OET is a test for medical professionals, including doctors, nurses and midwives. When they pass this, they are able to work in the UK.

THE OET TEST IS ACCEPTED IN THE UK BY:

• General Medical Council
• Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Royal College of Emergency Medicine
• Royal College of Ophthalmologists
• Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

This is a skills test, not a knowledge test. This means it tests your English language skills and not your medical knowledge of your profession.

THERE ARE 4 PARTS TO THE TEST:

• Speaking & Writing - Specific to each profession
• Listening & Reading – General to all professions

READING

Part A – 20 questions (15 mins)

You are given 4 short texts on the same topic e.g. paracetamol overdoses.

Part B & C (45 mins)

Part B - 6 questions

You are given 6 short work-placed texts all on different topics.

Part C – 16 questions

You are given 2 longer texts aimed at a specific medical audience, such as journals or websites.

LISTENING

Part A – 24 questions

You hear 2 patient-led dialogues with gap-fill tasks.

Part B - 6 questions

You hear 6 short dialogues or monologues on different work-based topics.

Part C – 12 questions

You hear 2 long presentations or interviews with healthcare professionals

SPEAKING

2 consultation role-plays (profession specific)

• 3 minutes to prepare
• 5 minutes to do the role-play

WRITING

1 letter (usually a referral or discharge letter) (45 mins)

• 5 minutes to prepare
• 40 minutes to write

Read the case notes, select the relevant information, organise it logically, and transform the notes into a letter.