OET Preparation Course Preview: OET Exam Format Guide

Do you want to boost your chances of reaching your desired grade in the Occupational English Test? Get to know the exam format before you start your review! 

Knowing the test’s structure and coverage will enable you to tailor your studies to its specific demands. So, expand your knowledge about the OET exam. Enroll in an OET preparation course to get an idea of what to expect in the test. Below are some of the things that OET instructors will teach you about the format. 

Listening Test

The listening sub-test contains approximately 20–28 questions that are divided into two sections. Each section includes a 15-minute recording that will pause briefly after each question to give you time to write your answers. You can only listen to the audio material once. The recording tackles general healthcare topics that are accessible to all healthcare professionals. Here’s a run-through of its sections.

Part A | Consultation

Duration: 20–25 minutes

Objective: To evaluate your ability to follow facts during medical consultations.

Task: Listen to a healthcare professional-patient consultation then accomplish a note-taking task.  

Part B | Presentation
Duration: 20–25 minutes

Objective: To evaluate your ability to follow a discussion or conversation about a health-related subject that can realistically take place in the workplace.

Task: Listen to a recorded conversation or lecture that centers on a healthcare topic then answer a series of questions about it.

 

Do you want to test your listening skills with mock OET recordings? Enroll in an OET preparation course. Training facilities, like JRooz OET review center, use mock tests to assess their student’s preparedness for the high-stakes exam. 

Reading Test

The reading sub-test takes an hour to complete. It is divided into two sections, each containing texts about generic healthcare interest subjects that are accessible to all healthcare professionals. The word count of each passage can range from 600 to 800 words. Here’s a run-through of the reading test’s sections. 

Part A | Summary TaskDuration: 15 minutes

Objective: To evaluate your ability to skim, scan, gather, and synthesize information from multiple sources in a short amount of time.

Task: Read 3–4 texts, which approximately have 650 words overall, about a particular subject. Then, fill in the blanks of a summary paragraph about the topic.

Part B | Multiple-Choice QuestionsDuration: 45 minutes

Objective: To evaluate your ability to understand texts that share the structure and language of those published in academic and professional journals. 

Task: Read two passages, which contain approximately 600–800 words each, and answer multiple-choice questions about it.

Consider enrolling in an OET review program to find out if your reading abilities can get you a high score on the exam. 

Writing Test

The writing sub-test is a profession-specific exam. It takes 45 minutes to complete with an established task for each profession (e.g., nurse practitioner, physician, veterinarian, etc.) based on the demands of their work and their typical workplace setup. 

The task is to compose a letter—the kind of which depends on the test taker’s medical expertise. It could be a referral letter, a letter to inform or advise a patient, a letter of discharge, and more. The information you will disclose in your letter will come from a stimulus material (case notes and other relevant documents) provided by the examiner. 

Aside from reviewing your college and work notes, you can also enroll in an OET preparation course to prepare for the writing exam. OET instructors can help your hone your healthcare-related letter composition skills.

Speaking Test

The speaking sub-test takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Like the writing exam, it is profession-specific. It is facilitated in a role-play set-up, in which you will take the role of the healthcare professional while the OET examiner plays the part of the client, patient, or the patient’s guardian. 

The examiner will check your identity and profession at the beginning of the test. Then, after a short warm-up conversation about your professional background, the examiner will state the role-plays. 

You will have 2–3 minutes to prepare for each one. There are two role-plays which take about five minutes each to complete. All the information you need about the situation will be given to you on a card. If you are enrolled in an OET preparation course, your instructor can assess your speaking skills and provide useful feedback if necessary. 

More to Learn

Keep in mind that this article only presents a bird's-eye view of the OET format. Enroll in an OET training course to get a more in-depth analysis of the high-stakes exam.