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Healthcare professionals choose OET because it helps them prove they have the right level of English for work or study, while also learning the kind of language they will need every day at work. Healthcare organisations and regulators choose OET because it helps them to select healthcare professionals with the right level of English proficiency to deliver safe and high quality care. |
| Recognition: OET results are accepted as proof of English language skills by regulatory healthcare boards and councils; the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection and healthcare educators. |
Why OET?
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Success stories
| Muulo- Nurse | Gunnar - Orthopaedic surgeon | Anna - Pharmacyst |
| Reza - MD | Hardik - Nurse |
| Occupational English Test | |
Why choose OET as your test of English?
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 | Patient safety and quality care Limited language proficiency is an obstacle to effective communication affecting quality of care. OET is designed to replicate the critical tasks of healthcare workplace settings and measure abilities across the skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking. |
 | Valid and officially recognised OET is a part of “Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment”, and is the result of a partnership between Cambridge Assessment English and Box Hill Institute. OET has been developed specifically for 12 healthcare professions: Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology and Veterinary Science. It also meets the Australian Department of Immigration and New Zealand Immigration Agency language requirements. |
 | Developed by experts Underpinned by Cambridge English and University of Melbourne, OET has featured prominently in research literature relating to language testing in specific-purpose contexts. |
 | Highly secure and trustworthy OET is available at more than 100 locations in 40 countries, with test dates every month. The exam is available at our Barcelona Exam Centre. All OET approved venues are required to deliver secure and consistent sessions globally. Our centre has been chosen as an OET test venue because it meets the strict security guidelines required to deliver this high stakes English language test. |
What does OET involve?
OET is an international English language test that assesses the language communication skills of healthcare professionals who seek to register and practise in an English-speaking environment.
OET covers all four language skills with an emphasis on communication in a healthcare environment.
OET has four sub-tests:
 The Reading sub-test: 60 minutesThe Reading sub-test consists of two parts and takes 60 minutes to complete. The topics are of generic healthcare interest and are therefore accessible to candidates across all professions.
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| The Listening sub-test: about 20-25 minutes each part The Listening sub-test consists of two parts, with approximately 20-28 question items. The topics are of generic healthcare interest, accessible to candidates across all professions. Each part consists of about 15 minutes of recorded speech, containing pauses to allow you time to write your answers. You will hear each recording once and are expected to write your answers while listening.
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| The Writing sub-test: 45 minutes The Writing sub-test takes 45 minutes and is profession-specific. There is one task set for each profession based on a typical workplace situation and the demands of the profession – a nurse does the task for nursing, a dentist does the task for dentistry, and so on. The Writing sub-test structure
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| The Speaking sub-test: 20 minutes The Speaking sub-test is delivered individually and takes around 20 minutes. You take this part of OET using materials specifically for your profession. In each role-play, you take your professional role (e.g. as a nurse) while the interlocutor plays a patient/client or sometimes a patient’s relative or carer. For veterinary science the interlocutor is the owner or carer for the animal. The Speaking sub-test structure
In each Speaking test, your identity and profession are checked by the interlocutor and there is a short warm-up conversation about your professional background. Then the role-plays are introduced, one by one, and you have 2-3 minutes to prepare for each. The two role-plays take about five minutes each. More information about the OET Speaking sub-test...Role-plays You receive information for each role-play on a card, which you keep while you do the role-play. You may write notes on the card if you want. The card explains the situation and what you are required to do. If you have any questions about the content of the role-play or how a role-play works, you can ask them during the preparation time. The role-plays are based on typical workplace situations and reflect the demands made on the professional in those situations. Different role-plays are used for different candidates at the same test administration. The interlocutor follows a script so that the Speaking test structure is similar for each candidate. The interlocutor also has detailed information to use in each role-play. |
OET results and assessment
OET is an international English language test that assesses the language proficiency of healthcare professionals who seek to register and practise in an English-speaking environment. It provides a valid and reliable assessment of all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – with an emphasis on communication in healthcare professional settings.
How is the test scored?
OET is an international English language test that assesses the language proficiency of healthcare professionals who seek to register and practise in an English-speaking environment. It provides a valid and reliable assessment of all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – with an emphasis on communication in healthcare professional settings.
How is the test scored?
You will receive a Statement of Results which shows your grade for each of the four sub-tests, from A (highest) to E (lowest). Each of the four sub-tests is assessed in a specific way.
1. Ceck with the relevant professional body or organisation to find out the minimum OET grade level required for registration | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Listening and ReadingYour answer booklets for the Listening sub-test and for Reading Part A are marked by trained Assessors at the OET Centre. Answer booklets are assigned at random to avoid any conflict of interest. Your answer sheet for Reading Part B is computer scanned and automatically scored. Listening and Reading Assessors use a detailed marking guide which sets out which answers receive marks and how the marks are counted. Assessors use this guide to decide for each question whether you have provided enough correct information to be given the mark or marks available. Assessors are monitored for accuracy and consistency, and the data entry of scores is also double-checked for accuracy. |
| Writing and Speaking Your performances on the Writing and Speaking sub-tests are each rated by at least two trained Assessors at the OET Centre. Audio files and scripts are assigned to Assessors at random to avoid any conflict of interest. Your test-day Interlocutor is not involved in the assessment process. Writing and Speaking Assessors are monitored for accuracy and consistency, and the scores they award are adjusted to take into account any leniency or severity. If two Assessors award different scores to your performance, your script and/or audio file will be referred to at least one other senior Assessor not previously involved in your assessment. For the Writing sub-test, each Assessor scores your performance according to five criteria: Overall Task Fulfilment, Appropriateness of Language, Comprehension of Stimulus, Linguistic Features (Grammar and Cohesion), and Presentation Features (Spelling, Punctuation, and Layout). The five criteria are equally weighted. Grade B for Writing requires a high level of performance on all five criteria. For the Speaking sub-test, each Assessor scores your performance according to five criteria: Overall Communicative Effectiveness, Intelligibility, Fluency, Appropriateness, and Resources of Grammar and Expression. The five criteria are equally weighted. Grade B for Speaking requires a high level of performance on all five criteria. |
OET preparation resources
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Short, high-quality video lessons that describe the format, timing, and rules of each sub-test (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking).
There are two types of methods lessons:
OET registration
Application procedure
Candidates must apply for OET directly on www.occupationalenglishtest.org. Sessions are available at our Madrid and Barcelona centres.
Application procedure
1.- Online candidate application If you are applying for yourself or on behalf of candidates online, please take the time to read this page carefully, including the Terms & Conditions and the OET Test Regulations. Please also ensure that your identification documents and digital photo are in line with the guidelines below.
Offline Group Application | ||||||||||||||||
