On this page we provide an overview for potential candidates of the format of the Occupational English Test(OET).
The test is suitable for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals looking to practice as a professional medic in the United Kingdom. The OET exam consists of four parts, they are:
- Listening 40 minutes
- Reading 1 hour
- Writing 45 minutes
- speaking 16 minutes
OET Listening Section Overview
The OET Listening exam consists of three tasks, they are section A, Section B and Section C. There are 42 questions in total and to pass with a grade B you will need to score 30 out of 42.
Section A, which lasts for 15 minutes, is typically a gap-fill exercise in which you will have to complete gaps in a set of notes made by a GP or specialist on a meeting with a patient. This section tests your ability to listen closely to a patient for detail, and will generally be completed successfully by candidates with a good grasp of medical vocabulary. Although you will hear the medic asking questions, your notes will be taken from what is said by the patient.
Section B is a Multiple Choice exercise consisting of six short dialogues between a medic and their patient, or a discussion between two healthcare workers such about an incident on the ward, a patient history, or the merits of a specific treatment.
Section C, is longer and consists of two extracts, each one is a medical health professional talking about aspects of their job. You will complete multiple choice questions based on the extract, listening for gist, the main idea and their attitudes towards various aspects of their job.
OET Reading Section Overview
OET Requirements for Nurses in the UK
Nurses from countries where English is not spoken or is not the first language, proof of English ability will need to be provided through the IELTS test or the OET. The General Medical Council (GMC) require the following scores for nurses to practice in the United Kingdom:
Speaking: Minimum Grade B, a pass mark of at least 26 out of 39.
Reading: Minimum Grade B, a pass mark of at least 30 out of 42.
Listening: Minimum Grade B, a pass mark of 30 out of 42.
Writing: Minimum Grade C+, a pass mark of 25 out of 38.