OET Test Structure and Samples
Total Test Time: Approximately 3 hours
Test Mode: Computer-based or paper-based (listening & reading shared across all professions; speaking & writing are profession-specific)
Sections: 4 Main Parts
Tasks
Part A: Consultation Extracts
Part B: Short Workplace Extracts
Part C: Presentation Extracts
Skills Tested
Listening for specific info
Gist + detail comprehension
Understanding attitudes/opinions
Notes
Two patient-professional dialogues; fill-in-the-blank answers
Six 1-minute recordings; multiple choice
Two 4–5 minute talks; multiple choice
Task
Part A: Expedited Reading
Part B: Short Workplace Texts
Part C: Long Text Comprehension
Skills Tested
Scanning, skimming
Main ideas, gist, inference
Detailed understanding
Notes
Match headings, sentence completion, short-answer questions
Six texts (100–150 words each); multiple choice
Two texts (800 words each); multiple choice
Task
Profession-specific Letter
Skills Tested
Writing a referral/discharge/transfer letter
Notes
Based on case notes; profession-specific task
Task
Profession-specific Role-Plays
Skills Tested
Clinical communication in English
Notes
Warm-up conversation + two 5-minute role plays