OET
Occupational English Test
English for healthcare professionals, in a clinical context.
What is the OET?
OET is an English test designed specifically for healthcare professionals. Instead of general or academic topics, its tasks use the language of clinical practice — patient consultations, case notes and referral letters — so the test reflects the English you actually use at work.
It is available for 12 professions, including nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and physiotherapy, and is accepted by regulators and employers in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, Singapore and beyond as proof of English for registration.
For many clinicians, OET feels more natural than an academic test because the Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking tasks sit inside familiar healthcare situations — but it still demands a high level of accuracy.
Who needs the OET?
- Nurses, doctors, dentists, pharmacists and other clinicians registering to work abroad
- Healthcare professionals whose regulator accepts OET in place of IELTS
- Anyone who finds clinical contexts more natural than academic ones
Test format, section by section
Listening · ~45 min
Health-related recordings — consultations and presentations — common to all professions.
Tip: Practise note-taking from spoken consultations; the answers often hinge on a single detail.
Reading · ~60 min
Healthcare texts with fast information-location tasks and longer comprehension passages.
Tip: The first part is a speed-reading exercise — train to locate facts quickly across several short texts.
Writing · ~45 min
A profession-specific letter, usually a referral, written from a set of case notes.
Tip: Select only the relevant information from the notes; including everything lowers your score.
Speaking · ~20 min
Two role-plays with an interlocutor, in which you play your professional role with a 'patient'.
Tip: Use clinical communication skills — explaining, reassuring, checking understanding — not just correct grammar.
Variants & versions
OET on paper at a test centre, OET on computer at a centre, and OET@Home under remote proctoring. The content is the same; the profession-specific Writing and Speaking adapt to your field.
How the OET is scored
Each sub-test is graded from A (highest) to E and reported on a 0–500 numerical scale. Most regulators require Grade B (around 350, roughly IELTS 7.0) in each of the four skills.
| If you're applying for… | Typical score |
|---|---|
| UK NMC nursing registration | Grade B in each (B in writing may allow B/C combos — check) |
| Most medical/clinical boards | Grade B in all four sub-tests |
Where and when to take it
OET runs roughly 14 times a year on set dates, at centres worldwide and via OET@Home. You book through the OET website.
Results, validity & retakes
Results: Results are typically available about 16 days after the test.
Validity: Scores are valid for 2 years.
Retakes: You can retake OET as often as needed; from some sittings you may re-sit only the sub-tests you need.
How much does it cost?
Approximately US$350–450.
How to prepare: a study plan
- Confirm your regulator accepts OET and the exact grades it needs in each skill.
- Master the profession-specific writing task — selecting and organising case-note information is the core skill.
- Rehearse patient role-plays, focusing on clinical communication as well as language.
- Drill the fast reading section against the clock.
- Use OET's official samples so the healthcare formats are second nature.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Copying every detail from the case notes into the referral letter instead of selecting the relevant ones.
- Treating the speaking role-play as a grammar test and forgetting clinical communication.
- Running out of time on the fast first reading part.
- Assuming general English practice is enough — OET's tasks are profession-specific.
How the OET compares
Many registration boards accept both OET and IELTS Academic. OET's advantage is its healthcare context, which clinicians often find more natural; IELTS is cheaper and more widely available. Check which your specific board prefers.
We prepare healthcare professionals for OET's clinical writing and role-play tasks — the part general English courses never cover — alongside the core four skills.
Official site: occupationalenglishtest.org. Always confirm current format, fees and requirements there before booking.
Frequently asked questions
OET or IELTS for nurses?
Many registration boards accept both. OET uses healthcare contexts you already know, which many clinicians find more natural than IELTS Academic.
What OET grade do I need?
Most boards require Grade B (≈ IELTS 7.0) in each sub-test, though some accept a C in one skill. Always confirm your regulator's exact rule.
Which professions can take OET?
OET is available for 12 healthcare professions, including nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and more.