The Occupational English Test (OET) assesses the English of healthcare professionals in the situations they actually work in: consultations, handovers, case notes and patient conversations. Regulators and employers in several English-speaking countries accept it for registration and work. Here is exactly what each sub-test involves.
OET at a glance
| Sub-test | Time | Content | Profession-specific? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 40 minutes | 3 parts, 42 questions | No |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 3 parts, 42 questions | No |
| Writing | 45 minutes | 1 letter | Yes |
| Speaking | About 20 minutes | Warm-up + 2 role-plays | Yes |
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken in that order in one session. Speaking may be on the same day or at a separate appointment. OET can be taken at a test centre or as OET@Home, depending on location and profession; check the official OET site for current options.
The 12 professions
Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology and Veterinary Science.
Listening: three parts, 42 questions
| Part | Recording | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Two consultations between a health professional and a patient, about 5 minutes each | 24 (12 note-completion gaps per consultation) |
| B | Six short workplace extracts, such as handovers or team briefings, about 1 minute each | 6 (one 3-option multiple-choice question each) |
| C | Two presentations or interviews on healthcare topics, about 5 minutes each | 12 (six 3-option questions each) |
Each recording is played once.
Listening tips
- Part A: you complete a clinician's notes while the patient speaks. The patient uses everyday words, but the answer you write is what you hear. Do not paraphrase into medical terms, and spell carefully.
- Part B: read the context sentence and question stem before each extract plays. The question is usually about purpose, main point or what someone will do next.
- Part C: questions follow the order of the recording and often target the speaker's opinion or attitude, not just facts.
Reading: three parts, 42 questions
| Part | Texts | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Four short texts on one topic (tables, guidelines, lists) | 20: matching, sentence completion, short answer | 15 minutes, strictly separate |
| B | Six short workplace texts, about 100–150 words each (emails, memos, policy extracts) | 6 three-option questions | Shares 45 minutes with Part C |
| C | Two long articles, roughly 800 words each | 16 four-option questions (8 per text) | Shares 45 minutes with Part B |
Reading tips
- Part A is a speed-scanning task. You will not read every word in 15 minutes, and you do not need to. Skim the four text titles first, then go question by question to the right text.
- Answers in Part A are copied from the text. Spelling mistakes cost marks.
- Part C tests opinion and argument. Expect questions on what the writer suggests, how an example is used, or what a word refers to.
- Budget Part B and C together. A common split is about 10 minutes for Part B and 35 for Part C.
Writing: one profession-specific letter
You get case notes about a patient and must write a letter, most often a referral, but it may also be a discharge, transfer, update or advice letter to another professional, a patient or a carer.
- 5 minutes reading time, when you study the notes and plan.
- 40 minutes writing time.
- Guidance of about 180–200 words for the letter body.
The letter is assessed on six criteria: Purpose, Content, Conciseness & Clarity, Genre & Style, Organisation & Layout, and Language. The biggest skill is selection: deciding which case-note details the reader actually needs. For a full walkthrough, see our OET Writing letter guide.
Speaking: two role-plays
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Warm-up about your professional background (not assessed) | About 2–3 minutes |
| Role-play 1: preparation, then conversation | 3 minutes + 5 minutes |
| Role-play 2: preparation, then conversation | 3 minutes + 5 minutes |
You play yourself as a health professional; the interlocutor plays a patient, relative or carer (an animal owner in Veterinary Science). Your role card sets out the situation and the tasks, such as explaining a treatment, reassuring a worried patient, or finding out more about a concern.
Speaking is assessed on four linguistic criteria (Intelligibility, Fluency, Appropriateness of Language, Resources of Grammar and Expression) and five clinical communication criteria (Relationship Building, Understanding and Incorporating the Patient's Perspective, Providing Structure, Information Gathering, Information Giving).
Speaking tips
- Use your 3 minutes to plan the order of the tasks on the card and a few phrases for difficult moments.
- Use lay language. Explaining a condition in plain words is part of what is being assessed.
- Ask open questions and check understanding. The clinical communication criteria reward a two-way conversation, not a lecture.
Sample time plan for test day
| Sub-test | Plan |
|---|---|
| Listening (about 40 min) | Use every pause to read the next notes or questions; never leave a blank |
| Reading Part A (15 min) | About 1 minute to skim the four texts, then roughly 40 seconds per question |
| Reading Parts B and C (45 min) | About 10 minutes for Part B, 35 for Part C; leave 2 minutes to check |
| Writing (5 + 40 min) | 5 minutes: purpose, reader, relevant notes. 40 minutes: write, then check for 3–4 minutes |
| Speaking (3 + 5 min, twice) | 3 minutes: plan the order of tasks on the card. 5 minutes: listen, respond, summarise |
A four-week format familiarisation plan
If you are new to OET, this plan gets you comfortable with every part before you focus on scores:
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | One full timed practice test; note your weakest sub-test and part |
| 2 | Listening Part A note-taking and Reading Part A scanning, daily in short timed sets |
| 3 | Two letters from different case notes; two recorded role-plays with self-review |
| 4 | A second full timed practice test; compare part by part with Week 1 |
After this, move to targeted practice on the parts where you lose most marks.
Test day checklist
- The identification document named in your booking confirmation
- Arrive or log in early; follow the check-in instructions for your venue or OET@Home
- For Speaking online or at home, check your microphone, camera and internet connection beforehand
- Only permitted items; your notes are made on the material or tools provided
How OET is scored
Each sub-test gets a score from 0 to 500 in 10-point steps and a letter grade from A to E. Many regulators ask for Grade B (350+) in each sub-test, though requirements vary by country and profession. See OET scores explained for the full grade table.
Preparing for the format
Most candidates find Reading Part A and Writing the hardest parts to get right without timed practice. Build your routine around them.
EnglishHub's OET simulator follows the real four-sub-test format, with 50 full mock tests and 200 practice sets, and AI feedback on writing and speaking. The first mock is free: take a free OET mock test, or visit the OET practice hub.
EnglishHub is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with OET or Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment. Always check your regulator's current requirements and the official OET website.
Frequently asked questions
Which professions can take the OET?
OET is available for 12 healthcare professions: Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology and Veterinary Science.
Are all OET sub-tests specific to my profession?
No. Listening and Reading are the same for every candidate and use general healthcare contexts. Writing and Speaking are specific to your profession.
How long is the OET?
Listening takes about 40 minutes, Reading 60 minutes and Writing 45 minutes; these three are taken together. Speaking takes about 20 minutes and can be scheduled separately.
Do I need specialist medical knowledge for OET Listening and Reading?
No. The texts and recordings use healthcare settings, but everything you need to answer is in the material. The test measures English, not clinical knowledge.
What is the word count for the OET letter?
The guidance is about 180–200 words for the body of the letter. It is a guide rather than a hard limit, and relevance and clarity matter more than hitting an exact number.
