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

Comprehensive Post-Stroke Community Care: Neurological Recovery, Secondary Prevention, Rehabilitation Referral, Communication Support and Carer Wellbeing Assessment

neurologyHome VisitDischarge Planningadvanced

Your Role — Nurse

Patient's Home (Home Visit)

Your 68-year-old patient had a left MCA ischaemic stroke 3 weeks ago and was discharged home 10 days ago. She has right-sided weakness, expressive aphasia, dysphagia (now resolved), and requires assistance with ADLs. The spouse is the primary carer and is showing signs of carer strain including sleep deprivation and anxiety. The patient was previously independent and worked as a librarian. She has hypertension and atrial fibrillation. Current medications: clopidogrel, atorvastatin, ramipril, warfarin. You are the community stroke nurse conducting a comprehensive post-discharge assessment.

•Greet both patient and spouse. Assess how they are managing at home. Use simple language, give patient time to respond. Check understanding of stroke diagnosis and recovery expectations.
•Assess physical recovery: mobility, transfers, self-care, falls risk, bladder and bowel function. Review therapy input from physiotherapy, OT, and SALT.
•Assess communication: screen for expressive aphasia. Provide spouse with communication strategies. Offer SALT referral if not already in place. Address frustration and emotional lability.
•Review secondary prevention medications: clopidogrel, atorvastatin, ramipril, warfarin. Explain purpose of each. Check BP and INR monitoring plan. Discuss driving restrictions and DVLA notification.
•Assess carer wellbeing: sleep, mood, social isolation, financial concerns. Discuss carer assessment, respite care, benefits advice. Provide written care plan with contact numbers and follow-up schedule.

The Interlocutor

Played by the actor / assessor

You are the spouse of a 68-year-old who had a stroke 3 weeks ago. Your wife came home 10 days ago with right-sided weakness, difficulty finding words, and needs help with washing, dressing, and toileting. You are exhausted and worried about the future.

•Say you are exhausted — your wife needs help to the toilet 2-3 times nightly. You are worried about leaving her alone during the day.
•Say you have taken emergency leave and cannot afford to stop working. Finances are becoming a problem.
•Say your wife gets frustrated when she cannot find words and gives up trying. You do not know how to help her communicate.
•Say you do not understand what all the medications are for. The hospital just said they are important.
•Say you feel much better now. You will try the communication strategies and accept the carer assessment referral.

Sample Role-play

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

Nurse

Hello I am the community stroke nurse. How have things been since your wife came home from hospital?

Open-ended.

Spouse

Exhausting. She needs help to the toilet two or three times every single night and I am just not getting any sleep.

Nurse

That sounds incredibly difficult. Carer fatigue is very real and very common after a stroke and it is important that we address it. What support have you had from services since your wife was discharged from hospital?

Validate. Identify gaps.

Spouse

The physio came once for about half an hour. That is literally the only help we have had. I am on emergency leave from work.

Nurse

I am going to arrange some practical support for you today. First I will refer you for a carer assessment through social services — you are entitled to support including respite care which is a short break to allow you to rest and recharge. It is not a permanent placement. I also noticed your wife seemed to struggle finding her words earlier. Expressive aphasia is very common after a left-sided stroke and there are some simple strategies that can help.

Offer concrete support. Clarify respite. Use observation for aphasia education.

Spouse

I have been finishing her sentences to try and help her.

Nurse

It is natural to want to help but finishing her sentences can actually increase her frustration because it reinforces that she cannot communicate on her own. Instead try waiting at least ten seconds after she speaks before you respond. Use simple yes or no questions and use hand gestures. I will also refer her to speech and language therapy for specialist assessment.

Explain unhelpful behaviour. Provide specific alternative. Offer referral.

Spouse

I will try waiting longer. I never realised I was making it worse.

Nurse

Let us review her medications as well. She is taking clopidogrel atorvastatin and ramipril — all of these help prevent her from having another stroke by keeping her blood thin lowering her cholesterol and controlling her blood pressure. She must not drive for at least four weeks by law and the DVLA needs to be notified. I will check her blood pressure today.

Medication education. Driving restriction. Therapy coordination.

Patient

Will my wife get better with time?

Nurse

Stroke recovery is different for everyone but the brain has an amazing ability to create new pathways — we call this neuroplasticity. Most improvement happens in the first three to six months but progress continues for longer with the right therapy input. Regular practice with her exercises and communication strategies will make a real difference.

Stroke recovery prognosis with realistic hope.

Patient

I am worried about leaving her alone during the day.

Nurse

That is a very valid concern. We can discuss options like a day centre or a care attendant for a few hours. The carer assessment will look at what support you need and help arrange services to give you some time during the day.

Address daytime care concern.

Patient

How long does stroke recovery usually take?

Spouse

A raised toilet seat would make a huge difference.

Patient

Should I be doing exercises with her at home?

Nurse

Yes absolutely. The physiotherapist can give you a simple home exercise programme to do together daily. Consistency is more important than intensity. Even ten minutes of gentle exercises twice a day makes a real difference to recovery.

Home exercise advice with specific guidance.

Patient

Will my wife be able to walk normally again?

Nurse

Many stroke survivors regain the ability to walk but it takes time and consistent practice with physiotherapy. The first goal is standing with support then progressing to walking with a frame or stick. The physiotherapist will set small achievable goals with you both. Every stroke is different. Most improvement happens in the first three to six months but recovery continues for longer. Consistency with therapy exercises and good support at home make the biggest difference to outcomes. Summary: carer assessment and respite care speech therapy referral medication review with BP check physiotherapy and occupational therapy. I will visit again next week. Here is my contact number. You are not alone in this.

Stroke recovery goals with realistic optimism.

Useful Phrases

“Caring for a stroke survivor is one of the hardest jobs there is — your wellbeing matters too.”

“Let me refer you for a carer's assessment — you're entitled to support.”

“Short-term respite care can give you a break and is not a permanent placement.”

“Give your wife time to respond — don't finish her sentences, even if it's tempting.”

“These medications are crucial for preventing another stroke.”

Clinical Background

Post-stroke community care requires multidisciplinary input: physiotherapy (mobility, transfers), occupational therapy (ADLs, home modifications), speech therapy (communication, swallowing), and social services (carer support, financial advice). Carer strain is a major predictor of institutionalisation. Respite care, carer assessments, and support groups are essential interventions. Secondary prevention includes antiplatelets, statins, BP control, and lifestyle modification.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✕Speaking only to the carer and excluding the patient from the conversation — address both.
✕Underestimating carer strain — actively ask about sleep, mood, and social isolation.
✕Providing too much information at once after a stroke — use written materials and repeat key messages.