Occupational English Test – Overview 

 

OET is an international English language test that assesses the language proficiency of

healthcare professionals seeking to register and practice in an English-speaking environment. It

provides a validated, reliable assessment of all four language skills – listening, reading, writing

and speaking – with the emphasis on communication in healthcare professional settings. 

 

OET assesses listening, reading, writing and speaking. 

 

There is a separate sub-test for each skill area. The Listening and Reading sub-tests are

designed to assess the ability to understand spoken and written English in contexts related to

general health and medicine. The sub-tests for Listening and Reading are common to all

professions. The Writing and speaking sub-tests are specific to each profession and are

designed to assess the ability to use English appropriately in the relevant professional context.

 

Paper (Duration)	Content	Remarks
Listening  (approx. 50 minutes)	2 tasks Common to all 12 professionals	Follow and understand a range of health-related spoken materials such as patient consultations and lectures.
Reading (60 minutes)	2 tasks Common to all 12 professionals	Read and understand different types of text on health-related subjects.
Writing (45 minutes) Reading time: 5 minutes Writing time: 40 minutes	1 task Specific to each profession	Write a letter in a clear and accurate way which is relevant for the reader.
Speaking (20 minutes)	2 tasks  Specific to each profession	Effectively communicate in a real-life context through the use of role-plays.

 

How is OET different to general or academic English tests?  

 

OET tests real communication scenarios candidates will experience in the healthcare workplace, whereas other tests assess English language skills using everyday scenarios. 

General or academic English Writing Test: Write an essay on a general topic

OET writing test: Write a healthcare letter usually a referral letter based on case notes.

 

General or academic English-speaking Test: Structured interview on a general topic

OET speaking test: Health professional to patient role-plays.

 

How is OET scored

 

Why should I take OET? 

 

✓OET is the English language test designed specifically for healthcare professionals. 

 

✓OET is recognized as proof of English proficiency by health regulators in the UK, Ireland,

Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, Namibia, Singapore and Ukraine for registration.  

 

✓OET is also accepted by the Australian Department of Immigration and Immigration New

Zealand for all visa categories where an English language test result may be required, including 

Skilled Migrant Category.  

 

✓OET helps develop language skills for success in healthcare courses, clinical placement,

healthcare registration and the workplace.

✓It’s easy to prepare for the test using OET’s preparation resources, many of which are online

and included in the cost of the test.  

 

✓Recommended by past test takers because OET preparation and test materials reflect real

healthcare scenarios, so you’ll know what to expect and feel more confident on test day. 

 

Where and when can I take OET? 

 

OET is available monthly, in over 110 locations in over 40 countries. For OET test dates and a list

of countries and venues where the test is available, visit www.occupationalenglishtest.org 

 

How do I apply for OET? 

 

You apply for OET via our website. You will find all the information you need to apply for OET,

including test regulations, guidelines for uploading photos, test costs and how to pay, at

www.occupationalenglishtest.org/apply

 

What’s in the test?

 

OET covers all four language skills with an emphasis on communication in a healthcare

environment. It consists of four sub-tests:

 

• Listening
• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking

 

The Listening and Reading sub-tests are designed to assess your ability to understand spoken

and written English, based on health-related topics and tasks common to all professions. The

Writing and speaking sub-tests are specific to the 12 individual healthcare professions –

designed to reflect common tasks performed in the workplace. 

 

The four components of OET  

 

Listening sub-test (approximately 40 minutes) 

 

The Listening sub-test consists of three parts:  

• Part A: Two separate consultations between a healthcare professional and a patient
• Part B: Six short dialogues or monologues in workplace settings
• Part C: Two long presentations or interviews with health professionals 

The content for this sub-test is the same for all candidates irrespective of profession.

Reading sub-test (60 minutes)  

 

The Reading sub-test consists of three parts: 

• Part A: An expeditious (fast) reading task
• Part B: Six short workplace extracts
• Part C: Two long presentation passages 

The content for this sub-test is the same for all candidates irrespective of profession. 

