What is OET and who needs to take it?

The Occupational English Test (OET) is an English language test designed for healthcare professionals. Nurses, doctors, dentists, and other health practitioners who want to work in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Singapore, or Dubai typically need OET certification.

What score do I need to pass OET for nursing?

For nursing registration in Australia and New Zealand, you typically need a Grade B (350 or above) in all four sub-tests: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. For Reading, this means at least 30 out of 42 questions correct.

How long does the OET exam take?

The OET exam takes approximately 3 hours. Reading is 60 minutes (42 questions), Writing is 45 minutes (5 minutes reading + 40 minutes writing), Listening is 40 minutes (42 questions), and Speaking is approximately 20 minutes (2 role-plays).

Is there free OET practice available for nurses and doctors?

Yes, FP8Media offers free OET practice for Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. The free tier includes a full Reading test, writing tasks with model answers, role-play demonstrations, and AI-powered grading. You can start practising immediately without a credit card.

Does FP8Media have OET Medicine content for doctors?

Yes. Alongside OET Nursing, FP8Media provides OET Medicine Writing tasks with AI-powered grading and OET Medicine Speaking role-play demonstrations, with realistic doctor–patient scenarios across cardiology, respiratory, oncology, neurology and more.

How many OET sub-tests are there?

There are four OET sub-tests: Reading (42 questions, 60 minutes), Writing (1 letter, 45 minutes), Listening (42 questions, 40 minutes), and Speaking (2 role-plays, ~20 minutes). All four are profession-specific and use real healthcare scenarios.

Back to scenarios

Role-play Demonstration

Post-Discharge Medication Reconciliation and Support

generalHome VisitMedication Counsellingintermediate

Your Role — Nurse

Patient's Home (Home Visit)

You are a community nurse making a post-discharge visit to an 82-year-old patient who was discharged from hospital three days ago following a fall and subsequent hip fracture repair. The patient was discharged with five new medications. The patient lives alone and has mild cognitive impairment. A neighbour has been helping with shopping.

•Confirm the patient's understanding of why they were in hospital and what surgery they had. Assess how they are managing at home.
•Review all medications with the patient — identify what they are taking, when, and if there have been any problems (missed doses, confusion, side effects).
•Reconcile discharge medications with any pre-existing medications. Clarify any discrepancies or changes.
•Provide a clear, written medication schedule in large print. Use teach-back to confirm understanding (e.g., 'Can you show me which tablet you take in the morning?').
•Assess home environment (mobility aids, bathroom safety, trip hazards, food availability). Arrange additional support if needed (meals on wheels, community alarm, GP follow-up). Establish patient's consent for ongoing visits.

The Interlocutor

Played by the actor / assessor

You are 82 years old and live alone. You were in hospital after falling and breaking your hip. You had surgery and came home three days ago. A neighbour helps with shopping. You're finding it hard to keep track of all the new tablets you've been given.

•When asked, say you know you had a hip operation but you're not really sure why — you just remember falling in the kitchen.
•Say you've got all these new tablets and you're not sure which ones to take or when. You've been taking the ones you were already on before hospital but you're not sure about the new ones.
•When asked, show confusion about the blister pack — you haven't been using it because you're not sure how it works.
•Say you're managing okay but you're finding it hard to cook and get around the house. You've been using a walking stick but it's difficult.
•Say you'd appreciate some help with the tablets and someone to check on you regularly.

Sample Role-play

0:00Listen to a model performance · 0:00

Nurse

Hello Mr Thompson. I am Jane the community nurse. Your GP asked me to visit after your hospital stay. How are you settling in at home?

Warm greeting with name and role. Explain context. Open-ended question.

Patient

Not too bad but I am confused about all these tablets I have been given.

Nurse

That is very common after a hospital stay especially when medications have been changed. Can you bring me all your medications — both the old ones from before and the new ones from the hospital? Let us sort through them together.

Normalise confusion. Use 'let us sort through together' for collaboration.

