About OET or Occupational English Test
About OET - Occupational English Test
The OET is an international English test for healthcare professionals. It is recognized by government healthcare bodies around the world to assess the language communication skills of medical professionals.
OET tests health practitioners from the following 12 professions: dentistry, dietetics, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry, radiography, speech pathology, and veterinary science.
Why OET ?
OET is now accepted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), General Medical Council (GMC) and most recently the General Pharmaceutical Council in the UK as an alternative to the IELTS.
By taking OET you will prove you have the right level of English plus you’ll be learning the kind of language you will need every day at work. As the only English language test made specifically for the healthcare industry, it uses real healthcare scenarios – which can make you feel more confident than an academic English test.
The test is available on the dates shown in the table at most centers on the same day, but please check your local center dates to be sure.
OET exams are available up to twice a month
Most frequent questions and answers - FAQ about OET
If you are booking your OET test on a test venue, it closes 10 days before the test date
You can improve your score by re-taking the test as many times as you want.You need to check the test dates which happens twice a month.
The OET exam is limited by the availability but also OET Test Regulations prohibits you from having more than one booking per test administration. In the same test administration it is not possible to have have multiple bookings across delivery modes.
Yes. OET allows you to resit and take the test on one section at a time. This can help you improve your score for a specific sub-test and to pass the OET exam if one section didn’t got the required score. But make sure you check the requirements of the healthcare board or authority where you are applying, as they only accept certificates which show you took all 4 papers at the same time.
It is valid for 2 years, however there are some organizations that may accept OET results after 2 years, which usually are subject to certain conditions.
Getting a B grade is not easy, but it is a grade that is required by most healthcare bodies. High quality preparation is key. SLC offers excellent preparation courses that will help you achieve a B grade.
What is the difference between OET and IELTS? Which is easier?
- The key difference for you as a health care worker, is that 100% of the OET exam topics, readings, role-plays, etc are from realistic healthcare contexts; IELTS is more General English with some academic English focus, too. The OET medical contexts should therefore both improve your confidence in the exam (you will be very familiar with the healthcare vocabulary and contexts), and also help you when you are back at work - our preparation course will give you feedback on your performance and English.
Is this an exam you need to prepare for?
- The OET exam has quite specific formats for each paper, each of which will need quite specific exam strategies. We will raise your awareness of the different strategies to try to use, give you practice, reflection and feedback time for these. This will maximize your confidence and chances of success going into the exam.
I've watched online preparation materials and videos - how is an intensive course different?/Is a formal course necessary?
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Online preparation videos and blogs are good and have a place in your own self study preparation. However, there is no interactive element, and therefore no chance for you to ask live questions, and no chance for you to have any feedback on your own individual progress, English weaknesses, and skill specific strategies.
Is the course suitable for all 12 professions?
- No, the OET preparation course is authorized in the UK to prepare health care workers for nurses, midwives and doctors.
My healthcare profession isn't listed, is this is the exam/course for me?
- Our OET exam center has exams for the various OET disciplines, but our preparation course is focused on nurses, midwives and doctors.
How long does an OET certificate last?
- You need to check with the relevant registered body in the UK (eg NMC or GMC). These typically state that OET qualifications are valid for two years.
I am not yet a qualified healthcare professional, will this course help me?
- No, this preparation course is for those already qualified in their own countries as healthcare professionals and is not a Medical English course. This preparation course is only for nurses, midwives and doctors.
