Nurses taking OET: the 4 sub-tests, their timings and where grade B is won or lost
Published 6 min read
If you are a nurse planning to register abroad, OET can feel like one more hurdle between you and the job. Book it without knowing how each part works and you risk paying the test fee twice, or seeing your registration delayed because one sub-test came in just under the grade you needed. The good news is that OET is built around real healthcare tasks you already do at work. This guide explains the 4 sub-tests, how long each one takes, what grade B means, and how to plan your preparation around them.
What OET is and how it is built
OET (the Occupational English Test) is an English test for healthcare professionals. It is made up of four sub-tests: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Listening and Reading are common to all candidates, while Writing and Speaking are profession specific. For you as a nurse, that means the letter and the role-plays are set in nursing situations, with nursing tasks and nursing vocabulary.
OET can be taken in three ways: OET Test on Paper, OET Test on Computer and OET@Home. Check which formats your regulator accepts before you choose one.
The four sub-tests, one by one
Use the timings below to build practice sessions that match test day.
| Sub-test | Time | What it contains | Same for all professions? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | Approximately 40 minutes | Three parts, 42 questions | Yes |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 42 questions: Part A in 15 minutes, Parts B and C in 45 minutes | Yes |
| Writing | 45 minutes | One letter: 5 minutes reading time, 40 minutes writing time | No: nursing tasks |
| Speaking | 20 minutes | Two role-plays of 5 minutes each, 3 minutes preparation per role-play | No: nursing tasks |
Listening
The OET Listening sub-test takes approximately 40 minutes, has three parts and 42 questions. You hear healthcare conversations and talks and answer as you listen. The skill that matters most is catching specific details, such as a symptom, a dose or a change in a patient's condition, while the recording keeps moving.
Reading
The OET Reading sub-test takes 60 minutes and has 42 questions; Part A takes 15 minutes and Parts B and C take 45 minutes. Part A is a race: you scan several short texts quickly to find facts. Parts B and C are slower and test whether you understand the purpose, opinion and detail in longer workplace texts. Practise Part A with a strict timer, because there is no extra time to finish it later.
Writing
The OET Writing sub-test is one letter task lasting 45 minutes: 5 minutes reading time and 40 minutes writing time. For nurses this is usually a letter such as a referral or discharge letter based on case notes. The hard part is choosing what to leave out. A good letter keeps only the notes the reader needs, puts the purpose up front, and is written in a clear, professional tone.
Speaking
The OET Speaking sub-test takes 20 minutes in total, with two profession-specific role plays of 5 minutes each and 3 minutes preparation per role play. You play the nurse and an interlocutor plays the patient or a relative. Clear, kind communication counts here: explaining, checking understanding, and responding to the patient's worries.
Grade B: what it is and why it matters for nurses
Each OET sub-test is reported on a 0-500 scale in ten-point increments, mapped to a letter grade from A (highest) to E (lowest). OET grade B covers scores 350-440 and grade A covers 450-500. You get a separate result for each sub-test, so one weak sub-test can hold back your whole application even when the others are strong.
Who sets the score you need
Your nursing regulator, not the test owner, decides the grade you need. Two examples from the official pages:
- The NMC in the UK accepts OET (Nursing) with at least grade B (350 or above) for reading, listening and speaking and at least grade C+ (300 or above) for writing, including OET@Home.
- The Nursing Council of New Zealand needs OET 350 or more for reading, listening and speaking and 300 for writing; scores over more than one sitting must be achieved within 12 months of first sitting.
There is no global validity period for OET results; each organisation that accepts OET decides how long results are valid. For the UK rules in detail, see the earlier guide to the NMC English requirements, and for the Writing target there, how to write an OET letter for a C+.
How to prepare: a step-by-step plan
- Confirm your target. Find the grade for each sub-test on your regulator's own page, and write it down per sub-test.
- Take one timed practice of each sub-test. Use the real timings from the table above, so you see where time runs out.
- Rank the four sub-tests from weakest to strongest. Spend most of your study time on the weakest one, not the one you enjoy most.
- Write one letter at least twice a week. Practise selecting case notes before you write: highlight what the reader needs and cross out the rest.
- Rehearse role-plays out loud. Use the 3 minutes of preparation to plan how you will open, what you need to explain and how you will check understanding.
- Train Reading Part A against the clock. Short daily drills build the scanning speed it needs.
- Book the test when your practice is steady. Book once you reach your target in practice more than once, not after one good day.
A sample study week
Example: Monday: Listening practice and review of every wrong answer. Tuesday: one nursing letter, then compare it with the case notes. Wednesday: Reading Part A drills and one Part B and C set. Thursday: two role-plays recorded and played back. Friday: a second letter. Saturday: a timed Listening and Reading practice. Sunday: rest.
Practising OET with PractiseNow
PractiseNow has OET Listening Parts A-C and Reading Parts A-C for every profession, plus clinical letters and role-plays for nursing and medicine. On PractiseNow, the clinical letter and the clinical role-play are each marked by AI for 3 credits, with an estimated score and line-by-line corrections. Every score on PractiseNow is a practice estimate, not an official result, and it may differ from the score you get on test day. The free plan on PractiseNow gives you the first 3 Starter sets and the first Builder set of every task type in your test, plus 3 AI credits. You can see all the tests on the tests page and compare passes on the pricing page, or start free.
Once your scores are in, your CV will need to show them clearly to employers abroad. Build AI CV has a section for language tests with scores and dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is OET the same for nurses and doctors?
Listening and Reading are the same for every profession. Writing and Speaking are profession specific, so nurses get nursing letters and role-plays.
What score is grade B in OET?
Grade B covers scores 350-440 on each sub-test. Grade A covers 450-500.
How long are OET results valid?
There is no global validity period. Each regulator or organisation that accepts OET decides how long results are valid, so check with the one you are applying to.
Can I take OET at home?
OET@Home is one of the three ways to take the test. Check that your regulator accepts it before you book.
Last checked: 31 October 2026 against the official pages linked above. Test rules and score requirements change: confirm on the official pages before you book or apply.
