OET Nursing vs OET Medicine: The Occupational English Test (OET) remains a cornerstone for healthcare professionals seeking to migrate or register in English-speaking countries such as Australia, the UK, New Zealand, and Canada. 

Tailored specifically for 12 healthcare professions, including nursing and medicine, the OET assesses language skills in real-world medical contexts, making it more relevant than general tests like IELTS for doctors, nurses, and allied health workers. 

As of October 2025, the OET continues to evolve, with recent enhancements focusing on scoring transparency and accessibility, ensuring it meets the demands of global healthcare shortages.

This article provides an in-depth comparison of OET for Nursing and OET for Medicine, highlighting similarities and differences across the four sub-tests: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.

While reading and listening are identical for all professions, Writing and Speaking are profession-specific, reflecting the unique communicative needs of nurses versus doctors. 

We'll explore formats, question types, subtypes, required skills, and scoring nuances, supported by tables for clarity. With the latest 2025 updates, including the introduction of an overall numerical score, preparation strategies have shifted toward holistic performance.

For aspiring nurses and doctors, understanding these distinctions is vital for targeted study. Resources like oetpro.com offer profession-specific practice tests, helping users simulate exam conditions and track progress. 

Whether you're a registered nurse aiming for Australian migration or a physician preparing for UK registration, this guide will equip you with actionable insights to achieve the required B grade (or equivalent) across sub-tests.

Overview of the OET Structure

The OET is a 3-hour exam (plus 45 minutes for Reading Part A), available in paper or computer formats at over 160 test centers worldwide. It evaluates proficiency on a 0-500 scale per sub-test, with grades A-E (A=450-500, B=350-440, etc.). 

Passing typically requires a grade of at least B in each sub-test. However, requirements vary by country and profession—for instance, Australia's AHPRA mandates B in all for both nursing and medicine. In contrast, the UK's GMC accepts a B in Writing and a C+ in other subjects for doctors.

Key similarities: Reading and Listening are generic, drawing from broad healthcare scenarios. Differences emerge in Writing (task-based letters) and Speaking (role-plays), where nursing emphasizes patient-centred care and teamwork, while medicine focuses on diagnostic consultations and referrals. 

Test dates have expanded in 2025, with over 50 sittings available annually, and results are now digitally available within 5-10 days.

This table highlights the shared framework with profession-tailored elements, underscoring why customized preparation via platforms like oetpro.com is essential.

Reading Sub-Test: Identical for Nursing and Medicine

The Reading sub-test (60 minutes, 42 questions) is uniform across professions, assessing comprehension of healthcare texts, including articles, guidelines, and patient notes. 

It comprises three parts: A (expeditious reading), B (workplace texts), and C (detailed analysis). No profession-specific content means nurses and doctors face the same challenges, focusing on speed, inference, and vocabulary.

Part A: Expeditious Reading

• Format: 15 minutes; four short texts (e.g., case notes); 20 questions.

• Subtypes:

1. Matching (6 questions): Pair headings or items (e.g., symptoms) to texts A-D.

2. Gap-Fill (14 questions): Select from a word bank to complete notes.

• Skills: Scanning for specifics; medical terminology (e.g., "dyspnea" for both professions).

Part B: Short Texts

• Format: 6 texts (150-200 words, e.g., memos); 6 multiple-choice questions.

• Subtypes:

1. Purpose/Intent (2-3 questions): Identify the writer's goal.

2. Detail/Information (2 questions): Factual recall.

3. Inference (1-2 questions): Implied meanings.

• Skills: Quick skimming; professional discourse.

Part C: Longer Texts

• Format: 2 texts (800 words total); 16 multiple-choice questions.

• Subtypes:

1. Main Idea (3-4 questions): Overall arguments.

2. Specific Detail (3 questions): Facts/figures.

3. Inference/Opinion (5-6 questions): Attitudes, biases.

4. Vocabulary/Context (2-3 questions): Word meanings.

5. Reference/Conclusion (2 questions): Logical links.

• Skills: Critical analysis; synthesizing views—crucial for evidence-based practice in both fields.

Since identical, scoring is consistent (aim for 30/42 for B). Practice on oetpro.com's Reading modules builds universal stamina.

Listening Sub-Test: Shared Across Professions

The Listening sub-test (45 minutes, 42 questions) uses audio from healthcare settings, which is identical for both nursing and medicine. It includes three parts, progressing from concrete to abstract.

Part A: Consultation Notes

• Format: 2 recordings (doctor/nurse-patient interactions); 24 gap-fill questions.

• Subtypes:

1. Note Completion (12 per recording): Fill patient history, symptoms, plans.

• Skills: Note-taking; accents (British/Australian); medical jargon.

Part B: Short Workplace Extracts

• Format: 6 recordings (1-2 minutes, e.g., team briefings); 6 multiple-choice questions.

• Subtypes:

1. Purpose (3 questions): Extracts intent.

2. Detail (2 questions): Key facts.

3. Inference (1 question): Implications.

• Skills: Focused listening; multitasking.

Part C: Longer Discussions

• Format: 2 tripartite discussions (e.g., radio interviews on health topics); 12 multiple-choice questions.

