OET Vocabulary: Medical English Phrases for Consultations, Letters and Role-Plays

Useful OET vocabulary and phrases for healthcare professionals: starting a consultation, asking questions, explaining, reassuring, and writing referral letters. Examples you can adapt for OET Speaking and Writing.

OET does not test rare medical terms. It tests whether you can communicate clearly with patients and colleagues. These phrases are useful for OET Speaking, Writing and Listening. Learn them as chunks and practise saying and writing them aloud.

Starting a Consultation

"Hello, I'm Dr/Nurse ____. How can I help you today?"
"Could you tell me a little more about what has been troubling you?"
"Before we begin, may I check your name and date of birth?"

Asking About Symptoms

"How long have you had the pain?"
"Can you describe it? Is it sharp, dull or burning?"
"Does anything make it better or worse?"
"Have you noticed any other symptoms, such as fever or weight loss?"
"Are you taking any medication at the moment?"

Showing Empathy

"I can see this has been very difficult for you."
"It's understandable that you feel worried."
"Thank you for telling me. That must have been hard."

Explaining Clearly

"What this means is that…"
"In simple terms, the test checks whether…"
"The treatment works by…"
"Let me explain what will happen next."

Checking Understanding

"Does that make sense so far?"
"Would you like me to go over anything again?"
"Can you tell me in your own words what you will do at home?"

Giving Advice and Instructions

"I'd recommend that you…"
"It's important to take this medication with food."
"If the pain gets worse, please come back straight away."

Useful Words for Letters

Purpose	Phrases
Opening	I am writing to refer / I would be grateful if you could see
Presenting	presented with, complained of, reported, was admitted with
History	has a history of, is known to have, has no known allergies
Findings	on examination, investigations showed, results revealed
Treatment so far	was prescribed, was commenced on, was advised to
Closing	Please do not hesitate to contact me / Thank you for your assistance

How to Learn Vocabulary for OET

Learn phrases, not single words.
Say each phrase aloud in a made-up consultation.
Use new phrases in your next letter or role-play.
Keep a notebook of phrases that you used wrongly.

See also OET Speaking role-plays, referral letters and the full OET preparation guide.

Practise With Real-Format Tests

OET Practice on HighYield has full-length Listening and Reading tests in the real format, Writing letters with model answers and Speaking role-plays. Try the free Listening test to see how it works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need advanced medical vocabulary for OET?

Not mainly. OET tests communication, so clear everyday explanation of medical ideas matters more than rare terms.

How can I improve OET vocabulary quickly?

Learn phrases in chunks, use them aloud in role-plays, and review the ones you get wrong.

Should I use medical jargon with patients in Speaking?

Avoid it. Explain in plain language, as you would to a real patient, and check understanding.