OET practice built for healthcare professionals
The Occupational English Test (OET) assesses the English of nurses, doctors and ten other healthcare professions using scenarios drawn from real clinical workplaces. Regulators in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and elsewhere accept it as proof of English for registration.
DigiSurf Academy gives you exam-format practice for every sub-test — timed like the real thing, marked instantly, with feedback that tells you what to fix next.
What the OET is — in plain terms
Unlike general English tests, every OET task is set in a healthcare context: patient consultations, handovers, referral letters, ward conversations. You are assessed on the English you will actually use at work. The test is owned by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment (CBLA) and is available on computer at a test venue, on paper, and from home in many countries.
Twelve professions can sit the OET, including nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, optometry, dietetics, podiatry, radiography, speech pathology and veterinary science. Listening and Reading are identical for all professions; Writing and Speaking use materials specific to yours.
The four sub-tests at a glance
| Sub-test | Time | Structure | Same for all professions? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | about 40 minutes | Part A consultation notes · Part B short workplace extracts · Part C longer presentations — 42 questions | Yes |
| Reading | 60 minutes | Part A expeditious reading (15 min) · Parts B & C careful reading (45 min) — 42 questions | Yes |
| Writing | 45 minutes | One profession-specific letter, usually a referral, based on case notes | No — profession-specific |
| Speaking | about 20 minutes | Two role-plays with an interlocutor playing a patient or carer | No — profession-specific |
How OET scoring works
Each sub-test is reported on a scale of 0–500 in ten-point steps, mapped to grades A (highest) to E. Most boards and councils ask for a minimum of 350 (grade B) in each sub-test — and they usually require it in every sub-test individually, so a strong Speaking score cannot compensate for a weak Writing one. Some regulators accept 300+ (C+) for certain purposes. Always confirm the exact requirement with your own board.
How DigiSurf prepares you
OET access on DigiSurf is activated per student. Create a free account, then message us on WhatsApp and we will set you up — usually within the hour.
- Reading: 312 exam-format questions across Parts A, B and C, built to the official structure with timed split-pane practice and instant marking.
- Listening: Part A, B and C practice with authentic clinical scenarios and answer review.
- Writing: referral-letter tasks with AI feedback on every OET writing criterion.
- Speaking: role-play practice with AI analysis of your responses.
- Progress tracking that shows your weakest question types so every session targets what matters.
Explore OET practice
Frequently asked questions
Which professions can take the OET?
Twelve healthcare professions, including nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and physiotherapy. Listening and Reading are the same for everyone; Writing and Speaking are specific to your profession.
What score do I need?
Most regulators ask for grade B (a score of 350 out of 500) in each sub-test, though some accept C+ (300+) for certain registrations. Check your own board’s current requirement on the official OET recognition page.
Is DigiSurf’s OET practice free?
OET access is activated per student rather than self-served. Signing up is free — message us on WhatsApp after creating your account and we will activate your OET practice.
Is this the official OET?
No. DigiSurf Academy is an independent preparation platform. We build practice materials to the published exam format; the official test is run by CBLA. Book the real exam at occupationalenglishtest.org.
Official sources & further reading
Exam facts on this page are written in our own words from information published by the test maker. Always confirm current test rules, dates and fees on the official site:
OET® is a registered trademark of Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment Trust (CBLA). DigiSurf Academy is an independent preparation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to CBLA or the official OET. All practice materials on this platform are original works created for preparation purposes.