An English proficiency test assesses one’s skills in the usage of the English language with listening, speaking, reading and writing. This test can be used by international students from non-English speaking countries, who are eager to pursue their education in English-speaking nations.
There are two required English proficiency tests for health professionals for studying and working abroad — OET and PTE. These are among the popular english tests for nurses in the Philippines, including IELTS.
Deciding on which english test is best for you depends on one’s purpose and situation. To compare the OET vs PTE, this article breaks down the differences among the two.
OET vs PTE: The Major Differences
In choosing the best English test for you, considering several factors is a must. Here is a comparison of the major differences between OET and PTE:
| Particulars | OET | PTE |
| Full form | Occupational English Test | Pearson Test of English |
| Method of examination | Online and offline | Online: 100% computer-based |
| Exam acceptance | Healthcare regulatory boards and councils in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the US, the UK, Ireland, Dubai, Namibia, and Ukraine accept OET | More than 3,000 universities worldwide recognize PTE Academic, including INSEAD, Yale, Harvard Business School, and Oxford University. |
| Age requirement | At least 18 years of age | Above 16 years of age, under 18 years old needs parental consent |
| Validity | 2 years | 2 years |
| Exam schedule | Once a month | Every 5 days |
| Exam fee | ₱21,600 PHP | ₱12,154.67 PHP |
| Exam content | 4 Sections — Speaking, Reading, Writing, Listening | 4 Sections — Speaking, Reading, Writing, Listening |
| Exam duration | 3 hours and 20 minutes | 2 hours and 15 minutes |
| Results release duration | Within 10 days | 24 hours to 5 days |
Get to know both tests to further learn when to choose OET or PTE considering your potential preferences in terms of practicality or personal purposes.
When to choose PTE?
If your main purpose for taking an English test is for international university and college admission, PTE is a great option to look into. Opting to take the PTE exam is also to be considered if the following factors are important to you:
1. Faster release of results
PTE scores can be released within 24 hours to 5 days of the test date. This exam is perfect for those who are in urgent need of a certificate to complete their visa or admission application.
2. More comprehensive English proficiency test
The PTE exam centers on the real-life English communication with its topics that are about daily life and society. Encounters with graphs, excerpts, and other items that you may come across in your day-to-day life can be used in this exam.
Moreover, PTE exams include numerous question types that helps for it to provide an accurate and detailed evaluation result for all English sections.
3. Availability of study resources
As explained in the previous item, the PTE exam revolves in daily English communication. Thus, making it easy to source out study materials in order to just boost one’s confidence in their English skills that has been there all along. Especially for Filipinos who already practice using the English language in daily lives be it in their conversations, or workplace.
Comparing to OET, study materials can be hard to find as OET focuses on heavy medical content.
When to choose OET?
The OET exam focuses on evaluating the English communication skills of healthcare professionals, thus, using more jargons and topics relating to the medical field.
Consider taking the OET if you opt to:
1. Take a medical-related English test
The main coverage of the OET are medical and healthcare content, making it better than PTE if your choice is to apply for specialized healthcare professions.
2. Enhance medical profession
Using a large vocabulary in the field of healthcare, the OET exam can help in terms of improving the English skills in the healthcare setting.
OET scopes also the life in the medical workplace which can add up to your initial familiarization of English communication in actuality.
3. Widen medical vocabulary
If you have a strong medical English knowledge and vocabulary, choose the OET. OET study materials are very limited, thus, you may need to try harder to boost your vocabulary or seek help.
Pros and cons of PTE
| Pros | Cons |
| • PTE is more affordable than OET • PTE exam content is easier and more extensive than OET • PTE study resources are much accessible and diverse • PTE exam can be booked conveniently with many test date options • Quicker release of results • More sutable for employment or academic entry purposes than OET | PTE may not be the best option for people with little computer experience as the PTE test is entirely computer-based. |
Pros and cons of OET
| Pros | Cons |
| • OET is more relevant in the medical field • OET may be easier in several ways as it involves more medical content than PTE as long as you have a good understanding and vocabulary in the field • You can benefit from your inline knowledge, language, and work experiences in the healthcare sector | • OET exam fee is quite high • The medical vocabulary in the OET test is complex • OET is not as widely recognized as PTE in English proficiency tests |
What is it going to be for your English test of choice? Take note of your identified goals, and preferences before undergoing preparation. If you choose the PTE exam for your nursing career goals abroad, PTE Magic Philippines is here to help you with your journey.
