Which English language test is better for me, OET or IELTS in New Zealand for a Master's?

For master's programs in New Zealand, the most widely accepted English language proficiency tests are IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and the Duolingo English Test (DET).

- IELTS Academic: Most common; typically requires an overall 6.5 with no band below 6.0.
- TOEFL iBT: Usually needs a total score around 90 with minimum section scores.
- PTE Academic: Generally asks for an overall 58 with no skill below 50.
- Duolingo: Accepted by some universities; required scores vary.

With your academic background and possible English-medium education, you may be eligible for a test waiver by providing a Medium of Instruction certificate, depending on university policy.

OET can look tempting once you start thinking about a career in New Zealand after graduation, but admission and course entry are decided by your specific master's programme, not by your future job plans. Immigration New Zealand recognises OET for certain visa purposes, yet that recognition sits separately from what your university asks for at the application stage.

IELTS Academic vs OET: What Each Test Actually Covers

When OET Is Actually the Right Call

• Health-specific programme: your target master's is in nursing, medicine or an allied health field.
• Registration requirement: the professional body you'll register with after graduation names OET as an accepted route.
• Programme confirms it: a small number of NZ health master's programmes explicitly list OET as an accepted alternative to IELTS.

This Information Is Also Available On

Universities New Zealand (Te Pōkai Tara); Immigration New Zealand.

My Advice

In my experience, students assume OET helps because they have heard it is useful for later New Zealand registration, and end up booking the wrong test for admission. Confirm the exact test and score with your specific university and programme page before you register, since a handful of postgraduate courses set requirements above the general 6.5 benchmark. If you are not in a health field, do not take OET at all: it will not help your application and costs you an extra exam fee.