OET (Occupational English Test)
The English test for healthcare professionals, organisations and regulators
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?
  • Format
  • Results
  • Preparation
  • Registration
Why OET?
OET - Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment

"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 for healthcare professionals

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.

The opportunities to practise your healthcare profession in the United Kingdom and Ireland are greater because OET is officially recognised by the following organisations: GMC (General Medical Council), NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council), NMBI (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) y MC (Medical Council of Ireland).
OET for offical healthcare sector organisations

OET (Occupational English Test) is a test of English specifically designed for the healthcare sector. It is an assessment tool for healthcare boards, universities and educators who recruit or train medical professionals.
  • Governments, healthcare boards and councils have a crucial role to play in safe-guarding public safety and OET gives confidence for safe and effective practice
  • Educators integrate OET preparation and testing and accept OET results for entry into healthcare courses, helping students to demonstrate they are ready to communicate effectively in the workplace.
  • Employers know that limited language proficiency is an obstacle to effective communication and quality of care. OET replicates the critical tasks of workplace settings and measures candidates’ abilities in listening, reading, writing and speaking.
  • Teachers have access to the knowledge and tools needed to run high quality OET preparation courses. OET is recommended by healthcare professionals as the most suitable test of English for medical and nursing professionals. It also meets the language requirements needed in order to apply for an Australian and New Zealand visa.

Success stories




Muulo- Nurse
Gunnar - Orthopaedic surgeon
Anna - Pharmacyst



Reza - MD
Hardik - Nurse


Occupational English Test

Why choose OET as your test of English?
  • OET uses real healthcare scenarios so you’ll feel more confident on test day.
  • OET is widely recognised as proof of English proficiency for registration, study and work in the healthcare sector, as well as for visas in some countries.
  • OET helps you develop language skills for success in your career.
  • It’s easy to prepare for the test using the OET Preparation Portal.

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 minutes
The 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.
  • Part A – summary task (15 minutes) Part A assesses your ability to source information from multiple texts, to synthesise information in a meaningful way and to ‘skim’ and ‘scan’ material to retrieve information quickly. You are required to read 3-4 short texts (a total of approximately 650 words) related to a single topic, and complete a summary paragraph by filling in the missing words (25-35 gaps in total).
  • Part B – multiple-choice questions (45 minutes) Part B assesses your ability to read and understand comprehensive texts on health-related topics similar to those in academic or professional journals. You are required to read two passages (600-800 words each) and answer a set of multiple-choice questions (16-20 in total).
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.
  • Part A – consultation (20-25 minutes) Part A assesses your ability to follow facts during a consultation. You will listen to a recorded health professional-patient consultation and complete a note taking task, guided by relevant headings.
  • Part B – presentation (20-25 minutes) Part B assesses your ability to understand a short talk on a health-related topic that might realistically occur in the workplace. You’ll listen to a recorded talk or lecture (monologue) by a healthcare professional and complete a range of open-ended and fixed choice tasks.
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
  • The task is to write a letter, usually a referral letter. Sometimes a different type of letter is required: e.g. a letter of transfer or discharge, or a letter to advise or inform a patient, carer, or group.
  • Along with the task instructions, you will receive stimulus material (case notes and/or other related documentation) which includes information to use in your response.
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.
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.

More information about the OET Speaking sub-test...

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?
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.
OET grade
Description of ability
IELTS equivalence
A
Very high level of performance
8.0 - 9.0
BHigh level of performance; i.e. able to use English with fluency and accuracy adequate for healthcare registration1, appropriate visa categories, healthcare courses and workplaces
7.0 - 7.5
C+Very good level of performance; adequate for appropriate visa categories, healthcare courses and workplaces6.5
CGood level of performance; adequate for appropriate visa categories, some healthcare courses and some workplaces5.5 - 6.0
DModerate level of performance; requires improvement
4.0 - 5.0
ELow level of performance; requires considerable improvement

1. Ceck with the relevant professional body or organisation to find out the minimum OET grade level required for registration
Listening and Reading
Your 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
'Start for Success Package'

The Start for Success Package is an exclusive package to help you prepare for OET. Created by E2Language (OET Premium Preparation Provider), the package includes access to a range of videos, lessons, sample answers, guides and more – all designed to help you prepare for success.
What will you get from the Start for Success package?

7 overview video lessons300+ video-based grammar lessons with quizzes
14 Method lessons (top tips and strategies)4 x OET-specific grammar lessons (common errors)
One OET practice test for each sub-test (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking)3 x OET-specific grammar activities
2 x sample answers for Writing sub-testOET Writing guide
A discount on E2Language’s budget pack4 x OET Writing video explanations

Seven overview video lessons – understand what to expect from the OET

Short, high-quality video lessons that describe the format, timing, and rules of each sub-test (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking).

14 method lessons – helpful tips and strategies for approaching each sub-test

There are two types of methods lessons:
  • Express: 5 to 10-minute summaries – short and sweet!
  • Extended: 45-minute more detailed explanations on how to approach test tasks and get your best scores.
Four sub-tests – so you can practise before the test


There is one complete OET test for each sub-test (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) and two sample answers for the Writing sub-test.
Preparation courses for OET
Follow this link for information about online and face-to-face courses to prepare for OET.
OET registration

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.

Test dates
Correct details
Changes or issues
OET has test dates every month in over 40 countries – however, registration is only open for the next two test dates at a time. Ensure you choose the correct date.
When you apply ensure your name, date of birth and ID number match your ID document exactly – or you will not be able to sit OET on test day. The OET Centre handles your data according to our Privacy Policy.
Contact us if any changes need to be made or if you do not have the required ID and need an Authorisation Letter. In this case certified colour copies of three original documents must be received no later than the closing date for applications.
What you will require
Credit Card Or
Payment Details
Your Identification
Document

A Digital
Passport Photo


Offline Group Application

If you are applying on behalf of a group of two or more candidates and wish to make your payment in a single transaction, you can make an offline group booking request. Processing offline group bookings can take between 5-10 business days, pending receipt of application information and payment. Alternatively you may prefer to submit the online application form for each candidate and make payment individually, to avoid delay.

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