OET for Doctors
Doctors take OET to show their English for medical registration in countries such as the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and the US. Listening and Reading are the same for every profession. Writing and Speaking use medical tasks: a letter to another doctor or health professional, and consultations with patients or relatives. On OET Practice, choose Medicine to practise those tasks.
On this page
Why doctors take OET
Medical regulators ask many internationally trained doctors to show their English before registration. OET lists the following among the medical organisations that accept it:
| Country | Organisation |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | General Medical Council (GMC) |
| Ireland | Medical Council of Ireland |
| Australia | Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) |
| New Zealand | Medical Council of New Zealand |
| United States | Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) |
Requirements change, and each regulator sets its own grades. Check the current rules with your own regulator before you book.
What is different for doctors
| Sub-test | For doctors |
|---|---|
| Listening | The same for all professions. Healthcare topics, but no specialist knowledge needed. |
| Reading | The same for all professions. Healthcare texts, but no specialist knowledge needed. |
| Writing | A letter from medical case notes to another doctor or health professional. |
| Speaking | Two role-plays in medical settings with a patient, relative or carer. |
Read the full guides: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
Writing for doctors
You read medical case notes and write a letter that gives another professional what they need to continue the patient's care. For example, you might write:
- a referral to a specialist for assessment of a new symptom;
- a discharge letter to a GP after a hospital admission;
- a transfer letter when a patient moves to another hospital or unit.
Our OET referral letter guide includes a model letter from a GP to a cardiologist, built from case notes step by step.
Speaking for doctors
You complete two role-plays. You play the doctor, and the interlocutor plays a patient, relative or carer. The role card tells you the setting and what you need to do. For example, you might:
- explain a diagnosis and the next tests in plain English;
- discuss treatment options with a patient who is worried about side effects;
- give lifestyle advice to a patient who is reluctant to change.
Assessors listen to your English and to your clinical communication, such as how you find out the patient's concerns, explain in small chunks and check their understanding. Our guide to the Speaking criteria explains all nine.
A preparation plan
Four steps for doctors
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Find your target and your level
Check the grade your regulator needs in each sub-test. Then take one practice sub-test of each skill.
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Work on the skill furthest from your target
Practise single parts in Listening and Reading, and write a medical letter or complete a Speaking session each week.
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Review every mistake
Keep a mistake log, so you can see which mistakes keep coming back.
Read the error-tracking plan -
Sit a full mock test
In the last weeks before your exam, take all four sub-tests under exam conditions.
For a full study routine, read how to prepare for OET.
Practise on OET Practice
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Choose Medicine for Writing and Speaking
When you start a Writing or Speaking sub-test, choose Medicine to get medical case notes and role cards.
Open the exam library -
Practise Listening and Reading by part
Use Practice mode to choose a part and a time limit. Answers are marked instantly, with the correct answer for every question.
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Get feedback on letters and role-plays
Writing and Speaking get AI-assisted feedback, reviewed by our team. A person on our team reviews every Speaking result before you see it.
Sources
- OET for doctors (opens in a new tab) — OET (oet.com)
- Who recognises OET (opens in a new tab) — OET (oet.com)
- OET Writing sub-test (opens in a new tab) — OET (oet.com)
Written by OET Practice team. Last reviewed: 27 October 2026. Read our editorial policy .