OET for Nurses: A Complete Guide
The Occupational English Test (OET) is an English skill exam. It is designed specifically for healthcare professionals. This includes nurses who wish to work in English-speaking countries like the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand.
OET Format for Nurses (Nursing-Specific Exam)
The test assesses workplace communication skills through four modules: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The content is tailored to real-life nursing scenarios.
1. Listening (Approx. 40 minutes)
The Listening sub-test is the same for all healthcare professionals and consists of three parts:
Test Structure
- Part A (Consultation Extracts) – Listen to two patient consultations and complete gap-fill notes.
- Part B (Short Workplace Extracts) – Listen to six audio clips from healthcare settings and answer multiple-choice questions.
- Part C (Presentation Extracts) – Listen to two healthcare-related lectures and answer multiple-choice questions.
Key Skills Tested
✔ Understanding patient consultations
✔ Identifying specific details and opinions
✔ Recognizing tone and meaning in professional conversations
2. Reading (Approx. 60 minutes)
The Reading sub-test is the same for all healthcare professionals and consists of three parts:
Test Structure
- Part A (Expedited Reading Task – 15 minutes) – Quickly locate information from four short healthcare texts. These texts include guidelines, manuals, or drug leaflets.
- Part B (Short Texts – 6 Questions) – Read six workplace-based texts and answer multiple-choice questions.
- Part C (Long Texts – 2 Passages) – Read two long texts on healthcare topics and answer multiple-choice questions.
Key Skills Tested
✔ Identifying relevant information in medical texts
✔ Understanding opinions and viewpoints in healthcare discussions
✔ Recognizing implicit and explicit meanings
3. Writing (Approx. 45 minutes)
This section is profession-specific, meaning nurses receive a nursing-related task.
Test Structure
- Task: Write a referral, discharge, transfer, or update letter based on case notes.
- Purpose: The letter must be clear, structured, and relevant to the recipient (e.g., a doctor, physiotherapist, or community nurse).
Key Skills Tested
✔ Writing concisely and clearly in a professional tone
✔ Selecting relevant case note details
✔ Using appropriate medical terminology and grammar
4. Speaking (Approx. 20 minutes)
This section is profession-specific and involves a role-play scenario based on real nursing interactions.
Test Structure
- Warm-up conversation – General discussion about your role and background.
- Two Role-Plays –
- You act as a nurse while the interlocutor plays a patient or caregiver.
- You receive a card describing the scenario (e.g., explaining post-operative care, addressing a patient’s concerns, or educating about medication).
- You have 3 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes for each role-play.
Key Skills Tested
✔ Using empathetic and clear communication
✔ Providing reassurance, advice, and medical information
✔ Handling difficult patients and sensitive topics professionally
OET Scoring for Nurses
- OET is graded from A to E (No Pass/Fail).
- Most nursing boards require a minimum B grade (350/500) in all sections.
OET vs. IELTS for Nurses
| Feature | OET Nursing | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Content | Healthcare-specific | General academic English |
| Writing Task | Referral/Discharge letter | Essay & Report |
| Speaking Test | Role-play with a patient | General discussion |
| Preferred for Nursing Registration | Yes | Yes (depends on country) |
How LinguaLab Helps You Achieve Your OET Nursing Score
At LinguaLab, we specialize in OET training for nurses. We ensure you meet the score requirements. This is necessary for registration in the UK, Australia, Canada, and other countries.
🎯 Our OET Nursing Training Includes:
✅ One-on-One Coaching – Personalized feedback on writing & speaking
✅ Mock Tests & Case Studies – Practice real nursing scenarios
✅ Listening & Reading Strategies – Focus on skimming, scanning, and note-taking
✅ Grammar & Medical Vocabulary Improvement – Avoid common errors
🚀 Start your OET Nursing preparation with LinguaLab and secure your dream job abroad!
Would you like sample letters, practice materials, or speaking role-plays? 😊
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