OET Requirements
OET for Doctors: GMC Score Requirements and Using OET for PLAB
October 15, 2026 · 6 min read
For most international medical graduates, the route to UK practice runs through PLAB — and you can’t book PLAB 1 until the GMC has verified your English. OET Medicine is one of the accepted ways to do that, but the GMC’s rules are stricter than the NMC’s rules for nurses, and several websites still mix the two up. This guide sets out the GMC’s requirements as published on its website in October 2026.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer: What the GMC Requires
| Rule | GMC requirement |
|---|---|
| Version | OET Medicine |
| Minimum score | Grade B (350) in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking |
| Combining sittings | Not allowed — all four grades from the same test |
| Which sitting | Your most recent sitting |
| Validity | Two years — valid on the day you sit PLAB 1, or when the GMC approves your registration |
| Formats | OET on paper, OET on computer and OET@Home |
Source: the GMC’s page Using your OET certificate. Check it again before you book, as requirements can change.
No Combining — and the Most-Recent-Sitting Rule
Some websites say the GMC lets you combine OET results from two sittings within six months. That is not the GMC’s rule. Combining across sittings is something the NMC (for nurses and midwives) and Ahpra allow; the GMC requires all four B grades in the same test.
The GMC adds a second condition that catches people out: the grades must come from your most recent sitting. If you pass with B in all four and then sit OET again — to aim higher, say — and miss a B in that later test, the earlier pass may no longer be usable for the GMC. Once you have a qualifying result, think carefully before you sit again.
For how other regulators handle this, see our guide to combining OET results.
Using OET to Book PLAB 1
You need verified English language evidence before the GMC lets you book a PLAB 1 place. With OET:
- In the OET candidate portal, select the General Medical Council as a recognising organisation so the GMC can verify your result.
- Log in to your GMC Online account, go to My Tests and enter your OET scores and candidate number.
- Wait for verification — the GMC says it can take up to two working days. Once verified, you can book PLAB 1.
Watch the validity date. An OET certificate is valid for two years, and for PLAB it must still be valid on the day you sit PLAB 1 — not just on the day you book. If PLAB 1 dates are filling up, check that your result won’t expire before your exam. When you later apply for registration with a licence to practise, the certificate must be valid when the GMC approves the application. If it is over two years old, the GMC describes other evidence you may be able to add, such as references covering recent study or work in an English-speaking country.
What OET Medicine Tests
- Listening and Reading are the same for every profession. You can prepare with any OET practice material — try our free Practice Test 1.
- Writing is a medical letter, usually a referral to a specialist or a discharge letter to a GP, written from case notes in 180–200 words. See our OET Writing guide.
- Speaking puts you in the doctor’s role in two short consultations with a patient or relative. See how to structure an OET Speaking consultation.
Because the GMC needs B in all four on the same day, plan your preparation around your weakest sub-test rather than your average. The OET score calculator checks a set of scores against the GMC rule.
Put it into practice
Take a full-length OET practice test with real exam timing and automatic scoring — Test 1 is completely free, no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What OET score does the GMC require?
Grade B (350) in each of the four sub-tests of OET Medicine — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — all achieved in the same test and in your most recent sitting.
Can I combine OET results from two sittings for the GMC?
No. The GMC requires all four grades from the same test. Combining sittings is allowed by some other regulators, such as the NMC and Ahpra, but not the GMC.
Does the GMC accept OET@Home?
Yes. The GMC accepts OET on paper, OET on computer and OET@Home, as long as you sat the Medicine version.
How long is OET valid for PLAB?
Two years. For PLAB, the certificate must still be valid on the day you sit PLAB 1. For registration with a licence to practise, it must be valid when the GMC approves your application.
Can I book PLAB 1 before my OET result is verified?
No. You enter your OET scores in the My Tests section of GMC Online, the GMC verifies them (it says this can take up to two working days), and you can book PLAB 1 after that.