Why nurses take OET
Nursing regulators around the world need to be sure that internationally educated nurses can communicate safely and effectively with patients and colleagues in English. OET is designed specifically for healthcare, so instead of essays about general topics, you work with realistic clinical materials — patient consultations, healthcare texts, and case notes.
OET is accepted for nursing registration by regulators including the NMC (UK), NMBA / AHPRA (Australia), NMBI (Ireland), and the Nursing Council of New Zealand, among others. Because it is built around the language of nursing, many candidates find it a more natural fit than general English exams.
What score do nurses need?
OET reports a grade from A to E for each of the four sub-tests. Most nursing boards require at least Grade B (a numerical score of 350–440) in each section. Some boards accept a lower grade in one sub-test under specific conditions, and the exact rules change from time to time.
The OET test format for nurses
Every nurse sits the same four sub-tests. Listening and Reading are shared across all professions; Writing and Speaking use nursing-specific materials.
Listening (~45 min)
Three parts: a health professional–patient consultation, short workplace extracts, and a presentation. Answers are written as you listen.
Reading (60 min)
Fast fact-finding across short texts, plus longer healthcare passages with multiple-choice questions.
Writing (45 min)
Write a referral or discharge letter from case notes — the core nursing task, and the most trainable one.
Speaking (~20 min)
Two role-plays where you play the nurse and the interlocutor plays a patient or carer.
Writing: the nurse’s referral letter
For nurses, the Writing task is almost always a letter based on case notes — usually a referral or a discharge letter. The format never changes, the marking criteria are public, and the most common mistakes (including irrelevant information, poor organisation, and going over the word count) are entirely avoidable with practice.
Our AI Writing Practice grades your letter against the official OET criteria and shows inline corrections, so you can see exactly where you lose marks. For a full walkthrough, read our OET Writing guide for nurses.
Speaking: nursing role-plays
In Speaking, you take on your professional role as a nurse in two role-plays — for example, reassuring an anxious patient, explaining a treatment, or giving discharge advice to a carer. You’re assessed on both your language and your clinical communication skills, such as building rapport and giving clear information.
You can practise real, spoken role-plays out loud with our AI Speaking practice, which gives you an assessment afterwards — useful when you don’t have a study partner.
A simple study plan
- Take a full, timed practice test to see your starting level — begin with the free Test 1.
- Review every mistake and note the vocabulary and question types you missed.
- Drill medical vocabulary and spelling a little each day with the Vocabulary Builder and Dictation practice.
- Practise one Writing letter and one Speaking role-play per week, using the AI feedback to improve.
- Repeat full tests as your exam approaches to build stamina and timing.
Related guides for nurses
OET Practice Tests for Nurses
What to expect and how to practise each section.
OET Writing for Nurses
Referral and discharge letters, step by step.
OET Score for the NMC (UK)
How OET grades map to NMC registration.
OET for Filipino Nurses
A focused guide for internationally educated nurses.
OET vs IELTS
Which English test is right for your nursing pathway?
Nurses’ OET FAQ
What OET grade do nurses need?
Most nursing boards require at least Grade B (350–440) in each of the four sub-tests. Some boards accept a lower grade in one section under certain conditions, and requirements change over time — always confirm the current rule with your specific regulator before you book.
Which nursing boards accept OET?
OET is accepted for nursing registration by regulators including the NMC (UK), NMBA/AHPRA (Australia), NMBI (Ireland), the Nursing Council of New Zealand, and others. Check your target board’s website for the exact grades and validity period they require.
What kind of letter do nurses write in OET Writing?
Nurses are usually asked to write a referral or discharge letter based on a set of case notes — for example, referring a patient to a specialist, a community team, or another facility. The task always follows the same format, so practising it is the fastest way to improve.
How long does it take to prepare for OET?
It depends on your starting level, but many nurses prepare over 4–8 weeks of focused practice. Taking full timed tests, reviewing your mistakes, and drilling medical vocabulary each week is more effective than studying passively.
Is Test 1 really free?
Yes. You can take a complete, timed OET practice test for free with no credit card. Premium unlocks all 13 tests plus AI Writing and Speaking feedback.
Start preparing today
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