The OET is an English language test designed specifically for healthcare professionals. It assesses the four core language skills in a healthcare context: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking. Below is a breakdown of each section:
| Sub-test | Duration | What is tested / tasks to be done during the test. | Special Tips by Learnopedia Institute and Consultancy Trainers: |
| Listening | 50 minutes | 3 parts (Parts A, B, C). Conversations, monologues, patient-staff interactions, lectures in healthcare settings. | Recordings are played once only. |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 3 parts. Texts related to healthcare topics, reports, guidelines, research, etc. 42 questions total. | Some parts are faster / skimming tasks; some require deeper reading. |
| Writing | 45 minutes | Profession-specific writing task (usually a letter — e.g. transfer, or recommendation) based on a case → patient information, scenario. referral, discharge, transfer, or recommendation) based on a case → patient information, scenario. | You are given case notes; your letter must communicate appropriately, using correct register, clarity, etc. |
| Speaking | 20 minutes (face-to-face role-plays) | Role-plays with an interlocutor. Simulated healthcare interactions (patient, colleague, client). | Assessed on linguistic + communication criteria in a clinical context. |
| Sub-test | Listening |
| Duration | 50 minutes |
| What is tested / tasks to be done during the test. | 3 parts (Parts A, B, C). Conversations, monologues, patient-staff interactions, lectures in healthcare settings. |
| Special Tips by Learnopedia Institute and Consultancy Trainers: | Recordings are played once only. |
| Sub-test | Reading |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| What is tested / tasks to be done during the test. | 3 parts. Texts related to healthcare topics, reports, guidelines, research, etc. 42 questions total. |
| Special Tips by Learnopedia Institute and Consultancy Trainers: | Some parts are faster / skimming tasks; some require deeper reading. |
| Sub-test | Writing |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| What is tested / tasks to be done during the test. | Profession-specific writing task (usually a letter — e.g. transfer, or recommendation) based on a case → patient information, scenario. referral, discharge, transfer, or recommendation) based on a case → patient information, scenario. |
| Special Tips by Learnopedia Institute and Consultancy Trainers: | You are given case notes; your letter must communicate appropriately, using correct register, clarity, etc. |
| Sub-test | Speaking |
| Duration | 20 minutes (face-to-face role-plays) |
| What is tested / tasks to be done during the test. | Role-plays with an interlocutor. Simulated healthcare interactions (patient, colleague, client). |
| Special Tips by Learnopedia Institute and Consultancy Trainers: | Assessed on linguistic + communication criteria in a clinical context. |
Additional Information:
- The tasks, language, and context are tailored to healthcare professionals. The idea is to test ability to communicate in medical / clinical / hospital settings, not general English.
- You must meet minimum scores in each sub-test (not just overall) for many institutions / registries.
- There are different modes: OET Test on Paper, OET Test on Computer, and OET@Home (remote)
- Official sample tests (for each profession) are made available by OET to help candidates practice.
