The OET Listening section tests how well healthcare professionals understand spoken English in real-life medical situations. It includes conversations, consultations, handovers, and professional discussions that reflect everyday healthcare communication. The test has three parts: A, B, and C each focusing on different listening skills such as identifying specific details, understanding main ideas, recognizing opinions, and interpreting speaker attitudes.

Preparing with smart strategies, understanding different English accents, and improving healthcare vocabulary can significantly boost your confidence and score.

Overview of the OET Listening Section

The OET Listening sub-test is designed to assess your ability to understand spoken English in different healthcare contexts. Since the same Listening test applies to all OET professions, the topics are general but healthcare-related.

Key Features

• Total Duration: 40–45 minutes

• Total Questions: 42

• Parts: A, B, and C

• Audio: Played once only

• Topics: Real-life healthcare scenarios for all professions

Structure and Format of the Listening Test

Part A – Consultation Extracts

Part A focuses on patient–healthcare professional interactions.

Format

• Two extracts

• Each 4–5 minutes long

• 12 questions per extract (24 total)

• Question type: Note completion

What It Tests

• Listening for specific information during consultations

• Identifying symptoms, medical history, concerns, and advice

How It Works
You will receive case notes with blanks. As you listen, fill in the missing words or short phrases from the audio.

Part B – Workplace Extracts

Part B focuses on short professional conversations.

Format

• Six audio clips

• Each about 1 minute

• One question per extract (6 total)

• Question type: Three-option multiple choice

What It Tests

• Understanding the main idea

• Identifying purpose, opinion, or key details in workplace communication

How It Works
You read the question first, then listen and choose the best answer.

Part C – Presentation Extracts

Part C includes longer talks or interviews.

Format

• Two extracts

• Each 4–5 minutes

• Six questions per extract (12 total)

• Question type: Multiple choice (3–4 options)

What It Tests

• Main ideas

• Opinions and attitudes

• Supporting details

• Extended healthcare discussions

How It Works
You get 90 seconds to read the questions before each extract. Then answer as you listen.

OET Listening Part A, B, C – Summary Table

Structure Breakdown Table

Differences Between Parts A, B, and C

Comparison Table

Scoring and Evaluation

• Total Questions: 42

• Part A: Marked twice by trained assessors

• Part B & C: Computer scanned

• Skills Assessed:

  • Understanding specific details

  • Grasping main ideas & purpose

  • Identifying opinions & attitudes

How to Improve OET Listening Performance

Important Preparation Strategies

1. Use the Preview Time Effectively (Especially Part C)

You get 90 seconds to read all six questions.
Use this time to:

• Highlight keywords

• Identify what type of information you need (reason, recommendation, opinion, etc.)

• Predict possible answers

2. Listen for Paraphrasing

Speakers rarely use the exact words from the question.
Practice identifying meaning, not just word matches.

3. Follow the Speaker’s Structure

Listen for signposting words like:

• However

• In contrast

• For example

• As a result
  These often signal important details.

4. Focus on Attitude & Opinion (Part C)

Look for expressions like:

• "I believe…"

• "We recommend…"

• "It’s concerning that…"

These help you understand the speaker’s viewpoint.

5. Practice Selective Listening

Pay extra attention to:

• Medical terms

• Numbers

• Timelines

• Recommendations

6. Eliminate Incorrect Options

If you’re unsure, remove answers that clearly do not match the audio.

7. Practice Using Transcripts

After listening, compare your answers with transcripts to learn paraphrasing patterns.

8. Improve Healthcare Vocabulary

Better vocabulary = faster understanding.

Common Challenges & Solutions

Main Takeaways

• The Listening test has 42 questions across three parts.

• Part A tests note-taking and detail recognition.

• Part B focuses on workplace conversations.

• Part C tests understanding of extended talks and opinions.

• Using question previews, practicing with transcripts, and learning medical vocabulary significantly improves scores.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How long is the OET Listening section?
40–45 minutes.

Q2. How many questions are there?
42 in total.

Q3. Is the audio played twice?
No, only once.

Q4. What is Part A about?
Consultations with note-completion questions.

Q5. What is Part B about?
Short workplace conversations.

Q6. How can I improve accent understanding?
Listen to English healthcare podcasts and OET practice audios.

Q7. Can I read questions before the audio?
Yes, 15 seconds for Part B, 90 seconds for Part C.

Q8. What does Part C test?
Main ideas, speaker attitude, supporting details.

Q9. How is Part A scored?
Marked twice by qualified assessors.

Q10. Should I leave answers blank?
Never, always make an educated guess.