OET

Healthcare Professions Covered by the OET Exam Syllabus

There are twelve healthcare professions that are included in the OET exam syllabus:

1. Dentistry
2. Dietetics
3. Medicine
4. Nursing
5. Occupational Therapy
6. Optometry
7. Pharmacy
8. Physiotherapy
9. Podiatry
10. Radiography
11. Speech Pathology
12. Veterinary Science

Language Skills Tested by the OET Exam

The OET exam pattern looks at these four areas of English language proficiency, in the order you will take them during your exam. The exam for each area is called a “sub-test.”

• Listening Sub-Test
• Reading Sub-Test
• Writing Sub-Test
• Speaking Sub-Test

Of these four skills tested, the Listening and Reading sub-tests are more general, so these two sub-tests use the same syllabus aka format for all OET professions. The pattern of the Writing and Speaking sub-tests is specifically tailored to your medical specialty.

For example, the OET exam format for doctors will have a letter writing task that reflects what they may be expected to write at their job. The exam syllabus for nurses will have two speaking role plays that reflect how a nurse would communicate with a real patient at a hospital or clinic.

Even though the content of the OET exam is different for each profession, the syllabus and pattern of the exam is identical, and the scoring is also the same.

 How Much Time Does the OET Exam Take?

The actual OET exam will last almost three hours, though you should also allow extra time for checking in, reading instructions, etc. You will get a break before you take the Speaking sub-test, especially if it is scheduled later in the day. However, each exam center is different and may have a different schedule.

Here is a breakdown of how much time is allowed for each sub-test.

OET Listening Sub-Test

The OET Listening sub-test lasts 50 minutes and the pattern consists of three parts, A, B, and C. You will have a total of 42 questions about general healthcare topics. These will be similar to everyday healthcare situations and conversations you might have with your colleagues. Remember, the OET Listening sub-test uses the same syllabus for all OET occupations.

Listening Part, A

The pattern of OET LISTENING PART A will assess your ability to identify specific information. You will hear two conversations, or “extracts,” between a medical professional and a patient. On your OET answer sheet (or on the screen if you are taking OET on Computer), you will see written case notes containing empty blanks.

Listening Part B

The pattern of OET LISTENING PART B tests your ability to understand the general idea, or “gist,” of a short extract. If you are taking OET on paper, you will need to use a number 2B pencil on a computerized answer sheet for this section. Follow the instructions carefully, because you may lose marks if your answers are not entered correctly.
Listening Part C

The syllabus for Listening Part C is very similar to Listening Part B; however, the extracts are longer. The syllabus for Listening Part C tests your ability to understand and follow an interview or a presentation. These audio extracts contain general medical topics suitable for all professions.

OET Reading Sub-Test

Like the Listening sub-test, the pattern of the Reading sub-test is also three sections, A, B, and C. You will have 60 minutes to complete this sub-test.

Reading Part A

The syllabus of Part A tests your ability to skim and scan for information. You will see a collection of three or four short texts, all relating to one health-related subject. You will need to answer 20 questions that require you to find specific information in the texts. The pattern of question types in this section consists of matching, fill-in-the-blanks, and short answer.

You have 15 minutes to answer the questions in Part A. Answers will be written on the answer sheet (OET on paper) or typed into the corresponding boxes on your computer (OET on Computer). However, unlike in Listening Part A, spelling and capitalization DO matter in Reading Part A. If your answer is not spelled correctly, you will lose the point for that answer.

Reading Part B

In Part B, you will be tested on how well you can identify detail, gist, or the main point of six short texts. Again, these texts contain medical information of general interest to any profession, such as an extract from a manual, or an internal communication.

There are six texts in the syllabus of Reading Part B. Each text will have one multiple choice question, for a total of 6 questions. As in Listening Part B, the test pattern requires candidates to complete Part B on a computerized answer sheet with a number 2B pencil.

Reading Part C

Your time for Reading Parts B and C is combined. You have 45 minutes total, and it is up to you to manage your time well so you can complete both sections.
The OET exam format for Part C contains two longer texts and will test your ability to identify the attitude and opinion of the writer, as well as meanings that may be implied by what you read. Again, the topics of these texts are of general medical interest.

Each text has 8 multiple choice questions, for a total of 16 questions in Part C. And like Listening Part C, the questions are in the same order as the information is presented in the text.

OET Writing Sub-Test

The syllabus of the OET Writing sub-test asks you to write one formal letter based on a typical workplace situation. This task is based on your profession. In other words, the OET exam pattern for doctors is to write a letter specific to medicine, and the OET exam pattern for nurses is to write a letter specific to nursing, etc.

OET Speaking Sub-Test

Your appointment for the OET Speaking Sub-Test may be on the same day as your written exam, or it may be on a different day. In any case, you can be sure it will be scored together with your Listening, Reading, and Writing sub-tests.

The OET syllabus and test format for these role plays asks you to meet one-on-one with an interlocutor, who will help you complete two role-playing situations. You will be the health care professional, and the interlocutor will play the part of the patient. If you are taking the OET on paper, you will meet with an interlocutor in person.

First, you will chat informally with the interlocutor, to help you feel more comfortable. This chat is not scored. Then, the interlocutor will give you a role play card, which is specific to your OET profession and describes a scene that would be common in your normal workday. For example, the OET test pattern for a doctor may be to help a mother and young child at a clinic.

You will have three minutes to review your role play card. You will see background information about the patient, and several topics you must cover during your conversation. Then, you will have five minutes for your role play.

The OET speaking format requires you to complete two role plays with the interlocutor. Your conversations are recorded, and these recordings will be sent to experienced OET assessors for scoring. The assessors will not see you; they will only hear your voice.

OET Scoring

Scores for the four sections of the OET exam pattern are all given equal weight. In other words, no sub-test is worth more than another, and they are all of equal importance. You will receive a score from 0 to 500 which can later be converted to grade from A to E for each sub-test. Check with your registration body to be sure you know the OET grade/score you will need to satisfy their requirements. 
Let’s take a look now at the scoring pattern for each sub-test.

OET Listening and OET Reading

In the Listening and Reading sub-tests, your answers are either correct or incorrect. Remember that in Reading Part A, your answers must be spelled correctly to earn the point for that question. The computer will mark your answers for Parts B and C, with the answers being either correct or incorrect. Checkout this Listening and Reading Calculator to convert your correct answers to OET grades.

OET Writing and OET Speaking

Because of the format of the Writing and Speaking sub-tests, they do not necessarily have correct or incorrect answers. Again, your OET letter and your OET role plays will be scored independently by a minimum of two trained assessors.
For the syllabus of the Writing sub-test, candidates are scored based on their ability to write a formal letter in the OET letter format. The assessors will make sure your letter:

Course Duration

The Duration of the OET course offered by our institute is 40Hourse /50 Hours/60 Hours, which can be completed by 20 Days.