The General Pharmaceutical Council of the UK now accepts the Pharmacy Occupational English Test (OET) as an alternative to the IELTS Academic for proving English proficiency. The Pharmacy OET, tailored specifically for medical professionals, is considered a better option for prospective pharmacists. Unlike the general IELTS, which covers a wide range of topics, the OET focuses on career-specific scenarios, making it more relevant and familiar to healthcare professionals. The OET comprises four sub-tests: listening, reading, speaking, and writing, with the latter two tailored to pharmacy.
The IELTS Academic test, by contrast, addresses a broad spectrum of subjects, some of which may be irrelevant and intimidating to healthcare professionals. This general nature makes preparation more challenging. Additionally, achieving high scores, particularly in writing, is often more difficult in IELTS, whereas the OET’s writing tasks are more manageable and relevant to one's field.
For pharmacists, both exams require similar proficiency levels: a minimum of band 7 in each IELTS section or at least a grade B in the OET sub-tests. However, many believe that achieving the required grades is easier with the OET due to its career-specific content. Overall, the Pharmacy OET offers a more practical and focused assessment for pharmacists, enhancing their chances of success and aligning better with their professional expertise.
For more info: https://edubenchmark.com/blog/pharmacy-oet-better-than-ielts-academic/
