The Occupational English Test (OET) is recognised worldwide as a way for healthcare professionals to demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively in English. It is ideal for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and other medical professionals who want to work or study in English-speaking countries.

As a language assessment and healthcare communication expert, I’ve prepared this detailed guide covering the OET scoring system, test structure, preparation tips, and advice for achieving a high score.

This article is based on the latest information available as of August 2025, including updates from reliable sources like oet.com and oetpro.com. Whether it’s your first attempt or you want to improve your score, this guide will help you succeed.

What is the OET?

The OET was created by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment (CBLA) as a specialized English language test for healthcare professionals.

Unlike general English tests like IELTS or TOEFL, the OET focuses on language skills essential for 12 healthcare fields, including Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy.

It is accepted by healthcare boards and institutions in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, and the US. It ensures candidates can communicate effectively with patients, colleagues, and other healthcare stakeholders, which is critical for patient safety and quality care.

Why is the OET Important?

A high OET score is more than a test requirement. It demonstrates that healthcare professionals can provide safe, patient-centered care in English-speaking settings.

The test evaluates real-life skills, such as understanding patient consultations, writing referral letters, reading medical texts, and performing role-specific tasks.

Achieving the right scores can open doors to job opportunities, professional registration, and further education in English-speaking countries.

OET Test Structure

The OET has four sub-tests: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Each evaluates skills needed in healthcare communication.

1. Listening Sub-Test (40 minutes, 42 points)

The Listening sub-test assesses understanding of spoken English in medical settings. It has three parts:

• Part A – Consultation Extracts: Two recordings of consultations; 12 gap-fill questions per extract.

• Part B – Short Workplace Extracts: Six short audio clips (45 seconds each) with one multiple-choice question each.

• Part C – Presentation/Interview Extracts: Two longer recordings; six multiple-choice questions per extract.

A B grade usually requires at least 30 out of 42 marks.

2. Reading Sub-Test (60 minutes, 42 points)

The Reading sub-test evaluates comprehension of healthcare texts.

• Part A – Quick Reading: Four short texts; 20 questions in matching, gap-fill, or short-answer formats.

• Part B – Careful Reading: Six short texts with one multiple-choice question each.

• Part C – Careful Reading: Two long texts (~800 words each) with eight multiple-choice questions per text.

A B grade also typically requires 30 out of 42 marks.

3. Writing Sub-Test (45 minutes)

The Writing sub-test is profession-specific, usually requiring a letter (referral, discharge, or advice) based on case notes.

Key assessment criteria include:

• Purpose and content relevance

• Conciseness and clarity

• Style and genre

• Organisation and layout

• Grammar, vocabulary, and spelling

A B grade usually corresponds to about 27/38 marks (or 350/500).

4. Speaking Sub-Test (20 minutes)

The Speaking sub-test involves two role-plays. Candidates interact with a patient, carer, or colleague in a professional scenario.

It is evaluated on:

Language Criteria:

• Pronunciation and clarity

• Fluency and flow

• Tone and register

• Grammar and vocabulary

Clinical Communication Criteria:

• Building relationships and empathy

• Understanding the patient’s perspective

• Structured communication

• Asking questions effectively

• Explaining information clearly

A B grade usually corresponds to around 28/39 marks (350/500).

How OET Scores Work

The OET scoring system uses a scale from 0 to 500, with scores reported in 10-point increments. Each sub-test gets a score from 0 to 100, and the overall score is the average of the four sub-tests.

Letter Grades and Score Ranges:

• A (450–500): Clear, professional, and fluent communication.

• B (350–440): Good communication with minor mistakes.

• C+/C (200–399): Functional communication with frequent errors.

• D/E (<200> Struggles with clarity and professionalism.