OET (Occupational English Test) is a standardized English language test that is specifically designed for healthcare professionals. It assesses the language skills of non-native English speakers who are looking to work in the healthcare industry in English-speaking countries.
The OET test is divided into four sub-tests: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Each sub-test is designed to evaluate the language abilities of healthcare professionals in a variety of settings and situations, such as communicating with patients, colleagues, and supervisors, as well as reading and interpreting medical texts.
The test is taken in a variety of healthcare specialties, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, physiotherapy, and others. The test scores are recognized by a number of healthcare regulatory bodies, employers, and educational institutions in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as some countries in the UK and Ireland.
The OET is widely recognized as a reliable and valid test of the language skills of healthcare professionals and is considered a suitable alternative to the IELTS test for those in the healthcare industry.
The OET exam consists of four sub-tests: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Each sub-test is specifically designed to assess the language abilities of healthcare professionals in different settings and situations.
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The Reading sub-test: It includes a variety of texts such as case notes, referral letters, and information leaflets. The test-takers will have 60 minutes to complete the test.
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The Writing sub-test: it includes a letter or a case note. The test-takers will have 45 minutes to complete the test.
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The Listening sub-test: it includes a variety of spoken materials such as consultations, presentations, and telephone messages. The test-takers will have 40 minutes to complete the test.
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The Speaking sub-test: it includes a role-play and a picture description. The test-takers will have approximately 10-15 minutes to complete the test.
Overall, the entire test takes approximately three hours to complete. The scores are reported on a scale of 0-500, with a minimum score of 350 required to pass the test.
It’s important to note that the OET is a computer-based test and it’s held on specific dates, usually once or twice a month. The test is available in various test centers worldwide, so it’s important to check the availability of the test in your location and plan ahead to book your test dates.
What is the marking schema of OET Exam?
The OET exam is scored on a scale of 0-500, with a minimum score of 350 required to pass the test. The scores are divided into four sub-tests: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
The marking schema of the OET exam is as follows:
| Sub-test | Score Scale |
|---|---|
| Reading | minimum 350 out of 500 |
| Writing | minimum 300 out of 500 |
| Listening | minimum 350 out of 500 |
| Speaking | minimum 350 out of 500 |
The scores for each sub-test are determined by a combination of human and computer-based assessment. The test-takers will receive a score report for each sub-test, and an overall score that is the average of the four sub-test scores.
It’s important to note that the OET exam is designed to test healthcare professionals’ abilities to use English in a range of real-life healthcare scenarios, so the scores are based on the test-takers’ ability to communicate effectively and accurately in these situations.
