OET 2026: test dates, format, how to book and free practice tests
OET (the Occupational English Test) is the English test for healthcare professionals, offered for 12 professions including Medicine and Nursing, and used by regulators, hospitals and universities as evidence of English for healthcare work. You can take it on paper on fixed dates, or on a computer at a venue or at home (OET@Home). The next paper dates on OET's booking page are 21 November, 5 December and 19 December 2026, and paper bookings close 24 days before each one. This guide covers the dates, how to book, the OET exam pattern, how grades work, and a six-week plan with mock tests.
OET at a glance
| Conducting body | OET |
| What it is for | Registration, work and study in healthcare, for 12 professions |
| Mode | On paper or on computer at a test venue, or OET@Home |
| Questions | Listening 42, Reading 42, Writing 1 letter, Speaking 2 role-plays |
| Time | About 2 hours 45 minutes, plus about 20 minutes of Speaking |
| Marking | Each sub-test 0 to 500 in steps of 10, with a grade from A to E; no overall score |
| Language | English |
| How often | Paper: set dates, about twice a month. Computer and OET@Home: many dates |
| Official website | oet.com |
Test dates and booking
From OET's booking page, checked 20 October 2026:
- Bookings for OET on paper close 24 days before the test date.
- Bookings for OET on computer at a venue and OET@Home close 7 days before the test date, at 11:59 p.m. UTC.
Upcoming global paper-based dates listed on that page:
| Test date | Booking closes | Result published | Professions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 21 November 2026 | Wednesday 28 October 2026 | Tuesday 8 December 2026 | Nursing, Medicine |
| Saturday 5 December 2026 | Wednesday 11 November 2026 | Tuesday 22 December 2026 | Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Veterinary Science |
| Saturday 19 December 2026 | Wednesday 25 November 2026 | Tuesday 5 January 2027 | Nursing, Medicine |
The page has a separate list for the Americas (paper dates on Fridays 20 November, 4 December and 18 December 2026). Not every profession is offered on every paper date, so check yours. For computer and OET@Home dates, use the "Find a test" search on the same page.
Results, as the booking page states them: on computer, results come in as little as 48 hours after all four sub-tests are done, with 95% released within 6 calendar days. On paper, results come in as little as 5 days in India and the Philippines, and from 13 days elsewhere. OET says these times are indicative.
How to book OET
- Check the grade your regulator, employer or university needs in each sub-test, on its own website. Many ask for a B (350) in each; some accept a C+ (300) in one.
- Choose paper, computer at a venue, or OET@Home. If you take the computer test, make sure the Speaking mode you choose is accepted by the organisation you are applying to.
- Open Book a test, search for a test near you, and pick your profession and date.
- Create an OET account, then book and pay before the booking deadline.
- Note your Speaking appointment. It is part of the same test administration, often on another day, usually within eight days before or after the other sub-tests. A missed Speaking test scores 0.
Keep ready: the identity document you used to book, and the profession you are registering in (Writing and Speaking depend on it).
OET exam pattern
Listening and Reading are the same for every profession. Writing and Speaking are set in your own profession's workplace.
| Sub-test | Time | What it contains |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 40 minutes | 42 questions: Part A, two consultations with note completion (24); Part B, six short workplace extracts (6); Part C, two longer recordings (12). Each recording heard once |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 42 questions: Part A, 20 questions on four short texts in 15 minutes; then Parts B and C (6 + 16) in 45 minutes |
| Writing | 45 minutes | One letter from case notes, usually a referral; 5 minutes to read, 40 to write; about 180 to 200 words |
| Speaking | About 20 minutes | A warm-up that is not assessed, then two role-plays: 3 minutes to prepare, about 5 minutes to speak |
Scoring. Each sub-test gets a score from 0 to 500 in steps of 10 and its own letter grade. OET does not give an overall score. OET says a grade B (350) in Listening or Reading typically takes at least 30 correct answers out of 42.
OET syllabus
- Listening: note-taking from consultations and understanding workplace talk and health presentations.
- Reading: fast reading across short texts (Part A), and detail and opinion in workplace and longer texts.
- Writing: a referral, transfer or discharge letter, marked on purpose, content, conciseness and clarity, genre and style, organisation and layout, and language.
- Speaking: role-plays with a patient or carer, marked on language and on clinical communication: building a relationship, the patient's perspective, structure, gathering and giving information.
See every part on our OET syllabus page.
A six-week plan before your test date
For 5 December on paper, book by 11 November; the plan below fits that date.
| Week | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | One full OET mock test, timed. Count your Listening and Reading marks out of 42; 30 is the B line to aim for. |
| 2 | Reading Part A daily: 20 questions in 15 minutes, copying words exactly from the texts. |
| 3 | Writing: three letters this week from case notes, 40 minutes each, selecting only what the reader needs. |
| 4 | Listening Part A note completion daily; Speaking: two role-plays recorded, with 3 minutes to prepare. |
| 5 | Second full mock. Spend the rest of the week on the sub-test furthest below your target grade. |
| 6 | A last mock early in the week, then light practice. Check your ID, venue and Speaking appointment. |
Read how to analyse a mock test after each one.
Useful links
- Book OET: dates and deadlines (oet.com)
- OET Test (oet.com)
- Results and scoring (oet.com)
- Free OET mock tests
- OET syllabus
- OET test dates
- IELTS 2026: test dates and how to book
- How to use mock tests
Frequently asked questions
When is the next OET exam date?
On paper, 21 November, 5 December and 19 December 2026 (OET's booking page, checked 20 October 2026), with bookings closing 24 days before each. Computer and OET@Home dates are in the "Find a test" search, with bookings closing 7 days before.
What is the OET pass mark?
There is no single pass mark. Many regulators and employers ask for a B (350) in each sub-test, and some accept a C+ (300) in one. Check the organisation you are applying to.
Is there negative marking in OET?
No. Listening and Reading give one mark per correct answer out of 42, and a wrong answer simply scores nothing.
How long does the OET result take?
On computer, from 48 hours after all sub-tests, with 95% within 6 calendar days. On paper, from 5 days in India and the Philippines and 13 days elsewhere.
Is OET different for doctors and nurses?
Only Writing and Speaking differ. Listening and Reading are the same papers for all 12 professions.