Navigation

OET Exam Pattern

The format of the Occupational English Test, sub-test by sub-test.

Sub-test	Duration	Structure	Detail
Listening	~45 minutes	3 parts (A, B, C)	~42 questions
Reading	60 minutes	3 parts (A, B, C)	~42 questions
Writing	45 minutes	1 profession-specific letter	5 min reading + 40 min writing
Speaking	~20 minutes	2 role-plays with an interlocutor	3 min preparation per role-play

How the test runs

Listening, Reading and Writing are taken one after another in a single session, on paper or on computer depending on your test centre. The Speaking sub-test is a one-to-one session with a trained interlocutor and is often scheduled separately on the same day.

Listening

Part A has two recorded consultations between a health professional and a patient - you complete notes as you listen. Part B is six short workplace extracts with one multiple-choice question each. Part C is two longer presentations or interviews with six multiple-choice questions each. The recordings are played once.

Reading

Part A is a 15-minute expeditious-reading task: four short texts on a single topic and 20 gaps to fill. Part B is six short workplace texts, one multiple-choice question each. Part C is two longer texts with eight multiple-choice questions each, testing detail, opinion and inference.

Writing

You are given a set of case notes and a task - usually a referral letter, but sometimes a discharge or transfer letter, or a letter to a patient or carer. You have five minutes to read before you may write, then 40 minutes to produce a letter of around 180-200 words. The task is specific to your profession.

Speaking

After a short unassessed warm-up about your background, you complete two role-plays based on task cards. You take your professional role and the interlocutor plays a patient, client or carer. Each role-play has about three minutes of preparation and lasts around five minutes.