Welcome to the OET Exam Hub
About OET
The Occupational English Test (OET) is an international English language proficiency test specifically designed for healthcare professionals. It assesses the language communication skills of healthcare professionals who are seeking to register and practice in an English-speaking environment.
Course Highlights
Discover the key features of the OET program, which offers diverse examination modes catering to different preferences:
- OET on Paper at a Test Venue
- OET on Computer at a Test Venue
- OET at Home
Additionally, explore the comprehensive OET Coaching program with the following notable aspects:
- OET boasts an impressive pass rate exceeding 75%.
- Widely acknowledged and accepted in the UK, New Zealand, Ireland, and the USA.
- The OET exam offers 12 distinct versions to ensure a well-rounded assessment.
- Conducted 16 times annually, providing flexibility for candidates to choose suitable exam dates.
- Available across 120 locations in 40 countries, making it accessible globally.
About OET
The OET is a globally recognized English language proficiency test specifically tailored for healthcare professionals. Designed to meet the needs of healthcare personnel aiming to work abroad, this test is a prerequisite for migration, emphasizing the importance of achieving the required score. By focusing on language skills and clinical communication, the OET ensures healthcare professionals can deliver high-quality and safe patient care. Furthermore, the OET score holds credibility with various prestigious universities worldwide, significantly enhancing opportunities for success in establishing a healthcare career overseas.
Why Choose OET?
Tailored for Healthcare Professionals
OET is recognized and trusted by healthcare boards and councils worldwide. Unlike general English language tests, OET focuses on the language skills relevant to healthcare settings, ensuring that candidates can effectively communicate in their professional roles.
Real-life Healthcare Scenarios
The test is designed to simulate real healthcare scenarios, including tasks such as writing referral letters, interacting with patients, and participating in discussions with colleagues. This makes OET a practical and relevant assessment for healthcare professionals.
Global Recognition
OET is accepted as proof of English proficiency by regulatory healthcare bodies and employers in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Dubai, and Singapore.
OET Exam Components
Listening
The listening section assesses your ability to understand spoken English in a healthcare context. It includes various accents and dialects commonly encountered in healthcare settings.
Reading
The reading section evaluates your ability to comprehend and analyze texts related to healthcare. This includes articles, patient information leaflets, and workplace guidelines.
Writing
The writing component requires candidates to produce profession-specific written communication, such as letters, notes, and reports. It assesses your ability to convey information accurately and effectively.
Speaking
The speaking test involves a face-to-face interview with a trained interlocutor. Candidates engage in role-play situations relevant to their healthcare profession, demonstrating their ability to communicate effectively.
Which Countries Recognize OET?
OET is recognized by regulatory healthcare boards and councils in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the USA, UAE, Ireland, Dubai, Singapore, Namibia, and Ukraine. The table below gives you information about the countries, boards, and universities accepting the OET scores:
Country | Healthcare Boards & Councils | Universities |
Australia | Chinese Medicine Board of Australia Dental Board of Australia Medical Board of Australia Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Occupational Therapy Board of Australia Optometry Board of Australia Paramedicine Board of Australia Pharmacy Board of Australia Physiotherapy Board of Australia Podiatry Board of Australia Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Australian Dental Council Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS) Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council Australian Pharmacy Council Australian Physiotherapy Council Dietitians Association of Australia Occupational Therapy Council of Australia – all test types Sino-Australia Association of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine South Australian Medical Education and Training Speech Pathology Australia |
Australian Catholic University Charles Darwin University Charles Sturt University Curtin University CQ University Deakin University Edith Cowan University Federation University Flinders University Griffith University James Cook University Macquarie University Murdoch University Queensland University of Technology RMIT University Southern Cross University Swinburne University of Technology The University of Adelaide University of Canberra University of Newcastle University of New England University of Notre Dame Australia University of Queensland University of South Australia University of Southern Queensland University of Technology Sydney University of the Sunshine Coast University of Wollongong Victoria University Western Sydney University |
Canada | The Alberta International Medical Graduate Program – all test types Practice Ready Assessment – British Columbia – all test types Alberta Health Services – OET on Paper and OET on Computer at test venues |
