academic: a general academic context — reading passages on science, society and the arts. Not specific to healthcare.
OET Nursing: an entirely healthcare context — listening passages of conversations between a nurse and a patient, reading on clinical guidelines, and writing tasks such as a referral letter or a case summary. The context is familiar to those working in nursing.
The OET advantage: if you already have clinical experience and are familiar with medical English, OET may be easier because the context is closer to your work.
Difficulty by skill
| Skill | IELTS 7.0 (in practice) | OET Grade B (in practice) |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Complex academic reading, inference questions | Reading medical material — specialist but familiar |
| Listening | Varied accents, multi-field contexts | Real medical conversations, Australian/UK accents |
| Writing | Task 1 (chart description) + Task 2 (essay) | Writing a referral letter / clinical summary |
| Speaking | Interview on general topics | Roleplay with a patient — nurses have an advantage |
Cost
- IELTS: (current fee — check on the assessing authority’s official website) per sitting (depending on the centre and city)
- OET: (current fee — check on the assessing authority’s official website) (taken at a centre) or similar online
IELTS is cheaper (current fee — check on the assessing authority’s official website) per sitting — this is a factor worth considering if you need to sit the test multiple times.
Test frequency
- IELTS: held weekly at many centres, including computer-delivered (with faster results)
- OET: fewer test dates — held on OET’s fixed schedule, not every week
IELTS is more flexible on scheduling if you want to sit multiple times to improve your score.
Preparation materials
- IELTS: plentiful — Cambridge books, apps, online courses, and many preparation centres
- OET: fewer materials, mainly from the official OET website and some specialised courses
IELTS materials are generally easier to find.
Which test to choose
Choose OET if:
- You already have clinical experience and are familiar with medical English
- You feel the healthcare context will help you concentrate better
- The writing task (writing a clinical letter) suits your skills more than an IELTS essay
Choose IELTS if:
- You are already used to preparing for IELTS
- Cost is an important factor (IELTS is cheaper, with more sittings available)
- You want a flexible test schedule
- Your strengths are academic reading and listening
Practical advice: try a mock test of both to find which test suits your style of working before investing time in preparation.
ANMAC assessment cost
The cost of an ANMAC skills assessment varies by assessment type and over time — see the official fee schedule on the ANMAC website. The assessment time varies by assessment type and application volume — check the current timeframes on the official ANMAC website.
The English requirement (IELTS/OET) is separate from the assessment — it must be met before or lodged with the application, depending on the assessment type. See the details at ANMAC assessment for nurses and midwives.