OET for doctors – Writing & Speaking practice
The Occupational English Test checks that you can communicate safely in English at work. This free hub focuses on the two sub-tests built around real clinical communication: the referral-style letter and the patient role-play.
Your path in 5 steps
- Learn the format and the criteria – this page, 10 minutes.
- Read the Most Tested Skills – the 10 writing and 10 speaking skills the criteria reward most.
- Write one letter a day – exam timing, then tick the checklist, mark yourself and compare with the model.
- Do two role-plays a day – with a partner if you can, or record yourself and listen back.
- Sit an official sample – finish with OET's own free sample tests to check your level under real conditions.
The test at a glance
| Sub-test | Time | What you do | Profession-specific? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | about 45 min | Consultation extracts, short workplace extracts and longer talks | No – same for all professions |
| Reading | 60 min | Short and long healthcare texts | No – same for all professions |
| Writing | 45 min = 5 min reading + 40 min writing | One letter (usually a referral, transfer or discharge letter) from case notes | Yes – Medicine |
| Speaking | about 20 min | An unassessed warm-up, then two role-plays: 3 min to prepare and about 5 min to talk for each | Yes – Medicine |
Each sub-test is scored from 0 to 500 and reported as a grade: A (450–500), B (350–440), C+ (300–340), C (200–290), D (100–190), E (0–90). Many medical regulators – for example in Australia, New Zealand and the UK – ask for Grade B in each sub-test. Always check your own regulator's current rules and OET's website for the latest format.
✍️ Writing – how it is marked
You read case notes about one patient and write a letter of about 180–200 words in the body to a named reader. Assessors look at six criteria:
| Criterion | Band | What it rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | 0–3 | The reason for writing is clear at once and the request is explained. |
| Content | 0–7 | All the information this reader needs, accurately. |
| Conciseness & Clarity | 0–7 | Irrelevant notes left out; the rest summarised clearly. |
| Genre & Style | 0–7 | Professional register and tone for this reader; no note form. |
| Organisation & Layout | 0–7 | Logical paragraphs and correct letter format. |
| Language | 0–7 | Accurate grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation. |
The 5 reading minutes
- Find the reader and the reason for writing
- Mark what this reader needs; strike out the rest
- Plan 4–6 paragraphs
A safe paragraph plan
- Purpose: who, what, why now
- Presenting problem and key findings
- Relevant history and medicines
- Social factors that affect care
- Clear request and closing
Common reasons for losing marks
- Purpose hidden in the third paragraph
- Copying every note in date order
- Note form or abbreviations the reader may not know
- A vague request ("for your review")
🗣️ Speaking – how it is marked
The interlocutor plays the patient or relative. Your performance is recorded and assessed on nine criteria in two groups:
| Linguistic criteria | Band |
|---|---|
| Intelligibility | 0–6 |
| Fluency | 0–6 |
| Appropriateness of language | 0–6 |
| Resources of grammar and expression | 0–6 |
| Clinical communication criteria | Band |
|---|---|
| Relationship building | 0–3 |
| Understanding and incorporating the patient's perspective | 0–3 |
| Providing structure | 0–3 |
| Information gathering | 0–3 |
| Information giving | 0–3 |
The 3 preparation minutes
- Underline every task on your card – you must cover them all
- Write your opening line and 2–3 open questions
- Note the plain words you will use for any medical term
A shape that works
- Greet, introduce, check the name and purpose
- Open question, then listen
- Ideas, concerns, expectations
- Explain in chunks and check
- Plan, summary, safety-net
Common reasons for losing marks
- Talking at the patient for 2 minutes without a pause
- Ignoring an emotional cue ("I'm scared…")
- Medical jargon without explanation
- No summary or safety-net at the end
Official free practice from OET
After practising here, use OET's own materials to check your level under the real format. These open on oet.com: