OET for Doctors (Medicine) – Complete Guide
The Occupational English Test (OET) for doctors (medicine) is an English proficiency exam tailored for medical professionals who want to work in English-speaking countries like the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. It evaluates real-life medical communication skills essential for doctors.
1. OET Listening (Approx. 40 minutes)
The Listening sub-test is the same for all healthcare professionals and is divided into three parts:
Test Structure
- Part A (Consultation Extracts) – Listen to two patient-doctor interactions and complete gap-fill notes.
- Part B (Short Workplace Extracts) – Listen to six workplace-based audio clips (e.g., handovers, meetings) and answer multiple-choice questions.
- Part C (Presentation Extracts) – Listen to two medical presentations or interviews and answer multiple-choice questions.
Key Skills Tested
✔ Understanding doctor-patient dialogues
✔ Identifying details and medical advice
✔ Recognizing tone and professional language
2. OET Reading (Approx. 60 minutes)
The Reading sub-test is the same for all healthcare professionals and is divided into three parts:
Test Structure
- Part A (Expedited Reading Task – 15 minutes) – Skim and scan four short medical texts (guidelines, research summaries, drug leaflets) to answer gap-fill and matching questions.
- Part B (Short Texts – 6 Questions) – Read six workplace-based texts (hospital policies, patient handovers, etc.) and answer multiple-choice questions.
- Part C (Long Texts – 2 Passages) – Read two detailed medical articles (healthcare advancements, research studies) and answer multiple-choice questions.
Key Skills Tested
✔ Extracting relevant information from medical texts
✔ Understanding viewpoints in healthcare articles
✔ Identifying implicit and explicit meanings
3. OET Writing (Approx. 45 minutes)
This section is profession-specific, meaning doctors receive a medicine-related writing task.
Test Structure
- Task: Write a referral, discharge, transfer, or update letter based on given case notes.
- Purpose: The letter must be clear, concise, and appropriate for the recipient (e.g., a specialist, GP, or hospital).
Key Skills Tested
✔ Selecting relevant clinical information
✔ Writing logically structured letters
✔ Using medical terminology & professional tone
4. OET Speaking (Approx. 20 minutes)
This section is profession-specific and involves a doctor-patient role-play scenario.
Test Structure
- Warm-up conversation – Discuss your background and medical experience.
- Two Role-Plays –
- You act as a doctor, while the interlocutor plays a patient, relative, or healthcare colleague.
- You receive a card with details (e.g., explaining a diagnosis, advising treatment).
- You have 3 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes for each role-play.
Key Skills Tested
✔ Explaining medical conditions clearly
✔ Providing reassurance & empathy
✔ Giving professional advice in a structured way
OET Scoring for Doctors
- Graded from A to E (No Pass/Fail).
- Most medical councils (GMC, ECFMG, AMC, etc.) require a minimum B grade (350/500) in all modules.
OET vs. IELTS for Doctors
| Feature | OET Medicine | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Content | Medical-specific | General academic English |
| Writing Task | Referral/Discharge letter | Essay & Report |
| Speaking Test | Role-play with a patient | General discussion |
| Preferred for Medical Registration | Yes | Yes (depends on country) |
How LinguaLab Helps You Achieve Your OET Medicine Score
At LinguaLab, we provide expert coaching for OET Medicine, ensuring you achieve the required scores for medical licensing in the UK, Australia, Canada, and other countries.
🎯 Our OET Medical Training Includes:
✅ One-on-One Coaching – Personalized feedback on writing & speaking
✅ Mock Tests & Role-Plays – Simulated doctor-patient scenarios
✅ Listening & Reading Strategies – Techniques to improve comprehension
✅ Medical Vocabulary & Grammar Improvement – Learn professional terminology
🚀 Start your OET Medicine preparation with LinguaLab and move closer to your dream medical career abroad!
Would you like sample letters, practice tests, or speaking role-plays? 😊
Contact us now!
