OET Listening

Understanding the OET Listening Sub-test

The OET Listening sub-test is designed specifically for healthcare professionals. Unlike general English tests, it focuses entirely on medical and healthcare workplace scenarios that you'll encounter in your professional life.

Delivery Modes (Paper vs. Computer)

• On the computer version, you type your answers for Part A and click radio buttons for Parts B and C.
• All computer-based versions provide noise-canceling headphones, which can impact how you practice compared to using speakers.

Test Format

The test has three parts with a total of 42 questions:

Part

Content

Questions

Focus

Preparation Time

Audio Length

Task Type

Part A

Consultation extracts

24

Patient consultations

30 seconds per extract

~5 mins per extract

Note completion 

Part B

Workplace communication

6

Short workplace extracts

15 seconds per extract

~1 min per extract

Multiple choice (3 options)

Part C

Presentation extracts

12

Healthcare presentations/interviews

90 seconds per extract

~5 mins per extract

Multiple choice (4 options)

Grading System

Grade

Score Range

Meaning

A

450-500

High level of performance

B

350-440

Good level of performance

C+

300-340

Acceptable for some purposes

C

200-290

Requires improvement

D

100-190

Significant improvement needed

E

0-90

Very limited English ability

Note: Most nursing and medical boards require Grade B (350+) in each sub-test.

Part A: Consultation Extracts

You'll hear two healthcare professional-patient consultations (about 5 minutes each). Complete notes while listening.

What to Expect

• Extract 1: Initial consultation or assessment
• Extract 2: Follow-up or different clinical scenario
• Each extract played once only
• Notes already partially completed - fill in gaps

Strategy

1. Use preparation time (30 seconds per extract to preview notes):

• Predict what information you need
• Identify if answers are names, numbers, conditions, etc.
• Note word limits for each gap

1. While listening:

• Write answers immediately when you hear them
• Use abbreviations, spell correctly later
• Don't stop if you miss one - keep listening
• Listen for paraphrases of the prompts.

Note: Standard medical abbreviations (e.g., BP for blood pressure, BMI, PRN) are officially accepted as final answers in Part A, provided they are common in that healthcare profession.

1. After each extract:

• Check spelling of medical terms
• Verify word limits
• Ensure answers make sense contextually.

Note: OET assessors now allow for minor spelling errors in Part A as long as the meaning is clear and the word isn't a general English term where spelling is critical.

Common Answer Types

• Patient details (age, occupation, lifestyle)
• Symptoms and their characteristics
• Medical history and medications
• Diagnosis and treatment plans
• Dosages and frequencies
• Follow-up instructions

Example Note Completion

You might see: "Patient reports experiencing (1) _______ for the past two weeks"

You hear: "So you've been having headaches for about a fortnight now?"

Answer: headaches

Part B: Workplace Communication

Six short extracts (about 1 minute each) from healthcare workplace settings. Answer one multiple-choice question per extract.

Extract Types

• Team briefings
• Handover conversations
• Telephone calls
• Announcements
• Instructions
• Staff meetings

Question Focus Areas

• Main purpose or topic
• Speaker's attitude or opinion
• Specific details or actions
• Recommendations or decisions

Strategy

1. Use the preparation time wisely: You have 15 seconds per extract to read the question and options before the audio plays
2. Identify the focus: Is it about purpose, detail, or opinion?
3. Listen for key information related to the question
4. Eliminate wrong answers based on what you heard
5. Don't overthink - first instinct is often correct

Common Traps

• Options that are mentioned but aren't the main point
• Answers that sound similar but have different meanings
• Details that are partially correct but incomplete

Part C: Presentation Extracts

Two longer recordings (about 5 minutes each) of presentations, lectures, or interviews on healthcare topics. Answer 6 multiple-choice questions per extract.

Content Types

• Medical lectures
• Health seminars
• Research presentations
• Interviews with healthcare professionals
• Case discussions

Question Types

• Main idea or purpose
• Specific details
• Speaker's opinion or attitude
• Implications or inferences
• What the speaker suggests or recommends

Strategy

1. Preview all 6 questions during preparation time (90 seconds per extract to read all 6 multiple-choice questions)
2. Note keywords from questions and options
3. Take notes on main points while listening
4. Listen for signal phrases:

• "The main point is..."
• "What's important to note..."
• "Research suggests..."
• "In my opinion..."

1. Match your notes to the questions after listening

Note-Taking Tips

• Focus on the main ideas, not every detail
• Note the speaker's opinions and attitudes
• Record any statistics or specific examples
• Use symbols for relationships (→, ↑, ↓, =)

Test Completion: The Final Check

Once the audio for Part C concludes, you have a brief window to finalize your paper or digital transcript before the 40-minute session ends.

• Finalize Part A: Ensure the notes you scribbled during the consultations are legible and fit the context of the prompts.
• Check Spelling: Verify the spelling of medical terms, symptoms, and conditions.
• Audit Word Limits: Confirm that none of your Part A answers exceed the required word count.
• Review Multiple Choice: Quickly scan your selections for Part B and Part C to ensure no questions were left blank.

Healthcare Vocabulary Essentials

Symptoms and Conditions

Term

Meaning

Acute

Sudden onset, severe

Chronic

Long-lasting

Intermittent

Coming and going

Progressive

Getting worse over time

Bilateral

Both sides

Medical Instructions

Term

Meaning

PRN

As needed

TDS/TID

Three times daily

BD/BID

Twice daily

Stat

Immediately

Post-op

After surgery

Healthcare Settings

Term

Meaning

Ward

Hospital department

Triage

Assessment/prioritization

Referral

Sending to a specialist

Discharge

Leaving hospital

Handover

Shift change communication

Listening Skills Development

Improving Medical English Comprehension

1. Watch medical content: Documentaries, news about healthcare
2. Listen to medical podcasts: Healthcare-focused English content
3. Practice with OET materials: Official practice tests
4. Learn pronunciation: How medical terms sound (not just spelling)

Accent Familiarity

OET includes various English accents:

• British
• American
• Australian
• Some non-native but clear speakers

Practice with diverse accents to be comfortable with all variations.

Number and Measurement Practice

Healthcare listening often includes:

• Dosages (mg, ml, mcg)
• Vital signs (temperature, blood pressure)
• Time frames (weeks, months, daily)
• Frequencies (twice daily, every 4 hours)

Practice writing these quickly and accurately.

Practice Recommendations

1. Daily Practice: 20-30 minutes of healthcare listening
2. Medical Vocabulary: Learn 10-15 new terms daily
3. Timed Conditions: Practice with actual time limits
4. Note-Taking: Develop an efficient abbreviation system
5. Review Errors: Understand why answers were wrong

Common Challenges and Solutions

Challenge

Solution

Missing key details

Preview questions, predict answer types

Spelling medical terms

Create a personal medical spelling list

Keeping up with fast speech

Practice with faster playback speeds

Understanding accents

Expose yourself to various accents daily

Word limit errors

Always check and count words before moving on

Distinguishing between distractors

Listen for "signposting" words that indicate a speaker is changing their mind or clarifying a previous point.