Patient

I have got them all in a bag. I am not sure which ones to take now.

Patient

What if I forget to take a dose?

Nurse

Let me take a look. I can see the hospital has provided a blister pack. Each compartment has the day of the week and the time printed on it. Can you show me which tablets you took this morning?

Use the blister pack as a teaching tool. Ask patient to demonstrate — this is teach-back.

Nurse

Take it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for the next dose. In that case skip the missed dose. Never double up. The dosette box prevents this.

Clear missed dose guidance.

Patient

I did not take any this morning. I was not sure which ones were right so I just did not take anything.

Nurse

I am glad you told me the truth. That is very important. Skipping doses can be risky but taking the wrong ones is more dangerous. Let me identify each tablet for you. This small white one is your blood pressure tablet — take one every morning. This blue one is a new antibiotic. You need to finish the course. Take it with food three times a day for seven days.

Praise honesty. Explain risks of both skipping and wrong dosing. Identify each medication clearly.

Patient

I was supposed to finish the antibiotics? The hospital did not tell me that.

Nurse

I am sorry that was not explained clearly. Yes it is very important to finish the full course of antibiotics even if you feel better to make sure the infection is completely gone. I also notice you have your old blood pressure tablets from before. The hospital has changed your blood pressure medication. Please do not take the old ones anymore. I will contact your GP to confirm the changes.

Apologise for communication gap. Identify dangerous duplication. Proactively arrange GP review.

Patient

I would not have known which ones to stop. I probably would have taken both.

Nurse

That is exactly why I am here — to catch these things. I will also arrange a dosette box for you which a pharmacist will fill weekly. Each compartment has the right tablets for each day and time so you do not need to sort them yourself. You also mentioned finding it hard to get around the house since your fall. Can you tell me more about that?

Explain the purpose of dosette box. Transition holistically to mobility concerns.

Patient

I have been using a walking stick but I am struggling with the bathroom. There are no grab rails and I am worried about falling again.

Nurse

I can refer you to the occupational therapy service. They will assess your home and can arrange grab rails for the bathroom a raised toilet seat and a shower chair if needed. This will make your home safer and help you maintain your independence. Would you like me to arrange that?

Offer specific concrete equipment. End with closed question to confirm action.

Patient

Yes please. That would put my mind at ease.

Nurse

I will arrange that today. Let me summarise our plan. One take the antibiotic three times a day with food until finished. Two stop the old blood pressure tablets take only the new ones. Three I will arrange a dosette box. Four OT will contact you about bathroom equipment. I will visit again next week to check how you are getting on. Any questions?

Summarise as numbered plan. Offer follow-up. Check for questions.

Patient

No you have been very helpful. Thank you Jane.

Nurse

You are welcome. Here is my card. Call me if you have any questions before my next visit.

Provide contact details as safety net.

Patient

Can I take painkillers with the new tablets?

Nurse

Paracetamol is safe but avoid ibuprofen while on the new blood pressure medication. I will write a compatibility list for you.

Medication interaction check.

Patient

How long before I can drive again?

Useful Phrases

“It's very common to feel confused about medications after a hospital stay.”

“This blister pack is designed to help you — each section shows which day and time to take them.”

“Can you show me which tablet you take in the morning, so I can check we're on the same page?”

“Please don't take any of your old medications until we've checked with the GP.”

“I'll arrange for someone to check on you regularly while you're getting back on your feet.”

Clinical Background

Post-discharge medication reconciliation is critical for elderly patients with polypharmacy and cognitive impairment. Risk factors: multiple medication changes during admission, lack of family support, language barriers, visual impairment. Use of blister packs, large-print labels, and community pharmacist involvement reduces readmission risk. Always use teach-back to confirm understanding.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✕Assuming the patient understands the discharge summary — always verify using teach-back.
✕Not checking whether the patient has stopped old medications that were discontinued in hospital.
✕Focusing only on medications without assessing the broader home environment and support needs.