ULTIMATE

GUIDE TO OET
TEST DAY
What to expect on test day
CHECK YOUR VENUE DETAILS

Days before your scheduled

exam day, your test center
will give you the details of
your exam.

You will find the time of each

sub-test as well as the
location of your test venue.
Double-check all of this to
make sure you don’t turn up
at the wrong time or the
wrong place.

Make sure to visit the

venue a day before the
exam or check-in a hotel
near the venue (if you
live too far from the test
center).
WHAT TO BRING ON EXAM DAY?

Sharpened 2B Pencils

Erasers & Sharpeners

*Put all these stationery

inside a clear plastic bag.*
Valid ID

Jacket

Clear, plastic water

bottle (label removed)

Snacks & Lunch

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO WHEN I
ARRIVE?

When you arrive, you will be greeted

by a member of the venue staff
outside the test room, who will direct
you to the cloakroom.

Turn off your mobile and take

off your watch. Place them in
your bag and deposit it.

Make sure you keep hold of your

clear plastic stationery holder.
 ID CHECK AND REGISTRATION

Firstly, you will need to

present your ID
Document (the same
one you used to apply
for the test).

You will then have your

photo taken by a member
of the test venue staff.

You will be directed to a

waiting room where you
will await the start of the
test. This is a good time to
go to the toilet as you
cannot leave the room
during the Listening test.
 WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ENTER
THE TEST ROOM?

You will be allocated a desk, so quickly

find it and take a seat.

Once everyone is sitting, the invigilator

will then read out a set of instructions.
Pay attention as it contains critical
information that will help you on Test
Day. It also contains test rules and
regulations that you must follow.

For each sub-test, venue staff will

hand out personalised test papers. You
will need to make sure your personal
information is printed on the papers,
before reading and signing the
Candidate Declaration on the front
page of your paper, if everything is
correct.

If you’re confused about any of the information that

was read out to you, simply raise your hand and ask
them for assistance. However, invigilators are not
there to help you answer test questions.
WHAT ORDER WILL THE SUB-TESTS
COME IN?

Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking
 LISTENING SUB-TEST
The Venue staff will conduct a
soundcheck. If you cannot hear
the words in the soundcheck
clearly, tell staff and they will
increase the volume and try
again.

If you are taking the exam in UAE and Singapore,

most of the test centers provide a headphone. Check
whether it is working.

The OET Listening sub-test is comprised of three

parts and a total of 42 question items based on
general healthcare topics.

Running for 50 minutes, it includes time to listen to

the recorded conversations and answer the
questions.

You can complete Listening Part A with either a pen

or pencil. However, for Listening Part B and C, you
will need to use the 2B pencil you brought with you.
You have 2 minutes to check your answer.
 READING SUB-TEST
Before the start of the Reading sub-test,
Venue staff will read out a new set of
instructions. Once again, listen carefully
as it contains key information about the
sub-test.

You will have 60 minutes to complete the

Reading sub-test, which consists of three parts
and has a total of 42 question items. The 60
minutes is split into 15 minutes for Part A and
45 minutes for Parts B and C.

You will not be able to leave the room during Part A or

in the first and last 10 minutes of Reading Parts B and
C. If you need to go to the bathroom during Parts B and
C, put up your hand and you will be escorted there and
back by an invigilator. The sub-test will begin when all
the Reading Part A papers are handed out.

It’s important to remember that Reading Part A papers

will be taken away before Part B and C are handed out.
This means you won’t be able to go back to Part A once
B and C begin.

 WRITING SUB-TEST
The Writing sub-test takes 45
minutes.

The invigilators will remind you that

you cannot write anything during
the first five minutes of the test. DO
NOT HOLD YOUR PENCIL THIS
TIME.

Once the Writing sub-test

is underway, YOU HAVE 40
MINUTES to write your
letter. The invigilators will
also warn you when there
are only 10 minutes left
until the end and again
when there are five minutes
left.

When the Writing sub-test ends, you will leave

the test room.
 SPEAKING SUB-TEST
When your Speaking timeslot arrives,
you will be asked to enter the room. The
interlocutor will greet you and start the
recording device before they check your
identity. You will be asked a few
questions to help you relax, but don’t
worry, these are not assessed.
The Speaking sub-test is delivered
individually, takes
around 20 minutes and consists of two
role plays. Each
profession will have specifically designed materials that
draw on real healthcare scenarios.
At the start of each role play, you will be given a roleplayer
card. You will also be given three minutes to read through
the card, make notes and ask the interlocutor to clarify
anything you don’t understand. This includes the
definition or pronunciation about words on the card but
not about how you should complete the task. Each role
play is five minutes long.

You will not be able to see the time during the Speaking
sub-test so keep talking until the interlocutor tells you to
stop. Repeat the process for the second roleplayer card.

It’s important to remember that the interlocutor does not assess you during the
Speaking sub-test. Instead, a recording of your test is sent to an assessment team
where it is assessed later.
 THE TEST IS OVER!!!

When the Speaking sub-test comes to an end,

you can collect your belongings from the
cloakroom, and you may leave. You cannot
take any of the papers out with you when you
leave.

Make sure you don’t speak to any candidates

who are still waiting to complete their
speaking sub-test.

Well done, you’ve finished! Now that the

hardest part is over, it’s time to relax before
you receive your results. Update us with your
exam experience and test results.