The Occupational English Test (OET) is essential for healthcare professionals planning to study or work in English-speaking countries. Since it focuses on medical communication, the test ensures you can interact effectively in real clinical settings.

Among its four modules, the Listening section is often considered the most challenging due to the variety of accents and the rapid pace of healthcare conversations.
Listening Part B contains short workplace dialogues followed by one MCQ, requiring quick understanding and accurate interpretation.

This guide breaks down strategies, examples, tips, and oetpro.com resources to help you master OET Listening Part B in 2025.

Understanding OET Listening Part B

Key Features

• 6 audio extracts

• Each extract: 1–2 minutes

• 1 multiple-choice question per extract

• Real-life workplace situations, such as:

  • Staff handovers

  • Briefings

  • Consultations

  • Instructions

• Tests:

  • Main idea

  • Context understanding

  • Speaker opinions

  • Implicit meaning

Why Part B Is Difficult

• Exposure to multiple accents:

  • British

  • Australian

  • American

  • Canadian & Irish (added in 2025)

• Speed of medical conversations

• Technical language

• Need to identify speaker intention & tone

Why Use oetpro.com for Preparation?

Benefits

• Free practice tests and sample answers

• High-quality audio clips matching the real test

• Instant feedback for Listening & Reading

• Vocabulary-building tools

• Timed practice for exam-style training

• Covers all accent varieties used in the exam

1. Master Active Listening

Active listening helps you pick out key details quickly.

What to Focus On

• Opinions vs. facts

• Tone of voice

• Instructions vs. suggestions

• Speaker’s purpose

Expert Insight

Dr. Sarah Thompson:
"Listen for tone and intent. If a doctor sounds unsure, it may be a suggestion instead of an instruction."

2. Get Comfortable with Different Accents

Since 2025, OET includes Canadian and Irish accents, making accent training essential.

Practice Tips

• Listen daily to short clips on oetpro.com

• Focus on common medical terms such as:

  • "paracetamol"

  • "edema"

  • "dosage adjustments"

Mini Practice Example

• Australian nurse discussing post-op care

• Sample Question: What is the goal of the nurse's briefing?

  • A) Request more staff

  • B) Update on patient condition

  • C) Discuss medication errors

• Correct Answer: B

3. Improve Your Time Management

Though only one question follows each extract, decisions must be quick.

Tips

• Practice with timers

• Avoid overthinking

• Trust your first logical choice

Expert Insight

Dr. Anil Patel:
"Overthinking wastes time. Focus on the main idea and choose quickly."

4. Use Context Clues

Understanding the situation helps identify the correct answer.

Look for Clues in

• Job roles mentioned

• Action words (handover, review, briefing)

• Patient names

• Instructions

Example

Question: What is the pharmacist concerned about?

• A) Patient compliance

• B) Drug availability

• C) Dosage accuracy
  Correct Answer: A
  Why: Keywords like "missed doses" or "adherence" point toward compliance.

5. Leverage oetpro.com to the Fullest

Platform Features

• Timed listening tests

• Multiple accents

• Detailed explanations

• Vocabulary lists

• Daily quizzes

Recommended Routine

• 15 minutes of listening daily

• Weekly full-length practice tests

• Review incorrect answers carefully

Sample OET Listening Part B Questions (With Answers)

Below is a clean, formatted table of sample extracts, questions, and correct answers.

Sample Practice Table

Common Challenges & Solutions

Latest 2025 Updates

New Changes

• Canadian & Irish accents added

• More diverse workplace scenarios

• Video-based materials available on oetpro.com

• Updated audio patterns reflecting modern healthcare communication

Final Summary

To excel in OET Listening Part B, you must:

• Practice active listening

• Get familiar with multiple accents

• Use context clues effectively

• Train with realistic audio from oetpro.com

• Manage time efficiently

• Analyze feedback and improve consistently

With daily practice and structured learning using oetpro.com, candidates can build confidence and significantly boost their scores for the 2025 exam.