How Long to Prepare for OET
How long you need to prepare for OET depends on two things: how far your current grades are from your target, and how many hours a week you can study. Someone already near grade B may need two weeks of format practice. Someone two grades below may need several months. Start by taking one practice sub-test of each skill, then use the table on this page to plan.
On this page
Find your starting point
You can't plan without knowing your level. Take one Listening, one Reading, one Writing and one Speaking practice test before you decide on an exam date. You don't need to take them on the same day.
Write down your practice grade for each skill next to your target. Many organisations ask for grade B, but check the requirement for your country and profession. If you need the target in every sub-test, the skill with the biggest gap decides how long you need.
Listening and Reading are marked instantly on OET Practice. Writing and Speaking get AI-assisted feedback, reviewed by our team. Your Writing and Speaking grades arrive later, so start those two first.
How much time to plan
These ranges are our suggestions for someone studying about five hours a week. Use them as a starting point, check your progress every two weeks and adjust.
| Your starting point | Suggested time | Where to spend it |
|---|---|---|
| At or above your target in all four skills | About 2 weeks | Learn the format and timing of every part, then sit a full mock test. |
| One grade below your target in one or two skills | About 4–6 weeks | Practise the weak parts of those skills on most days, and keep the others going once a week. |
| One grade below your target in three or four skills | About 2–3 months | Rotate through all four skills each week, with extra time on Writing and Speaking feedback. |
| Two or more grades below your target in any skill | 3 months or more | Build your general English as well: read and listen to healthcare English every day, then add timed OET practice. |
What changes the time you need
Which skills are weakest
In Listening and Reading you can practise a part, check your answers straight away and try again in the same session. Writing and Speaking work in slower rounds. You write a letter or complete the role-plays, wait for feedback, and then practise again with that feedback in mind. Each round takes a few days, so leave time for several rounds.
How familiar you are with the format
Some marks are lost because of the format rather than your English. Examples are a misspelled Part A answer in Reading or a letter that never states its purpose. These mistakes are quick to fix once you know about them. Read our OET test format guide before your first practice test.
How much you can study each week
Five hours a week over six weeks gives you about 30 hours. Ten hours a week gives you the same practice in three weeks. If your weeks are busy, plan for a longer runway rather than squeezing study into the last few days.
How you take the test
If you will take OET on computer, add time to practise typing your letter in 40 minutes. Our tips for taking OET on computer explain what to practise.
How many hours a week
Short sessions on most days work better than one long session a week. You review your mistakes while they are fresh, and the routine is easier to keep up alongside work.
| Your week | Suggested routine |
|---|---|
| About 3 hours | Three sessions of about an hour: one timed part with review, one letter, and one set of Speaking role-plays. |
| About 5 hours | Short sessions of 30–40 minutes on most days, plus one full sub-test at the weekend. |
| About 10 hours | An hour on most days, two letters and two Speaking sessions a week, and a full mock test every two weeks. |
For a full day-by-day routine, see the sample week in how to prepare for OET.
Check you are on track
Every two weeks, compare your latest practice grades with your target. If a skill has not moved, change how you practise it before you add more hours. For example, review your Writing feedback criterion by criterion, or slow down and redo Reading questions without a timer to find out why your answers were wrong.
Progress check every two weeks
- I compared my latest practice grade in each skill with my target.
- I know which skill is now furthest from my target.
- I reviewed my wrong answers and my latest Writing and Speaking feedback.
- I changed my plan for any skill that has not improved.
- My exam date still gives me enough time. If not, I have thought about moving it.
Our error-tracking study plan shows how to record your mistakes so that you can see what to work on next.
Start on OET Practice
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Take one sub-test of each skill
Choose a test in the exam library and complete Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Note your practice grade for each one.
Open the exam library -
Plan around your biggest gap
Use the planning table to choose your time. Then practise single parts of your weakest skill in Practice mode.
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Track your progress
Your dashboard shows your performance by skill, your best practice grade, the time you spend practising and your streak. Check it every week.
Go to your dashboard
Results are practice bands (A–E) for learning feedback, not official OET scores. OET Practice is independent and not affiliated with OET or Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment.
Sources
- OET test information (opens in a new tab) — OET (oet.com)
- Results and scoring (opens in a new tab) — OET (oet.com)
Written by OET Practice team. Last reviewed: 27 October 2026. Read our editorial policy .