• Subtypes:

1. Main Argument (4 questions): Core views.

2. Supporting Detail (3 questions): Evidence.

3. Opinion/Attitude (3 questions): Speaker stances.

4. Conclusion (2 questions): Outcomes.

• Skills: Abstract comprehension; following debates.

Uniformity means joint preparation, but nurses might relate more to care-focused audios. oetpro.com provides instant-scoring Listening tests for both.

Writing Sub-Test: Key Differences Between Nursing and Medicine

The Writing sub-test (45 minutes, one task) is profession-specific, requiring a 180-200-word response. It tests clarity, structure, and grammar in workplace correspondence.

OET Writing for Nursing

• Task Type: Letter based on case notes (e.g., referral to social worker, discharge to family).

• Subtypes of Tasks:

1. Referral Letters (40%): To allied services for patient support (e.g., home care for the elderly).

2. Discharge/Handover Letters (30%): Summarizing care plans for continuity.

3. Advice Letters (20%): To patients/carers on management (e.g., wound care).

4. Information Letters (10%): To colleagues on protocols.

• Skills: Patient-centred language; empathy; concise bullet points from notes. Grammar focus: conditionals for advice.

OET Writing for Medicine

• Task Type: Letter based on case notes (e.g., referral to specialist, medical report).

• Subtypes of Tasks:

1. Referral Letters (50%): To consultants for diagnostics (e.g., cardiology referral).

2. Discharge Summaries (25%): To GPs post-hospitalization.

3. Advice/Report Letters (25%): To patients on treatments or insurers.

• Skills: Formal, objective tone; precise terminology; logical flow from history to recommendations.

Differences: Nursing tasks emphasize holistic care and collaboration; medicine prioritizes diagnostics and authority. In 2025, Australia's NMBA accepts a Ca grade of + in Nursing Writing (down from a Ba grade of ), easing entry for nurses. oetpro.com's Writing simulators offer tailored feedback for each.

Speaking Sub-Test: Role-Play Differences

The Speaking sub-test (20 minutes, two role-plays) is an interactive test with an interlocutor, focusing on profession-specific scenarios to mimic daily interactions. Recorded for assessment.

OET Speaking for Nursing

• Format: 2 role-plays (3-5 minutes each); candidate as nurse, interlocutor as patient/colleague.

• Subtypes of Role-Plays:

1. Patient Interactions (50%): E.g., educating on diabetes self-management.

2. Team Communications (30%): Handover to the doctor or other allied health professionals.

3. Ethical Scenarios (20%): Consent discussions or family counselling.

• Skills: Active listening, reassurance, and cultural sensitivity. Use phrases like "How are you feeling about that?"

OET Speaking for Medicine

• Format: 2 role-plays (3-5 minutes each); candidate as doctor.

• Subtypes of Role-Plays:

1. Consultations (60%): History-taking, diagnosis explanation (e.g., hypertension).

2. Referrals/Bad News (30%): Discussing test results or surgery.

3. Follow-Ups (10%): Treatment adherence checks.

• Skills: Questioning techniques, empathy, and professionalism. Phrases: "Based on your symptoms..."

Nursing role-plays stress relational dynamics; medicine, explanatory precision. Both assess intelligibility, fluency, and relevance. Prep on oetpro.com includes video role-plays.

Scoring and Requirements: Profession-Specific Nuances

OET scores are valid for 2 years, with numerical bands (0-10) introduced January 29, 2025, aligning with IELTS for easier comparison. An overall score averages sub-tests, aiding visa applications.

• Nursing: Often lower Writing thresholds (e.g., C+ in UK NMC); focuses on communicative competence.

• Medicine: Stricter, B minimum in all for GMC/AMC; emphasizes accuracy.

Country table:

Latest Updates in OET 2025 on OET Nursing and OET Medicine

2025 brought pivotal changes: the overall score (0-10) for tContentency, results in 5-10 days, and more digital options. No format overhauls, but the content reflects modern topics such as telehealth and AI ethics—relevant to both professions. 

Expanded dates (bi-weekly) reduce wait times. For nursing, flexible Writing scores in Australia address shortages; medicine remains unchanged. Verify via official sites.

Preparation Strategies: Leveraging oetpro.com

Success demands 4-6 weeks of focused prep. For shared sub-tests, use general resources; for specifics, profession mocks.

• Nursing: Practice empathetic phrasing and role-play patient advocacy.

• Medicine: Hone diagnostic scripts; referral templates.

oetpro.com stands out with 100+ mocks, instant feedback for Listening/Reading, and Writing/Speaking analytics. Free trials let you test Nursing vs. Medicine modules—users report 20% score gains. Combine with official samples, daily reading (BMJ for medicine, Nursing Times for nurses), and error logs.

Advanced: Track via spreadsheets; join oetpro.com forums for peer tips. Simulate complete tests weekly.

OET Nursing and OET Medicine share a robust foundation in Reading and Listening, but diverge in Writing and Speaking, mirroring the professional realities of nursing's collaborative care versus medicine's diagnostic depth. 

With the scoring innovations and flexibility of 2025es, especially for nurses, the path to qualification is more accessible. 

By dissecting subtypes and utilizing comparative tools, you can optimize preparation. Platforms like oetpro.com provide the edge: affordable, flexible, and effective. Secure your future in global healthcare—start practicing today.