OET listening syllabus
OET Listening is one paper taken by candidates from all twelve professions. A nurse, a dentist and a vet sit the same extracts and answer the same 42 items. Nothing in this sub-test is nursing specific. The OET Nursing syllabus hub page covers the sub-tests that are.
Pattern
| Part | What you hear | Task | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | Two consultation extracts of about five minutes each | Complete the health professional’s notes | Note completion |
| Part B | Six workplace extracts of about one minute each | One multiple choice question per extract | 6 |
| Part C | Two presentation or interview extracts of about five minutes each | Six multiple choice questions per extract | 12 |
Forty two items in total, in about 40 minutes. Part A is double marked by assessors. Parts B and C are computer scanned. There is no negative marking anywhere in the sub-test.
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What each part contains
- Part A: a consultation between a health professional and a patient. You complete notes under given headings as the conversation runs, writing words you hear rather than paraphrasing
- Part B: short workplace exchanges such as a team briefing, a handover, a piece of advice to a colleague or an instruction about a procedure
- Part C: an extended presentation or an interview with a health professional about their work, their research or their experience
- All extracts use healthcare settings, but across the full range of professions rather than nursing alone
- A range of native speaker accents is used
What is not in the syllabus
- No nursing specific content. The paper is identical for all twelve professions
- No clinical knowledge questions. Everything needed is in the recording
- No negative marking
- No spoken response. Answers are written
- No separate transfer time
How to spend the time
Part A rewards writing what you hear. The notes want the speaker’s own words, so rephrasing into better English is how correct answers become wrong ones.
Read the note headings before each Part A extract. The headings tell you what kind of information is coming and in roughly what order, which is most of the task.
Parts B and C are the cheap marks, at one question per extract in Part B. Six items there take about six minutes and are worth the same as six items anywhere else.
Part C runs long and has no conversational pauses, so it needs separate stamina practice. Browse the available OET Nursing practice papers.
Common mistakes
- Paraphrasing in Part A instead of writing the words spoken
- Expecting nursing specific vocabulary and being thrown by another profession’s terminology
- Missing the Part B question because the extract is only a minute long
- Writing full sentences in Part A notes and falling behind the recording
- Leaving blanks, when there is no penalty for a wrong answer
- Treating Part C as background listening rather than six scored questions per extract
Part A against Part C
| Feature | Part A | Part C |
|---|---|---|
| Extracts | Two, about five minutes each | Two, about five minutes each |
| Task | Note completion | Multiple choice |
| Questions per extract | Note headings | Six |
| Speakers | A professional and a patient | A presenter or interviewee |
| Marking | Double marked by assessors | Computer scanned |
| What it tests | Catching detail as it is said | Following an extended argument |
Frequently asked questions
Is OET Listening different for nurses?
No. It is the same paper for all twelve professions.
How many items are in OET Listening?
Forty two, across Parts A, B and C, in about 40 minutes.
How many questions are in Part B and Part C?
Six in Part B, one per extract, and twelve in Part C, six per extract.
Is there negative marking?
No. Attempt every item.
Does the recording play twice?
No. Each extract plays once.
Should I write exactly what I hear in Part A?
Yes. The notes want the words used in the recording rather than your rephrasing of them.
Does spelling matter?
Yes. Assessors mark Part A by hand, and a misspelled clinical term can cost the item.
What accents are used?
A range of native speaker accents, reflecting the countries where OET is recognised.
How is Listening marked?
Part A is double marked by assessors. Parts B and C are computer scanned. The sub-test is reported from 0 to 500 in ten point increments.
What grade do I need in Listening?
The NMC requires B, meaning 350 or above. Australia requires 350 and New Zealand 350. The requirement is set by your regulator rather than by OET.