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta – all test types College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia – all test types College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba – all test types College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador – OET on paper and OET on computer at test venues College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia – all test types College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan – OET on paper and OET on computer at test venues Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC) Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University |
Ireland | Medical Council – OET on computer at test venue Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland Dental Council of Ireland Institute of Technology Tralee CORU The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland Royal College of Physicians of Ireland |
NA |
Maldives | Maldives Medical and Dental Council Maldives Nursing and Midwifery Council |
NA |
Malta | The Council of Nurses and Midwives Malta Medical Council |
NA |
Namibia | Health Professions Councils of Namibia | NA |
New Zealand | Dental Council of New Zealand Dietitians Board of New Zealand Medical Council of New Zealand Midwifery Council of New Zealand – all test types New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) Nursing Council of New Zealand Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board of New Zealand Pharmacy Council of New Zealand Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand Podiatrists Board of New Zealand Veterinary Council of New Zealand |
AGI Education Ltd Ara Institute of Canterbury Aspire2 International ATMC New Zealand Ignite Colleges Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology New Zealand Tertiary College NorthTec Otago Polytechnic Southern Institute of Technology Toi-Ohomai Institute of Technology Unitec Institute of Technology Universal College of Learning University of Auckland University of Otago Language Centre Whitireia New Zealand WINTEC |
Philippines | NA | Ateneo de Davao University Jose Rizal Memorial State University Lyceum of the Philippines University – Laguna ATS Learning Center |
Qatar | Hamad Medical Corporation | NA |
Singapore | Singapore Dental Council Singapore Medical Council Singapore Pharmacy Council Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) AHPC – Occupational Therapy AHPC – Physiotherapy AHPC – Speech-language Therapy AHPC – Diagnostic Radiography and Radiation Therapy |
NA |
Spain | CRUE Universidad de La Rioja |
NA |
Ukraine | Ukrainian Council of Nursing and Midwifery Ukrainian Medical Council Ukrainian Professional Council of Public Health Services |
NA |
United Kingdom | Academy of Medical Royal Colleges ENT UK General Medical Council General Pharmaceutical Council Nursing and Midwifery Council Royal College of Anaesthetists Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh Royal College of Physicians of London Royal College of Psychiatrists Royal College of Surgeons of England Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons The Royal College of Emergency Medicine The Royal College of Ophthalmologists The Royal College of Pathologists The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh |
Brunel University London Canterbury Christ Church University Imperial College London King’s College London Teesside University UK Foundation Programme Ulster University University of Chester University of Highlands and Islands University of Leicester University of the West of Scotland |
United Arab Emirates | Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) |
NA |
United States of America | CGFNS International Inc. Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates| Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (ECFMG®|FAIMER®) Florida Board of Nursing Oregon State Board of Nursing Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs – Health professions Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. Massachusetts Board of Registration In Nursing Arkansas State Board of Nursing |
NA |
Understanding the OET Exam
The OET exam serves as a comprehensive evaluation of the English language proficiency of healthcare professionals. It encompasses a thorough assessment of four essential skills:
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
Full Form of OET
OET stands for Occupational English Test, underscoring its specific relevance to a particular occupation. This specialized test is instrumental in refining clinical communication skills essential for ensuring safe and effective patient care.
OET Syllabus
The OET exam syllabus comprises four distinct sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Each section is designed with varying formats and time allocations, aligning with the specific language requirements vital for healthcare professionals.
Listening Section:
This component comprises three parts:
- Consultation Extracts
- Short Workplace Extracts
- Presentation Extracts
Candidates will face a total of 42 questions in this section, with a duration of 50 minutes.
Reading Section:
This section includes three parts:
- A summary task
- Multiple-choice questions
- A matching task
A total of 42 questions are presented in this section, with a time frame of 60 minutes.
Writing Section:
In this segment, candidates are tasked with composing a letter based on a given case note. They can choose from a selection of 12 different healthcare areas.
Speaking Section:
Candidates engage in an interactive session with an interlocutor assuming the role of a patient or client. Similar to the Writing section, candidates can select from 12 distinct healthcare areas.
