Who Should Appear for the OET Test?
The OET tests all four language skills of the applicants: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. The reading and writing components assess the test-taker’s ability to understand and respond to health-related text commonly found in a healthcare setting, such as patient information, medical reports, and medication labels. The listening and speaking components assess the test-taker’s ability to understand and respond to spoken information, such as consultations and case presentations. Healthcare regulatory bodies and employers recognise the OET exam as proof of a healthcare worker’s competence in English.

While the Speaking and Writing tests are available for 12 different sectors of the healthcare industry, the Listening and Reading tests are common for all candidates. Applicants who receive qualifying marks on the OET can practise in the following sectors for all countries that accept the test as valid proof of proficiency in the language:
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Radiography
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Veterinary Science
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Nursing
- Speech Pathology
- Dietetics
- Occupational Therapy
As an aspiring healthcare professional, if you wish to pursue a career in Australia, it is time you start preparing for your OET training online. Remember, the key to cracking the test is beginning your OET coaching early. Connect with our experts to learn more about the course and how we can help you excel in the exam.
OET Test Guidelines
- approx. 50 minutes
- Same content for all healthcare professions
- Part A: recorded, simulated professional/patient consultation with note-taking questions.
- Part B: recorded talk or lecture on health-related topic, with range of short and multiple choice answers.
- 45 minutes
- Specific to profession, based on typical workplace situations.
- The task is to write a letter, usually a referral letter. Sometimes, especially for some professions, a different type of letter is required: e.g. a letter of transfer or discharge, or a letter to advise or inform a patient, carer, or group.
- 1 hour
- Same content for all healthcare professions.
- Part A: skim and scan short health-related texts and complete a summary paragraph by filling in missing words.
- Part B: read longer health-related texts and answer multiple-choice questions.
- approx. 20 minutes
- Specific to profession, based on typical workplace situations.
- In a private room you will take part in two role-plays. You take your professional role (as a healthcare professional) while the interlocutor plays a patient or client, or sometimes a relative or carer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The OET Exam is an English language test for non-native speakers who wish to work in the healthcare industry. The test checks the applicant’s Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking skills in the language.
At EnglishWise, we offer all our students a chance to customise their timetable for their OET preparation course. Depending on the student’s learning curve, we also provide constant feedback on their progress. Moreover, we also help them focus on strategies & techniques to enhance their preparations for the final exam.
Healthcare regulators in Ireland, the UK, Canada, the USA, Dubai, Namibia, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore recognise your OET score as valid proof of your English proficiency. Once you have received a qualifying mark in the OET, you can practise across 12 different professions in the healthcare sector.
The OET Test costs AUD 587. For a more comprehensive breakdown of the exam fee and other relevant information, you can visit the official website for OET.
The OET does not provide test results via phone, fax or email. After your test, you can log in to your myOET profile to view, download or print an electronic copy of your Statement of Result.
After your test, you will receive a Statement of Result. You will receive a score of 0 to 500 for all four sub-tests. The OET has specific parameters for evaluating your Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening skills during the exam. Generally, as per the OET Results Release Schedule, the results are released 12 business days after you have taken the test.
To check the OET test date, you can follow these steps:
- Visit the official OET website and log in to your account.
- Once you have logged in, you should be able to view your account details, including your booking history and the date of your upcoming exam.
- If you have already booked your OET exam, you should have received an email confirmation from the OET team with the exam details, including the date and time.
If you cannot find the information online, you can contact the test centre where you booked your exam and ask them to provide you with the test date and time. It’s essential to check your OET exam date well in advance to ensure you have enough time to prepare and avoid any scheduling conflicts.