OET Nursing: Test Format, Writing Task, Speaking and How Nurses Can Prepare

OET for nurses explained: the four sub-tests, what is the same as for doctors, what is nursing-specific in Writing and Speaking, scores and a preparation plan.

OET Nursing is the Occupational English Test for nurses. Nursing is the largest OET profession, and the test has the same four sub-tests as for every other profession. Listening and Reading are identical for all professions. Writing and Speaking use tasks written for nursing.

OET Nursing Format

Sub-test	Time	Nursing-specific?
Listening	About 45 minutes, 42 questions	No. Same for all professions
Reading	60 minutes, 42 questions	No. Same for all professions
Writing	45 minutes	Yes. A letter based on a nursing case
Speaking	About 20 minutes, two role-plays	Yes. Role-plays in a nursing setting

OET Nursing Writing

You read case notes about a patient and write a letter for another health professional. For nurses this is commonly a discharge, transfer or referral letter. Check the current official sample tasks on the OET website for the exact wording. The marking looks at purpose, content, concision and clarity, genre and style, organisation and layout, and language. The key skill is selecting only the information the reader needs.

OET Nursing Speaking

You act as the nurse in two role-plays with an interlocutor playing the patient or carer. Typical tasks include explaining a procedure, giving advice, reassuring a worried patient or explaining discharge care. You are scored on language and on clinical communication skills such as building rapport, listening, explaining clearly and checking understanding.

What Score Do Nurses Need?

Nursing regulators set their own required grades, often a B in each sub-test, and the rules differ between countries. Check your regulator before you register. Our guide to OET Grade B explains how scores and grades work.

How Nurses Can Prepare

Learn the format of all four sub-tests (see OET preparation guide).
Use nursing material for Writing and Speaking, such as nursing case notes and role-plays about discharge, wound care, medication and patient education.
Build Listening and Reading skills with full timed tests. Because these are the same for every profession, practice tests from any healthcare profession still help with format and timing.
Learn nursing language for explaining and reassuring. See the OET vocabulary guide.
Follow a weekly plan such as the 8-week study plan, adapted to your hours.

An Honest Note About Our Practice Tests

HighYield's OET practice is currently written for medicine. The Listening and Reading tests use the same format as the real test for every profession, so they are still useful for format and timing. The Writing and Speaking tasks are written for doctors, so use nursing-specific material for those two sub-tests.

Try the free Listening test or see OET Practice for what is included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OET for nurses?

It is the OET with Writing and Speaking tasks written for nursing, plus the same Listening and Reading tests as every other profession.

How is OET Nursing different from OET Medicine?

Only Writing and Speaking differ, because they use tasks from your own profession.

What score do nurses need in OET?

It depends on the nursing regulator. Many require a B in each sub-test. Confirm with your regulator.

How long does OET Nursing preparation take?

It depends on your starting level. Many working nurses plan for about eight weeks of regular study. Take a diagnostic first.