 

Writing sub-test (45 minutes)  

 

You will be asked to write a letter – usually a referral letter, based on case notes. In this letter

you should: 

• Record treatment offered to date
• Explain the relevant issues to be addressed (based on given instructions)
• show that you have considered the facts and information
• write 180–200 words, set out in an appropriate format. 

The content for this sub-test is profession specific. 

 

Speaking sub-test (approximately 20 minutes)  

 

This assesses your clinical communication skills. It consists of two simulated consultations

between a healthcare professional and a patient. In these role-plays, you will take the role of

the practitioner and the interviewer plays the patient or patient’s relative/carer (or for

veterinary science, the animal’s owner/carer). 

The content for this sub-test is profession specific. 

 

 

Royal International Language Institute was established on 1 January 2019 with a vision “to

provide premium quality education services and world-class facilities to create value for

students”. Located on the 5th floor of Chitwan Medical College, RILI was started primarily to

provide premium quality Occupational English Test (OET). Furthermore, the location also

provides the test venue for the OET examination which is provided in the association of Chitwan

Medical College.  

 

Our goal is to offer our students the best learning environment allowing them to improve

their language and communication skills during our courses. We believe learning language and

developing communication skills is an individual process. Therefore, we do our utmost to

facilitate each of our students’ personal development and provide them with a comprehensive

and unique learning experience. 

 

RILI believes that the best way to learn and preparation any classes are by taking a practical

approach and directing learning in a personal way. Instructors organize classes tailored to each

individual’s requirements and abilities. Our classes are as original and unique as each one of our

students. 

 

The major services provided by RILI are: 

1) OET preparation classes 

2) IELTS preparation classes

3) PTE preparation classes

4) Counseling on various language course preparation 

 

RILI provided mentioned services with the main purpose to provide the highest standards of

language training that will help unfold the career and personal development of the student. In

the current trend of the Nepalese market, the educational providers are not certified for

providing the preparation classes of OET and the classes are run by the uncertified instructors. 

Hence, the classes are being held by well experienced and certified instructors, and having such

a foundation of instructors, RILI assures to provide students with the highest quality and

effectiveness of every class that we offer at this institute. 

 

Royal International Language Institute’s mission is to be recognized nationwide as a language preparation institution where every preparation class as offered with world-class facilities and learning environments.  

 

Recently RILI has organized the first-ever information session on OET, PTE, and IELTS to provide

the students with a broader picture of the language preparation classes. The program organized

at the premises of Chitwan Medical College and attended by various VIP guests representing

CMC, various media houses, colleges, hospitals, doctors, and students. The program was attended by more than 200 attendees and was successfully ended. Lots of offers, prizes are

provided to the students who registered with institutions. The program aimed to provide

information about OET as the market and students are unaware of the concept of OET and its

benefits.  

 

With a dynamic team and excellent team collaboration here are a few reasons why RILI is the

the best choice for the students. 

 

RILI offers various preparation classes to the students. There are a lot of institutions providing

various classes too in the market. However, the specific courses the students are recommended

might not be the right choice. 

 

Thus, the professional at RILI will help you compare the benefits

and drawbacks of each course and help you choose the best course for students. 

 

Free placement tests, pre-information, and mock test 

 

Another reason for choosing RILI for your career development is the availability of a free

placement test. This test is designed so that student can understand their capability and

measure their English proficiency so that they can decide which course to choose from. RILI also

provides free pre-information on OET or any other course required by students. Free mock tests

in real examination setting at RILI will help the students to build confidence and score the

required marks on their tests. 

 

Dynamic and student-oriented learning 

 

Our method of delivering our lessons is coupled with real-life interactions leading to the rapid

improvement of your language skills. At RILI, we strive tirelessly to provide high-caliber

education for all our students always. The in-house quality evaluation is conducted on a regular

basis by the management as well as submitted through private feedbacks. Rili’s innovative

student-oriented learning approach in small groups guarantees adequate personal attention

and assistance. 

