Free OET Practice Test and Study Guide [2026]
Last updated: July, 2026
Prepare for your healthcare career with our comprehensive OET practice tests. This page provides free sample questions, detailed answer explanations, and strategic insights for the Occupational English Test (OET).
In addition to these free resources, we offer a full OET preparation platform featuring interactive simulations and AI-driven feedback to help you build the skills and confidence needed to secure a Grade B or higher.
The Occupational English Test (OET) evaluates English language proficiency through simulated healthcare scenarios. To succeed on an OET sample test, candidates must demonstrate clinical communication excellence across four specific sub-tests:
OET Reading Sub-test: Includes 42 questions to be completed in 60 minutes. It assesses the ability to understand healthcare-related texts and medical instructions.
OET Listening Sub-test: Consists of 42 questions lasting approximately 40 minutes. It measures the ability to follow consultations and health lectures.
OET Writing Sub-test: A 45-minute profession-specific task. Candidates must synthesize case notes into a formal healthcare letter (e.g., referral or discharge letter).
OET Speaking Sub-test: Includes 2 profession-specific role-plays (20 minutes total). This clinical simulation assesses communication with patients or relatives.
Let's explore the OET sub-tests. Click a category to jump to the corresponding section.
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The OET sample test for reading consists of three parts designed to test your ability to skim, scan, and understand implicit meaning in medical texts.
| Notes | Quantity for 15g Carbohydrate | Item | Treatment Type |
| Rapidly absorbed; preferred first-line | 3–4 tablets | Dextrose/Glucotabs | Glucose Tablets |
| Avoid "zero" or "diet" versions | 150ml | Non-diet soda | Sugar Drinks |
| Slower absorption if contains pulp | 150ml–200ml | Orange juice | Fruit Juice |
| Dissolve in small amount of water | 3–4 cubes | Sugar cubes | Sugar |
| Jelly babies | 5–7 pieces | Difficult for patients with dysphagia | Confectionery |
Hypoglycemia is defined as a blood glucose level (BGL) below 4.0 mmol/L. For conscious patients capable of swallowing, immediate treatment consists of 15g of fast-acting carbohydrate. BGL should be re-tested after 15 minutes. If levels remain below 4.0 mmol/L, the treatment should be repeated up to three times.
Once the BGL is above 4.0 mmol/L, a long-acting carbohydrate snack (e.g., a slice of bread or two biscuits) must be provided to prevent a secondary drop. For unconscious patients or those with impaired swallowing, do not attempt oral treatment. Instead, administer 1mg of Glucagon via intramuscular (IM) injection or 100ml of 10% Glucose intravenously (IV).
For the following question, decide which text (1 or 2) the information comes from.
Note that in the actual OET Reading, you will be presented with 4 reading sources.
In which text can you find information about the correct medical response for a patient who is not conscious?
Answer the following question with a word or short phrase from the texts.
How many sugar cubes are required to provide the standard 15g carbohydrate dose? Answer:_____________
Complete the sentence with a word or short phrase from the texts.
To avoid a further decrease in blood sugar once levels have stabilized, the patient should be given a ____________________.
In this part of the test, there is a short extract relating to the work of health professionals. For the question below, choose the answer (A, B, or C) which you think fits best according to the text.
Guideline: Reporting Medical Device Defects
All staff must remain vigilant regarding the performance of medical equipment. If a device is suspected of being defective or has caused a 'near miss' incident, it must be withdrawn from service immediately and clearly labeled 'Do Not Use'. The ward manager must be notified, and a formal report should be submitted to the Clinical Engineering Department within 24 hours. Staff are cautioned not to attempt any unauthorized repairs or adjustments, as this may interfere with subsequent investigations by the manufacturer or regulatory bodies. In cases where a patient has been harmed, the device must be sequestered with all its original packaging and disposables intact for forensic analysis.
In the following questions, choose the most correct answer based on the text. Note that in the actual OET Reading assessment, the text would be longer to include 8 questions.
Palliative care was once narrowly defined as "end-of-life" care, reserved strictly for patients in their final days or weeks of life. This historical perspective often led to a delay in referrals, as both clinicians and families associated the service exclusively with the cessation of curative treatment. However, modern medicine has undergone a paradigm shift, now viewing palliative care as a supportive layer that should be integrated early in the trajectory of any life-limiting illness, regardless of the patient's prognosis.
Recent studies suggest that early integration of palliative services can lead to significant improvements in both quality of life and, surprisingly, survival rates. By focusing on symptom management—such as pain, dyspnea, and psychological distress—specialized teams allow patients to better tolerate the rigors of aggressive treatments like chemotherapy. This synergy between curative and supportive care challenges the outdated "either/or" mentality, suggesting that the most effective clinical outcomes are achieved when these two disciplines work in tandem.
In the first paragraph, the writer suggests that the traditional view of palliative care:
What is the "synergy" mentioned in the second paragraph?
As can be seen, the Reading part requires comprehension skills, including identifying themes, allocating information, and summarizing main ideas. We recommend practicing your OET Reading Comprehension skills with our full-length test simulations and realistic practice materials.
In this OET english test sample, you will hear recordings of patient consultations and health lectures. You must demonstrate that you can follow a conversation even with background noise or different accents.
