OET Test - Overview

OET Test Format

• Writing (45 minutes)
• Speaking (approximately 20 minutes)
• Listening (approximately 50 minutes)
• Reading (60 minutes)

OET Preparation Course content

• OET Writing, OET Speaking, OET Reading, OET Listening.
• Letter writing including but not limited to: formal and informal letters, patient referral letters, hospital admissions letters, reminder letter to patients, patient discharge letters etc.
• Speaking using tone| diction| fluency| accuracy & volume, which covers typical patient scenarios in Australia‎
• Pronunciation and appropriate language for when dealing with people in all contexts e.g. hospital settings and private clinics
• Functional language, taking patient histories, giving explanations, giving advice, aggression conversation and giving re-assurances
• Dealing with children, teenagers, adults and older Australians
• Australian health care sector – understanding the role of different government departments and understanding public and private health enterprise
• Speed reading and comprehension for all components of the OET test
• Reading for specific purposes – understanding the text and being able to answers specific questions relating to the text.
• Health professional’s grammar in writing and speaking for the OET test.

Scoring and Grades:

Each of the four sub-tests that make up OET are graded A to E, where A is the highest grade and E is the lowest.

Exam Fee

Registering for OET

• Register for OET at https://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/apply/
• Application fees for OET are paid directly to CBLA.
• A non-refundable booking fee of AU$7.00 applies.
• You are responsible for confirming and accepting that your application is correct when you apply.
• Your passport or National Identity Document (outside Australia) are the only forms of identification (ID) accepted when sitting OET. Please refer to Table 1 for details.
• Your ID must be valid at the time of application and for the test date. To be valid the document must not have expired or have been cancelled or made invalid in any other way.
• If you do not have a valid passport or National ID document, you will need to request an Authorisation Letter when you apply for OET. Requests for Authorisation Letters must be received no later than the application closing date for the test administration. A new request for an Authorisation Letter must be submitted each time you apply to sit OET. You will need to supply certified colour copies of three ID documents that can be used to verify your identity.

Table 1: Acceptable ID

• You will not be admitted to the test if the name on your ID documentation does not match the name you used when you registered.
• You will receive confirmation of your application by email (please check your spam or junk mail if you do not receive the email). You are responsible for checking the accuracy of all details and immediately notifying CBLA of any discrepancies. Errors identified on or after test day will result in delays to the release of results as further checks will be required.
• All changes and requests must be received no later than the application closing date for the test administration. Forwarding changes or requests later than this date could mean you may not be allowed to take the test or delay your results after the test.
• Immediately after successfully registering for OET you will receive an invoice and a timetable (confirming the name and address of the selected venue and the date and start times of each individual sub-test) by email. If you do not receive this email contact CBLA via the Help section on our website.
• If you do not arrive at the time specified on your timetable, you may not be allowed to take the test.

Special Arrangements

• CBLA is committed to providing suitable arrangements wherever possible to aid candidates with special requirements. This could be due to a medical condition or personal circumstance which affects the way you take the test. Some examples may include:
• Hearing, visual or learning difficulty
• Medical condition which requires you to go to the bathroom more frequently than the test regulations permit.
• All requests for Special Arrangements must contain full details of your special requirements and be supported by appropriate documentation, such as a letter from your medical practitioner detailing the illness, severity, duration and medication or any other evidence required.
• Special Arrangement requests should be made as early as possible and must be received no later than the application closing date for the test administration.
• Depending upon the nature of the request, we cannot guarantee your request can be accommodated on the preferred test date or by your selected venue.
• Special Arrangement requests received after the application closing date for the test administration cannot be considered and you will need to defer your application
• Requests for Special Arrangements should be made when you apply for OET, using the options provided in myOET. You will receive a separate email regarding the outcome of your request.
• In the event that your requirements cannot be met on the date or at the venue you have selected you will be offered a free deferral to another date or venue, or a full refund.
• A new request for Special Arrangement, along with supporting documentation, must be submitted each time you apply to sit OET.

Withdrawal Policy

If you are registered for OET but no longer wish to sit the test for any reason, you can withdraw and obtain a refund, subject to the conditions and fees listed below:

• You may withdraw up to one week before the test.
• Refunds (less any administration fees – see below) are only provided for withdrawals made up to 23:59 on the Sunday before the test.
• No refunds will be provided for withdrawals made on or after 00:00 on the Monday before the test.
• You must withdraw your whole application.
• A withdrawal cannot be reversed.
• In all cases, the AUD $7 online booking fee you paid when you registered will not be refunded.
• The following administration fees apply (see Table 2).

Table 2: Withdrawal fees

Deferral Policy

If you are registered for OET but are not able to attend the test on the date selected for any reason, you can defer to another available test date, subject to the conditions and fees listed below:

• You may defer at any time up to and including the day of the test providing you have NOT gone through the Test Day Registration process at the test venue (subject to the payment of any applicable administration fees – see below)
• You must defer to a future open test administration date.
• No refunds are provided for deferrals.
• You must defer your whole application.
• A deferral cannot be reversed.
• The following administration fees apply (see Table 3).

Table 3: Deferral fees

Changing venue location

• You can change the venue at which you sit the test, provided you do so before the application closing for the test A $120 administration fee will be charged (see Table 4).
• It is not possible to switch venues after the application closing date for the test administration. Instead, you should defer to an available future test date at a different venue (subject to the conditions and fees for deferrals specified above).

Table 4: Changing venue location