OET Listening Sub-Test

The OET Listening test consists of three parts – Parts A, B and C and a total of 42 question items. All the content is of general medical interest and is appropriate for all healthcare professionals and does not require specialist knowledge in a particular field.

The full recording including last for approximately 40 minutes and includes the time to read the questions before each recording begins. You will hear each recording once and are expected to write your answers while listening.

  • Part A - Two consultations involving a healthcare professional and patient. [fill in the blanks] [24 Qs]
  • Part B - Six short dialogues or monologues in workplace context. [multiple choice] [6 Qs]
  • Part C - Talk/presentation by a healthcare professional. [multiple choice] [12 Qs]
OET Listening consists of 3 parts:
Part A - consultation extracts (approx 5 minutes each)

During Part A, you will listen to two recorded consultations between a healthcare professional and a patient about the patient’s experience of a health issue. Part A assesses your ability to identify specific information during the consultation and you will complete
the health professional’s notes using the information you hear. Each extract last between 4.5 and 5 minutes in length and features a different condition.

Part B - short workplace extracts (approx 1 minute each)

In Listening Part B, you hear six short extracts which take place in the workplace. Part B assesses your ability to identify the detail, gist, opinion or purpose of short extracts from the healthcare workplace. You will listen to six recorded extracts (e.g., team briefings, handovers, or health professional-patient dialogues) and you will answer one multiple-choice question for each extract.

Part C - presentation extracts (approx 5 minutes each)

In Listening Part C you hear two extracts about two different topics. You listen to part of a workplace presentation or interview. The presentations and interviews resemble something you’d be likely to listen to in the course of your work. Part C assesses your ability to follow a recorded presentation or interview on a range of accessible healthcare topics. You will listen to two different extracts, and you will answer six multiple-choice questions for each extract.

Frequently Asked Questions
The OET Listening sub-test is designed to assess a range of listening skills, such as identifying specific information, detail, gist, opinion or the speaker’s purpose. These skills are assessed through note-completion tasks and multiple-choice questions. Assessors who mark the Listening sub-test are qualified and highly trained. Candidate responses are assessed against an established marking guide. During the marking session, problematic or unforeseen answers are referred to a sub-group of senior assessors for guidance and all papers are double-marked to ensure fairness and consistency. Assessors are monitored for accuracy and consistency.
Your answers for OET Listening Part A are double-marked by trained OET assessors. These answers are randomly assigned to assessors to avoid any conflict of interest. Your answers for Part B and Part C are computer scanned and automatically scored. For Part A, Listening assessors use a detailed marking guide which sets out which answers receive marks. Assessors use this guide to decide whether you have provided enough correct information to be given the mark.
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Learn how to listen better to a Part A consultation by understanding the difference between medical and layman's language.

OET Listening Part A Medical vs Layman

You’ll hear six short recordings from different healthcare settings. There will be one or two speakers, and one will be a healthcare professional.

OET Listening Part B Workplace Conversation

You will hear two recordings which are either interviews or presentations. Part C audios are relevant to your professional development.

OET Listening Part C Interview or Presentation