The OET Listening is very challenging since it requires absolute focus – you can only play the audio recording once! To be best prepared, you should not only be familiar with healthcare vocabulary and proper grammar, but also practice your OET Listening skills with our full-length test simulations designed to mirror the real exam experience.
The OET Speaking sub-test is very different from the previous ones we covered. While the Reading and Listening sub-tests are straightforward aptitude assessments, this "test" is quite different. Here, you will perform two interactive scenarios with an official OET assessor.
The scenarios will include a profession-specific role-play, lasting 5 minutes each. You will start by reviewing a candidate card with essential information regarding the scenario and points to cover, and then begin.
We will now review such a scenario. You can either enter the Candidate card to review your instructions, followed by key points we have constructed to address according to the OET scoring criteria, or enter the Roleplayer card, with which you and a peer can perform a simulation:
This unique sub-test should not be practiced alone. We recommend performing different clinical scenarios with peers, challenging one another, and providing detailed feedback to improve your speaking abilities and confidence. In our full OET prep course, you’ll get access to 10 realistic role-playing speaking scenarios designed to help you build confidence and prepare for the real exam.
The OET Writing sub-test is a 45-minute profession-specific task. Unlike standard English exams, this sample OET exam requires you to synthesize clinical "Case Notes" into a formal professional letter (typically a referral, discharge, or transfer letter).
The Goal: Produce a clear, concise letter of 180 to 200 words.
The Key to Success: Do not simply rewrite the notes. You must selectively include only the information relevant to the recipient to score highly.
The Assessment: You are evaluated on your ability to use proper professional English and follow specific formatting instructions under a strict time limit.
OET Exam Sample: Case Study & Model Letters
Review the clinical case report below, followed by a high-scoring "Good" letter and a "Bad" example to see the difference in information selection.
The Writing section should be addressed after thorough practice. You should be familiar with both the format of a formal letter as well as nomenclature and abbreviations. We also recommend reading texts and practicing your grammar skills. In our full OET prep course, you’ll get access to 5 realistic writing simulation tasks designed to strengthen your medical writing and exam performance.
Once you have mastered these OET exam sample tests, you can book your official assessment through the OET website. The test is available in three formats:
OET uses a 0–500 scoring scale (with Grade A–E), while IELTS uses a 0–9 band scale. Most healthcare regulators (e.g., NMC, GMC, AHPRA) require OET Grade B (≥350) in each sub-test, which is roughly equivalent to IELTS 7.0–7.5, depending on the regulator.
Key differences:
| Feature | OET | IELTS |
| Scoring scale | 0–500 (Grade A–E) | Band 0–9 |
| Target audience | Healthcare professionals | General academic/test takers |
| Content | Clinical scenarios (e.g., referral letters, patient role-plays) | Academic/general topics |
| Pass requirement | Typically 350+ in each sub-test | Usually 7.0+ overall (varies) |
| Acceptance | Healthcare regulators (UK, AU, NZ, etc.) | Universities, immigration, some regulators |
This depends entirely on the regulatory body in your target country. For example, the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and General Medical Council (GMC) have specific "clubbing" rules that allow you to combine scores from two sittings under strict conditions (usually within six months of each other and meeting minimum scores in all areas). Always check with your specific board before booking.
The content, tasks, and difficulty level are identical across all formats. The main differences are the delivery method and location. OET on Paper is held at physical test centers; OET on Computer is also held at centers but uses a digital interface; OET @ Home is a remote-proctored version available in specific regions where test centers are inaccessible.
No. The 180–200 word limit applies only to the "body" of the letter. Including the recipient's address, the date, the "Re:" line, and the sign-off will not count toward this limit. However, you should not be overly concerned with an exact word count; focus instead on including all relevant clinical information and excluding irrelevant details.
In Listening Part A (note-completion), minor spelling errors are generally not penalized as long as the meaning is clear and the word is not a different medical term. However, in the Reading and Writing sub-tests, spelling and grammar accuracy are much more strictly evaluated.
The interlocutor is required to stop you at the 5-minute mark. Do not panic if you haven't finished every task on the card. The assessors are looking for your ability to communicate effectively and build rapport, not just "tick boxes." If you have demonstrated the required linguistic and clinical communication skills, you can still achieve a high grade without finishing the card.
While reading medical journals (like The Lancet or BMJ) is great for vocabulary, OET-specific materials are crucial because they mirror the exact structure of the exam. For example, Reading Part A requires a specific "scanning" technique for tables and short texts that you won't practice simply by reading long-form articles.
Most candidates with an upper-intermediate level of English require 4–6 weeks of dedicated preparation to familiarize themselves with the test format and clinical communication criteria. If your English level is lower, we recommend a longer preparation period focusing on grammar and professional vocabulary before attempting full-length simulations.
The OET uses medical context, which feels more natural, but its criteria for "clinical communication" are much stricter. You must understand your OET scores as a measure of professional safety, not just language.
OET failure costs are significantly more than the $400 registration fee. When factoring in lost wages from a delayed relocation. Read more about this here.
The main differences lie in how you craft your Purpose Statement and which Case Notes you select. A referral focuses on the transition of care for ongoing treatment, while a discharge letter focuses on the patient’s recovery progress and future management requirements.
Learn more about OET Writing structures for referral and discharge letters.
