OET (Occupational English Test) : Test Format

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Listening, reading, writing and speaking skills of the candidate are assessed in the OET. Candidates should obtain a minimum of grade B in each skill in order to satisfy the related professional boards. There is a separate sub-test for each skill area.

Listening sub-test

The Listening sub-test takes approximately 50 minutes. The exact length will vary depending on the length of the audio recording. The Listening sub-test consists of two parts:

Part A: Consists of an audio-recorded, simulated professional-patient consultation with note-taking questions.
Part B: Consists of a recorded talk or lecture on a health-related topic with short-answer/note-taking questions.

Each section consists of about 15 minutes of recorded speech. A set of questions is attached to each section and test takers write their answers while listening. The original recording is edited with pauses to allow test takers time to write their answers.

The format for Part A (the consultation) requires test takers to produce case notes under relevant headings and to write as much relevant information as possible. Most questions in Part B (the lecture) include indications on the number of points a test taker is expected to include.

Reading sub-test

The Reading sub-test takes 60 minutes. The Reading sub-test consists of two parts: (Part A = 15 minutes; Part B = 45 minutes)

Part A is a summary reading task. This requires test takers to skim and scan 3-4 short texts (a total of about 650 words) related to a single health-related topic and to complete a summary paragraph by filling in the missing words. Test takers are required to write responses for 25-35 gaps in total, within a (strictly monitored) time limit of 15 minutes.
Part A is designed to test the test taker’s ability to source information from multiple texts, to synthesise information in a meaningful way and to assess skimming and scanning ability under a time limit.
In Part B test takers are required to read two passages (600-800 words each) on general health topics and answer 8-10 multiple choice questions for each text (a total of 16-20 questions) within a time limit of 45 minutes.
Part B is designed to assess test takers’ ability to read, in greater detail, general and specific information for comprehension.

Writing sub-test

The Writing sub-test takes 45 minutes. It is profession specific. You take this part of the OET using materials specifically for your profession – a nurse does the task for nursing, a dentist does the task for dentistry, and so on. In each test, there is one task set for each profession based on a typical workplace situation and the demands of the profession.

The Writing sub-test involves a task in which test takers, via interaction with a set of clinical case notes, produce a letter (usually of referral) to another professional. The letter must record treatment offered to date and the issues to be addressed by the other professional following instructions given within the test. The letter must take account of the stimulus material presented in the case notes.

The body of the letter must consist of approximately 180-200 words and be set out in an appropriate format (duration - 45 minutes). For certain professions, other professional writing tasks of equivalent difficulty may also be set (e.g., responding in writing to a complaint, or providing written information to a specified audience in the form of a letter).

Speaking sub-test

The Speaking sub-test is an individual interview that takes around 20 minutes. It is profession specific. You take this part of the OET using materials specifically for your profession – a nurse does role plays for nursing, a dentist does role plays for dentistry, and so on.

The OET Speaking sub-test is a test of the test taker’s oral use of English language to communicate in a simulated health-related consultation.

The consultation is between a patient and a health practitioner, with the test taker taking the role of the practitioner and the interviewer taking the role of patient or patient’s relative or carer (for veterinary science the interviewer is the owner or carer of the animal). The test taker and the interviewer interact face-to-face. It consists of two simulated consultations in the form of two role-plays (duration - 20 minutes).