OET

Overview

The Occupational English Test (OET) is an English language proficiency test designed specifically for healthcare professionals who wish to work or study in an English-speaking environment. The test assesses the language skills of candidates in the healthcare context, focusing on the language used in healthcare settings.

The OET test consists of four sub-tests: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The test is available in paper-based and computer-based formats. The test duration varies for each sub-test and ranges from 45 minutes to 1 hour.

The Listening and Reading sub-tests assess candidates’ ability to comprehend spoken and written English in the healthcare context. The Writing sub-test requires candidates to write a letter based on a given scenario in the healthcare context, while the Speaking sub-test assesses candidates’ ability to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues in a healthcare setting.

The OET test is scored on a scale from A (highest) to E (lowest) for each sub-test. Candidates need to achieve a minimum of Grade C in each sub-test to pass the OET test. The OET test is recognized by regulatory healthcare bodies, universities, and employers in many English-speaking countries, including the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

The OET test is administered by OET (Occupational English Test) Ltd, a subsidiary of Cambridge Assessment English and Box Hill Institute. The test is offered in over 40 countries worldwide, and test takers can choose from multiple test dates throughout the year. Test takers are required to pay a fee to take the test.

Test format:

The OET test consists of four sub-tests: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Here is an overview of the format for each sub-test:

Listening (45 minutes): The Listening sub-test consists of three parts, with a total of 42 questions. The recordings used in this sub-test are based on typical healthcare situations and are played only once. Test takers are required to answer questions based on what they hear.
Reading (60 minutes): The Reading sub-test consists of three parts, with a total of 42 questions. The texts used in this sub-test are based on typical healthcare situations and are taken from a range of sources, including books, journals, and patient information leaflets. Test takers are required to answer questions based on the information in the texts.
Writing (45 minutes): The Writing sub-test consists of one task, which is to write a letter based on a given healthcare-related scenario. The letter should be written in a specific format, depending on the purpose of the letter, and should be between 180-200 words.
Speaking (20 minutes): The Speaking sub-test consists of six parts, which are designed to assess the test taker’s ability to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues in a healthcare setting. In Parts 1-3, test takers answer questions about their personal and professional background. In Parts 4-6, test takers are required to engage in a role-play conversation with an interlocutor, simulating typical healthcare scenarios.

The OET test is scored on a scale of A (highest) to E (lowest) for each sub-test. Test takers need to achieve a minimum of Grade C in each sub-test to pass the OET test. The test is designed to assess the language skills of healthcare professionals and is recognized by regulatory healthcare bodies, universities, and employers in many English-speaking countries.