OET Becomes Number One English Test Provider for UK Nurses

KOCHI:
Overseas nurses are turning to the OET Test as their main source of English language learning and testing ahead of a move to the UK. Almost 14,000 international candidates used their OET Test results to register as a nurse in the UK in 2022/23 – overtaking IELTS as the provider of choice.

OET was established in 2013 and is jointly owned by Cambridge English (Aus) and the Box Hill Institute. The OET Test is recognised by all major healthcare regulators in Australia, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and the US. Over more than a decade, OET has supported hundreds of thousands of nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers across 100 countries, to learn and practice their English skills for work.

According to nursing registration data, the majority of these overseas candidates seeking employment in the UK now submit OET Test scores as proof of their English language skills. Recruiters questioned said an overwhelming 80 percent of the international nurses they placed in NHS trusts now present OET Test scores as part of their application. A clinical educator surveyed in the study reported up to 90 percent of international nurses in their trust had taken the OET Test.

The figures are revealed in a new social impact report, underpinned by stakeholder research by Cambridge. Other key findings on the benefits of the OET Test include:

· Significantly boosts candidate confidence: Clinical educators and healthcare recruiters have observed improved communication skills and quicker integration into the workplace for healthcare professionals who have succeeded on the OET Test.

· Reduces the cost and time required to pass: The healthcare specific content helps OET candidates achieve the required scores quicker than those taking other tests, such as IELTS.

· Supports faster recruitment: Healthcare recruiters report higher volumes of successful recruits and shorter recruitment timelines for candidates taking the OET Test, due to its industry-specific content.

Candidates surveyed for the report detailed their reasons for choosing the OET Test with many citing its inclusion of industry-specific language, the opportunity to improve listening and speaking skills as a motivating factor, and the speed of preparation and testing. Others say writing tests that included real-life scenarios and regionally appropriate conversation – including writing discharge letters – helped them prepare for the reality of their day-to-day NHS work.

One candidate said, “In (the OET Test), I was asked about scenarios of transferring a patient, discharge, referrals. It would have been so new to me, if I didn’t take up those writing tasks, but now it seems so familiar because I did them in the test.”

OET’s CEO Jaime Cortes said the research underscores the OET Test’s significant benefits across the healthcare industry, as indicated by positive feedback from industry leaders and decision makers and test takers.

“With the majority of UK-bound nurses now choosing the OET Test, it’s clear our test offers great value in facilitating smoother transitions into the NHS. Our candidates are equipped with the practical language skills needed for day-to-day healthcare work, which provides tangible benefits to candidates, recruiters and employers alike.”

“The last few years have seen us grow our presence in the UK – and globally – and we’re proud that is underscored by our ability to equip test takers with the work-specific language skills employers are looking for. That means we not only support clinical teams and recruiters but also empower candidates to feel more prepared and confident in their roles.”