Occupational English Test
OET guides
How the test is marked, how to prepare for each part, and what happens after your result.
A GP referral letter for OET Writing (medicine), taken apart
An invented GP referral on the suspected cancer pathway, a complete letter to a colorectal surgeon written from it, and the reasoning behind its opening, its paragraph order, its request and why each fact was kept or left in the notes.
Read the postOET Reading for doctors: why clinical knowledge can cost you marks
OET Reading is the same paper for all twelve professions, so doctors meet texts written for pharmacists, physiotherapists and nurses, as well as topics they know well. This guide shows where medical expertise misleads in Parts A, B and C, with invented examples and a practice routine.
Read the postILR changes for nurses, doctors and care workers: what the government decided on 2 November 2026
The government has published its final plan for settlement. The usual wait goes up to 10 years. Registered nurses, doctors and many other health professionals in eligible public-sector jobs can qualify after five years, and care workers who came before May 2025 can keep five years if they meet the pay, English and other requirements. None of the new plan applies until new Immigration Rules are published.
Read the postHow OET is scored: the 0 to 500 scale, the grades, and what Grade B means
Each OET subtest is reported as a number from 0 to 500 and a letter grade. Here is how the two fit together, what the grades mean, and why Grade B is the figure most regulators ask for.
Read the postOET Writing: the six criteria assessors use, and the mistakes that cost the most
The Writing subtest is one letter, written in 45 minutes from a set of case notes, and marked against six published criteria. Knowing what each criterion rewards is the fastest way to a Grade B letter.
Read the postOET Speaking: what happens in the role-play, and what the assessors listen for
The Speaking subtest is two short role-plays with an interlocutor playing a patient or carer, assessed from the recording against nine criteria. Here is the format, the criteria, and how to prepare for a conversation rather than a speech.
Read the postOET Reading: Parts A, B and C, and how to use the 60 minutes
The Reading subtest has three parts with different skills and very different time pressure. This guide explains what each part asks, where the marks are, and a plan for the clock.
Read the postOET Listening: the audio plays once. How to prepare for Parts A, B and C
The Listening subtest has three parts, 42 questions, and one hearing of every recording. This guide covers the format, what each part is testing, and the habits that stop a single missed phrase turning into a run of lost marks.
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