 

Through a series of weekly exams and mock exams with an assessment that closely resembles

the OET assessment criteria; we help our students to get prepared for managing their time and

handling their nerves on the actual exam day. 

 

Chitwan Medical College, OET Test Venue 

 

The idea of starting this institution came up from a group of doctors who were passionate

about starting a medical college (owned by Nepalese doctors) outside of the valley, at a place

which would provide quality education to the medical students and more importantly, provide

affordable and quality health care services to a large population of Chitwan.  

To develop the language and communication skills of these medical professionals Chitwan

Medical College inaugurated the test venue for Occupational English Test (OET) on 7th 

June 2019.  The main aim of CMC behind this venture is to facilitate the healthcare professionals to give OET exam in their hometown. To help the students achieve a good score in their OET test, CMC has partnered with Royal International Language Institute to help students understand and practice the format of the Occupational English Test.  

 

Before CMC started test venue and partnership with RILI students had to go to Kathmandu to

study and appear for the test. In an interview with OET team Mr. Siddeshwar Angadi, Venue

The manager said: “OET reflects the real clinical scenarios which make the test takers more confident

not just to score well in the test but also to work efficiently in clinical settings abroad in English

speaking countries. 

 

Hence, we thought of offering OET to aspiring medicos as a better option.” 

OET CEO, Sujata Stead, said the organization was thrilled to be launching another test venue in

Nepal to join the existing venue in Kathmandu. “Chitwan Medical College offers the

comfortable surroundings, customer-service focus, and robust security that our business,

regulators, and candidates demand. We look forward to working with them to grow OET in the

region,” she added. 

 

Chairman of the OET test venue Mr. Pratap Devkota believes that they will always aim to

provide the candidates with world-class facilities which will help them to give their tests in

a hospitable and comfortable environment. “The staff of the OET test venue is trained and humble.

They are always ready to help the candidates in need and assist them to make the test giving

experience as best as possible,” he commented. 

The Occupational English Test (also known as OET) is the English language test for healthcare Professionals. It assesses the language communication skills of healthcare professionals who Wish to register and practice in an English-speaking environment. OET was designed in the late The 1980s by Professor Tim McNamara, under the guidance of the Australian National Office for Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR), which administered the test at that time.  

The test has been researched and developed continuously since then to ensure that it has kept up with current theory and practice in language assessment. This work has been done by the University of Melbourne’s Language Testing Research Centre and by Cambridge Assessment English. Since March 2013 the test has been owned by Cambridge Box hill Language Assessment Trust (CBLA), a venture between Cambridge Assessment English and Box Hill Institute.

OET has been developed specifically for 12 healthcare professions: Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology, and Veterinary Science.  

Healthcare professionals choose OET because it helps them prove they have the right level of English for work or study, while also learning the kind of language they will need every day at work.  

Healthcare professionals choose OET because: 

• OET uses real healthcare scenarios so you’ll feel more confident on test day. 
• OET is widely recognized as proof of English proficiency for registration, study, and work in the healthcare sector, as well as for visas in some countries. 
• OET helps you develop language skills for success in your career – see stories about people like you. 
• It’s easy to prepare for the test using the OET Preparation Portal – check it out now! 

 

A list of organizations that recognize OET results as proof of English language proficiency:

Australia, Dubai, Ireland, Namibia, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA, and Ukraine. 

OET is recognized by regulatory healthcare boards and councils in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Dubai, Singapore, Namibia, USA, and Ukraine. Many organizations, including hospitals, universities, and colleges, are using OET as proof of a candidate’s ability to communicate effectively in a demanding healthcare environment. Also, OET is recognized by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and Immigration New Zealand for all visa categories where an English test may be required. Each recognizing organization determines which grade results mean that candidates meet the language competency standards to function in their profession.