StudyOET Courses

OET stands for Occupational English Test. It is an international English language proficiency test specifically designed for healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and other allied health professionals, who wish to work or study in an English-speaking healthcare environment. Simply the test is recognised by regulatory healthcare boards, councils, and employers in various countries as proof of English language proficiency for healthcare professionals.

OET assesses the four language skills of healthcare professionals: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. If you are a person working in the healthcare sector; no matter what kind of doctor, pharmacist, nurse, dentist, or therapist you are, you need to have good communication skills. Since you are working in the health sector, knowledge of medical terminologies is also mandatory for you. So both day-to-day English skills and general English skills are equally important in the context of the OET test. The better your English language skills, your chance of winning in the OET exam will increase.

There are no specific eligibility criteria to take OET. However, it is recommended that test-takers have a minimum English language proficiency level of B2 (upper intermediate) or higher to be able to perform well on the test. Test-takers must also have a valid identification document, such as a passport, to register for the test.

While all other English tests like IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE examine the aspirants reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The OET is mainly focused on testing the medical English language skills of health care professionals. The test is conducted in a unique manner, and it assesses the English language skills of health professionals in a more scientific way.

First, refer to the official OET portal and understand the exam pattern. After familiarising yourself with the test format, studying the test materials, and practising sample questions, choose a study method suitable for you. A bundle of preparatory courses, study materials, and practise tests is now available. Select the appropriate one focus, and start preparing from day 1 onwards.

OET is offered regularly throughout the year in various test locations around the world. The frequency of test dates may vary depending on the location and demand. Usually, the test is held on the second or third Saturday of the month. An important point that the candidate needs to take note of is that while test dates are available every month, registration is only available for the next two test dates at a time. If you are a candidate looking to apply for OET, take note of that.

OET test results are valid for two years from the date of the test. After the two-year validity period, test-takers would need to retake the test if their results have expired and they require a valid OET score for their purposes.

The candidate has the option to request re-marking. The request for re-marking has to be made within 5 days from the dates on which your results have been published. Be aware that there is a specific fee for each sub-test. The candidate should fill out the OET re-marking form and wait for the assessors to go over their tests. If the re-marking results in a change in your grade, the candidate will receive a new statement of result by email. The changes will also be updated in your profile.

The test costs $587 AUD or $455 USD (US pricing only for those sitting OET on a computer in the USA).

Yes, test-takers can retake the OET if they do not achieve the desired score. There is no limit to the number of times you can take the test. However, there may be restrictions on how soon you can retake the test, so it's best to check the official OET website or contact the authorised test provider for specific information.

The results will be published in your online profile in 17 working days from each test day. After 10 days of online publication, the candidate will also receive a statement of results by mail. The statement of results will also present your grade for each of the four subtests.

The OET score is calculated by evaluating each of the four subtests (writing, speaking, listening, and reading) based on specific areas such as content, language, cohesion, fluency, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, comprehension, and interaction. OET uses a scale from A to E, with A being the highest score and E being the lowest. Each sub-test was scored separately, and test-takers received a separate score for each sub-test. The scores are then averaged to determine an overall grade.