The Complete OET Guide Nurses Are Using to Pass First Time (And Avoid Costly Retakes)

OET guide for internationally trained nurses

Whether you are a nurse from the Philippines, Nigeria, India, Kenya, or anywhere else in the world with your sights set on the UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, or the UAE, you must pass the OET.

But OET is not the kind of test you can pass without preparing in advance.

What it's testing is whether you can communicate in simple English, under pressure, in writing, face-to-face with a patient who is scared, confused, or not quite sure they trust you yet.

And because you have already done the hard part, becoming a nurse, here is a guideline to help you pass the OET test.

What Is OET?

Alt Text: OET reading subtest guide for nurses

The Occupational English Test (OET), currently called the OET 2.0, is an international English language test designed exclusively for healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers). 

OET assesses whether you can communicate effectively in real clinical settings.

For example, OET tests whether you can read a patient's case notes and write a referral letter for them. Or, explain a patient's discharge plan to a worried loved one.

Therefore, OET is not interested in your understanding of nouns or verbs. It checks whether you can communicate in a hospital setting without making any mistakes.

The good thing with passing an OET test is that it is accepted by healthcare regulatory bodies across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Singapore, and the UAE. 

As for nurses heading to England, it is accepted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as proof of English language proficiency.

Also, the test is available 12 times a year and valid for only 24 months.

Countries and Regulatory Bodies That Recognise OET for Nurses

• United Kingdom: The NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council)

• Australia: AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council

• New Zealand: The NCNZ (Nursing Council of New Zealand) 

• Ireland: The NMBI (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland)

• Singapore: The SNB (Singapore Nursing Board)

• United Arab Emirates: DHA (Dubai Health Authority), DOH (Department of Health Abu Dhabi), MOH (Ministry of Health UAE)

OET Score Requirements for NMC Registration

Just like any test, passing determines whether you are NMC-certified or not. You need Grade B (350 or above) for the reading, speaking, and listening subtests. As for the writing subtest, Grade C (300 or above) to get certified.

Remember, OET scores are on a scale of 0–500, with letter grades:

• A — 450–500 (Exceptional)

• B — 350–440 (Good — minimum required by most regulators)

• C+ — 300–340

• C — 200–290

• D — 100–190

• E — 0–90

How OET Works for Nurses

You can take the OET as:

A. Paper

This used to be the most common way to take the OET exam. It involves traditional pen-and-paper formats, all done in a test center.

B. Computer-based 

Taken online at an approved test centre. Speaking remains face-to-face with an interlocutor at the centre. 

C. OET@Home 

The fully remote, online version of OET. It's computer-based, but instead of a test centre, you take the exam from your own home, supervised by a live online proctor who enforces exam rules via webcam. 

Here are some dos and don'ts while taking the OET@Home

DO’s 

1. Run a system check before test day

2. Log in at your scheduled time

3. Keep your eyes on the screen

4. Stay alone in the room throughout

5. Have a personal computer or laptop, stable internet connection, webcam, microphone, and speakers, valid photo ID, quiet and private room

DON'Ts

1. Look away from the screen repeatedly

2. Leave the room during the test

3. Talk to anyone

4. Cover your webcam

5. Start the test without completing the system check

6. Have phones or smart devices, second monitors or screens, notes, books, papers, other people in the room or earphones (unless approved)

Remember, you sit for the three computer-based sub-tests in the same fixed sequence: 

• Listening — 45 min

• Reading — 60 min

• Writing — 45 min

• Speaking — 20 min

You do these in a single seated session for 2 hours and 50 minutes. Speaking is conducted separately. It can either be later the same day or on a completely different day, with human interlocutor.

OET Sub-Tests

Alt Text: OET listening subtest guide for nurses

OET has four components:

1. Listening (45 minutes). You listen to patient consultations and healthcare discussions. Then, answer questions based on what you hear and how you understand the situation.

2. Reading (60 minutes). You read and interpret clinical documents, patient notes, and healthcare texts. 

3. Writing (45 minutes). You write a professional referral or discharge letter based on patient case notes provided in the test.

4. Speaking (20 minutes). You role-play as a nurse while an examiner plays the patient or carer. You must be very keen when answering the speaking subtest because:

• It tests skills you constantly need on the job, like communicating with carers and patients.

• It assesses whether you can translate medical terms without being too clinical.

• It ensures that you won't make any medical errors in the future when you become certified.

• It checks how you perform under pressure by stimulating real-time thinking.

OET Subtest Tips for Nurses

1. Learn to listen keenly since OET plays the audio test only once. 

To help with this, watch the TV show The Pitt, for gritty, realistic emergency department drama praised by healthcare workers for accuracy, great for fast-paced clinical English.

2. Expose yourself to the English accents of the country you want to move to. 

For instance, listen to these podcasts:

• BBC Inside Health. You will learn the plain language (less medical jargon) you should use with patients.

• The Curbsiders. Covers real clinical situations but in easy-to-understand English.

3. Learn medical vocabulary early before you sit for the OET test. 

• Read articles on Medscape Nursing to learn how to use clinical language naturally.

• Use the OET Reading Part guides on their official website so that you are able to learn how to time yourself and answer the test quickly.

4. Learn how to make your patients feel heard first and understood. 

Watch Call the Midwife to see how nurses in emotionally charged situations lead with empathy before moving to clinical action.

OET Summary Comparison

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I retake only one OET subtest in the UK?

No. The NMC requires you to resit all exams, even if you failed only one.

2. How many times can I sit for the OET?

As many times as you want until you pass the exam. But NMC allows you to combine scores from two separate sittings if you take the tests within one year.

3. Can I use OET for immigration purposes?

No. You will need additional tests like IELTS UKVI to qualify for the Home Office for a Skilled Worker visa.

4. What happens if I fail one sub-test?

When you fail one subtest, you resit for all tests until you reach the pass mark.

5. How long does it take to prepare?

It depends on your English foundation and your willingness to learn. 

6. Is OET accepted in Canada? 

Yes. OET is recognised by the Canadian Nurse Regulators Collaborative (CNRC).

7. How do I get my OET results?

Login in to your OET account. For OET on paper, your results are displayed in the Grade column. For OET@home, check the Results tab. 

8. What is the difference between OET and OET 2.0? 

There is no difference. OET 2.0 is a restructuring of OET that happened in September 2018. So the exam you will be taking right now is OET 2.0.