The OET (Occupational English Test) is a language assessment test designed for healthcare professionals. OET offers 12 versions of the test for different healthcare professions; nurses, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, optometrists, podiatrists, occupational therapists,vets, speech pathologists, dieticians, physiotherapists, and radiographers. The Reading and Listening sections are the same for both.

• OETresults are accepted by healthcare boards and councils in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Dubai, Ukraine and Namibia as proof of English language     OET is also recognised  by the   Australian    

Department of Immigration and Immigration, New Zealand for visa purposes

OETgrades are valid for two years.

The test costs $587AUD globally. If you have booked OET but no longer wish to sit the test for any reason, you can withdraw and obtain a refund, subject to the conditions and fees listed below: You may withdraw up to one week before the test. ... No refunds will be provided for withdrawals made on or after 00:00 on the Monday before the test.

• OETresults are accepted by healthcare boards and councils in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Dubai, Ukraine and Namibia as proof of English language     OET is also recognised  by the   Australian    Department of Immigration and Immigration, New Zealand for visa purposes

The four sub-tests that make up the OETare reported on a scale from 0 to 500 in ten-point increments (e.g. 350, 360, 370 etc). The numerical score will be mapped to a separate letter grade for each sub-test ranging from A (highest) to E (lowest).

There is no overall grade for OET.

The test is available twice a month, 24 times a year.

The current exam fee is AU$587 (approximately £320).

Since October 2020 OET is also available as computer-based at specific centers

Most organisations will require a grade of B in each of the four sub-tests. In OET you must achieve at least Grade B in all four sub-tests of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

A grade Bin the OET exam is the equivalent of IELTS band score 7.0.

Certain sections of the test (such as the writingexam) can be very difficult and it can be painful to have to resit the entire exam after missing out on just one or two sections of the test. The good news is that OET allows you to resit the exam one section at a time.

Your writing will be assessed according to how efficiently and effectively the intended reader is able to retrieve the necessary information from your letter.  The language you use, the way you prioritise information and the structure of your letter will need to take this into account.

Look at an average line of text that you have written, perhaps for a practice task and counthow many words you have written. Divide 180-200 words by this number and you now know the rough number of lines you need to write.

After you finish writing, re-read what you have written from the target reader’s point of view. Ask yourself whether it is clear what you have to do.

The topics in reading and listening sub-tests consist of three parts and are of generic healthcare interest and accessible to candidates across all professions.

Part A assesses your ability to identify specific information during a consultation.

Part B assesses your ability to identify the detail, gist, opinion or purpose of short extracts from the healthcare workplace.

Part C assesses your ability to follow a recorded presentation or interview in listening on a range of accessible healthcare topics. You need to use inference skills in reading to understand the attitude or opinion of the writer at various points in the text.

The Reading sub-test consists of three parts and a total of 42 question All three parts take a total of 60minutes to complete.

The Listening sub-test consists of three parts, and a total of 42 question items. The total length of the Listening audio is about 40 minutes, including recorded speech and pauses to allow you time to write your answers. You will hear each recording once and are expected to write your answers while listening.

In Speaking sub-test, you can ask questions, listen to the patient’s answers, and ask follow-up questions as appropriate. You can include stages where you check that the patient has understood you, and you can invite him/her to ask questions or give an opinion. There is no penalty for pausing briefly to choose your words the same way you might in a real life consultation.

The Speaking sub-test contains three minutes of preparation time before each role play. Candidates who use the full preparation time tend to benefit because it allows them to plan what to say and how to organise it effectively. When you read the candidate card, look carefully at the task instructions and think of language that will help you to carry them out as effectively as possible.

You need to develop a range of expressions for communicating effectively in common situations, such as explaining, persuading, and reassuring. You can draw on your professional background to choose which expressions to prioritise.