Overall, the OET exam not only evaluates language proficiency but also ensures that healthcare professionals are equipped with the necessary communication skills vital for success in their specific fields.
OET Exam Pattern
OET Exam Pattern | Test Duration | OET Description |
Listening | 45 minutes | Includes 3 parts |
Reading | 60 minutes | Includes 3 parts |
Writing | 45 minutes | Profession-specific letter writing |
Speaking | 20 minutes | Interact with interlocutor |
What are the OET Exam Modes?
There are three different types of OET Exam modes:
- OET on Paper at a Test Venue
- OET on Computer at a Test Venue
- OET at Home
How are OET Exam Results Reported?
Grade | OET score from September 2018 | OET band descriptors |
A | 500 490 480 470 460 450 |
Can communicate very fluently and effectively with patients and health professionals using appropriate register, tone, and lexis. Shows complete understanding of any kind of written or spoken language. |
B | 440 430 420 410 400 390 380 370 360 350 |
Can communicate effectively with patients and health professionals using appropriate register, tone, and lexis, with only occasional inaccuracies and hesitations. Shows good understanding in a range of clinical contexts. |
C+ | 340 330 320 310 300 |
Can maintain the interaction in a relevant healthcare environment despite occasional errors and lapses and follow standard spoken language normally encountered in his/her field of specialization. |
C | 290 280 270 260 250 240 230 220 210 200 |
|
D | 190 180 170 160 150 140 130 120 110 100 |
Can maintain some interaction and understand straightforward factual information in his/her field of specialization but may ask for clarification. Frequent errors, inaccuracies, and mis or overuse of technical language can cause strain in communication. |
E | 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 |
Can manage simple interaction on familiar topics and understand the main point in short, simple messages, provided he/she can ask for clarification. A high density of errors and mis- or overuse of technical language can cause significant strain and breakdowns in communication. |
OET Sample Test
Engaging in an OET sample test or mock examination serves as a valuable tool for enhancing the necessary skills required to achieve a high score. Prospective candidates can utilize mock tests to evaluate their proficiency in each section before undertaking the actual OET exam, which has a duration of 175 minutes. Practicing with mock tests significantly contributes to qualifying for the exam with an optimal score.
OET Validity
The OET score remains valid for a period of two years. Upon the expiration of this timeframe, individuals seeking to retain their score must undergo the test again.
OET Login
The OET registration process involves several straightforward steps:
- Visit the official OET website.
- Create a login account by providing a username and password.
- Complete all required information.
- Schedule an appointment for the OET exam, selecting the desired date and time.
- Review all details before finalizing.
- Complete the OET registration by paying the applicable fees.
- Click on the Register/Apply button.
- A confirmation will be sent to the registered mobile number.
OET Eligibility
Healthcare professionals specializing in one of the twelve designated areas, including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, dentists, pharmacists, and others, are eligible to take the Occupational English Test (OET). Notably, CBLA (Council for a Better Listening and Assessment) does not specify any particular age group or educational qualification requirements for test registration.
OET Exam Requirements
Candidates preparing for the OET exam must meet the following prerequisites:
- Minimum age of 18 years.
- Educational background equivalent to secondary education.
- Valid government-issued identity proof.
- Digital passport photo.
Additionally, candidates should adhere to specific exam conduct guidelines, including logging in 15 minutes before each section, using a PC/laptop with required specifications, turning off mobile phones, writing the exam in isolation, and having a water bottle nearby.
OET Exam Fees
The cost of the OET exam is approximately $587 AUD / $455 USD. However, fees are subject to change, and candidates are advised to check the current fee structure before registering for the exam.
Preparation Resources
Preparing for the OET exam is crucial to achieving your desired score. Explore our comprehensive range of preparation resources, including practice tests, sample materials, and tips to enhance your language skills.
Test Dates and Locations
Find information about upcoming OET exam dates and available test locations. Plan your exam schedule and choose a convenient location to take the test.
How to Register
Learn about the registration process, including fees, required documents, and deadlines. Ensure a smooth registration experience to kickstart your journey towards OET success.
Contact Us
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