About Listening – Time 40 Minutes, 42 Questions ( Part A-24 Questions, Part B – 6 Questions, Part C – 12 Questions), Each Question carries 1 Mark. Test structure – Part A – consultation extracts, Part B – short workplace extracts, Part C – presentation extracts.

You can listen to each part of the test once only, so you must write your answers as you listen. Score – Test-takers awarded grade B (a scale score of 350) will typically have a score of at least 30 marks out of 42.

About Reading – Time 60 Minutes, 42 Questions ( Part A-20 Questions, Part B – 6 Questions, Part C – 16 Questions), Each Question carries 1 Mark. Each question carries 1 mark. Test structure – Part A – expeditious reading task (15 minutes) Part B and C – careful reading tasks (45 minutes)

You will not be given extra time at the end of the sub-test to check your answers. There is a strict time limit for Part A (the expeditious reading task), and Part A materials will be collected from you after 15 minutes. You will therefore not have any time to check your Part A answers later in the test. Score – Test-takers awarded grade B (a scale score of 350) will typically have a score of at least 30 marks out of 42.

About Writing – Letter Writing- Referral, Transfer or Advice letter based on the Patient’s Case Notes written to another Health Care Professional – Time 45 Minutes, Test structure – The task is to write a letter in response to a set of notes. There is 5 minutes of reading time at the start and then you have 40 minutes to write.

Marking – Two OET assessors use the official OET Writing criteria to rate the performance. OET Writing criteria – Purpose (Score 0-3), Content (Score 0-7), Conciseness & Clarity (Score 0-7), Genre & Style (Score 0-7), Organisation & Layout (Score 0-7), Language (Score 0-7). You should aim to achieve the highest level in the descriptors for each criterion. Test-takers securing grade B will have achieved scores of 2 out of 3 for Purpose and 5 out of 7 for the remaining criteria. 

About Speaking – Test structure – There are two role plays to complete. For each one, you have 3 minutes to prepare. Each role play lasts about 5 minutes. Total Time – 20 Minutes. Two Role Play cards will be given to the Candidate for the Task. You can make notes on the role-play cards if you want, and you can refer to the card at any time during the role-play. You must return the card to the Interlocutor at the end of the role-play.

Marking – The Speaking sub-test is recorded and the audio is assessed by two official OET assessors using the official OET Linguistic and Clinical Communication Criteria. Linguistic Criteria – (all Scores  0 – 6) – Intelligibility, Fluency, Appropriateness of Language, Resources of Grammar and Expression.  Clinical Communication Criteria – (all Score 0-3) – Relationship Building, Understanding and Incorporating the Patients Perspective, Providing Structure, Information Gathering, Information Giving. Test-takers securing grade B will have achieved predominantly scores of 5 out of 6 on each linguistic criteria and 2 out of 3 for the clinical communication criteria.

Test dates & Results

Bookings for OET on Paper close 24 days before the test. Bookings for OET on Computer at a test venue close 7 days before the test date. Results publishing – OET on Paper results are released in about 17 days from the Exam dates, OET on Computer results are released within 10 days for 95% of candidates.