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The best OET plan for a nurse on shifts uses short, regular blocks: a focused task before work, a quick review after, and one longer timed session on a day off. Practise all 4 sub-tests, because OET tests Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Start a free OETify baseline: it shows which sub-test to work on first. OET Test Handbook 2026.
Set your target first
Your regulator sets your target scores and how long a result stays valid. For UK nursing, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) needs 350 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 300 in Writing. Australia’s Ahpra needs Listening 350, Reading 360, Writing 350 and Speaking 360 for tests from 23 April 2026. Check your own regulator’s current rule before you book. NMC OET requirements; Ahpra accepted English tests.
Write your target for each sub-test beside your test date and your application deadline. Other regulators are listed in OET score requirements, and the test modes guide shows which mode your regulator accepts.
A sample week around shifts
Copy this table and adjust it to your roster. It assumes 3 day shifts, 2 night shifts and 2 days off.
| Day | Shift | When | Task |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Day shift | 30 minutes before the shift | Reading Part A practice set, timed at 15 minutes, then check answers |
| Monday | Day shift | 20 minutes after the shift | Note 3 words or details you missed and why |
| Tuesday | Day shift | 30 minutes before the shift | Plan a Writing letter from case notes (no full letter) |
| Tuesday | Day shift | 20 minutes after the shift | Re-read your plan: is the request in the first paragraph? |
| Wednesday | Day off | 2-hour timed block | Full Writing task (5 + 40 minutes) and one Listening section, then review both |
| Thursday | Night shift | 30 minutes before the shift | Speaking role-play with a partner, 3 minutes preparation and 5 minutes speaking |
| Friday | Night shift | 20 minutes after waking | Listen again to a section you got wrong, with the transcript |
| Saturday | Day off | Rest, or 1 hour if you can | Reading Parts B and C, timed at 45 minutes |
| Sunday | Day shift | 30 minutes before the shift | Rewrite the weakest paragraph of Wednesday’s letter |
If a shift changes, keep the task that fixes your clearest mistake and drop the extra practice. Move any timed work to the next block where you will not be interrupted.
Find your weakest sub-test
OET’s free official samples cover all 4 sub-tests and every profession, in paper and computer formats. OET official sample tests.
Try one sample in each sub-test and keep the task, your answers and your time together. Check Listening and Reading against the answer keys and transcripts, and read your letter against OET’s Writing criteria. The computer and home samples do not save your answers, so write them down. OET computer and home sample-test instructions.
For Speaking, practise with a partner using a made-up role-play. With their agreement, record yourself so you can listen back. Use invented details only, never real patient information. Review the recording against the official Speaking criteria:
| What to listen for | Question to ask yourself |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation and pauses | Could your partner understand you without asking you to repeat? |
| Tone, grammar and vocabulary | Were your words accurate and suitable for a patient? |
| Opening and organisation | Did you greet the patient and explain things in a clear order? |
| Questions and response to concerns | Did you explore the concern before explaining? |
| Information given | Did you check understanding and ask for remaining questions? |
Example (written by OETify): a patient is worried about fitting dressing appointments around their work shifts. Your task is to explore that worry and check they understand the appointment plan; no treatment advice is needed. If your partner notices you explained the appointments before asking about shifts, your next task is clear: ask about the concern first, then compare the two attempts.
Give each session one specific task
Each sub-test tests different skills. For example, Listening Part A tests catching specific details, and Reading Part A tests finding information quickly. OET Test Handbook 2026.
| What went wrong | Next task | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Missed a specific detail in Listening | Find the words in the transcript that carried that detail | Listening |
| Could not find information quickly in Reading | Practise finding the right text before you answer | Reading |
| The letter’s request was unclear | Rewrite the purpose and check what the reader needs to know | Writing |
| Role-play missed the patient’s concern | Practise asking about the concern before explaining | Speaking |
Listening Parts B and C test understanding of workplace talk, arguments and opinions. Reading Parts B and C test workplace texts, detail in articles, the writer’s attitude and vocabulary in context.
Fix mistakes before adding more practice
OET’s Writing criteria reward a clear purpose and accurate, relevant information for the reader. OET Writing assessment criteria.
Example (written by OETify): your letter puts the request after unrelated history. In your next session, rewrite the opening so the reader sees the action needed first. Then try a different case and check you can make the purpose clear without copying the same opening. If the request is still hidden, keep working on openings before writing another full letter.
Build up to timed sections and a mock
Move from short focused tasks to timed sections, then a full practice test. Use OET’s timings when you time yourself:
| Sub-test | Official timing |
|---|---|
| Listening | About 40 minutes |
| Reading | 60 minutes: Part A on its own for 15, Parts B and C together for 45 |
| Writing | 5 minutes reading and 40 minutes writing |
| Speaking | About 20 minutes overall; 3 minutes preparation and 5 minutes for each role-play |
If you will sit OET on Paper, handwrite your practice letters. For OET on Computer and OET@Home, type them. OET on Paper; OET on Computer; OET@Home.
Official resources
OET’s samples are free. Its store also sells Listening Sample Tests 2, 3 and 4 as eBooks at AUD 8 each. OET official sample tests; OET Store.
| What you want to do | Resource |
|---|---|
| Get used to the test screens | Paper samples and interactive computer and home samples |
| Check a Writing attempt | OET Writing Guide and sample letters in the Study Guide |
| Study Speaking language and communication | Speaking guides and Nursing role-play examples |
| Practise Listening or Reading | Listening guided practice and Reading guided practice |
| Watch a Writing task explained | Writing preparation, including a Nursing video |
| Track what you have done | Progress checklist in the Study Guide |
| Watch sub-test explanations | Masterclasses on OET Ready |
Start with a baseline
The baseline covers Reading, Writing and live Speaking today. Listening is coming to the baseline and practice soon.
Common questions
- How should you prepare for OET?
- Write down your regulator’s target for each sub-test, then try a sample of each to find your weakest. Practise in short blocks around your shifts, review every mistake against the answer key, transcript or OET’s criteria, and build up to timed sections and a full mock.
- How many weeks of preparation do you need?
- It depends on the gap between your current level and your target, and on how many hours you can study each week. To estimate, list the practice you need and add up the hours. For example, 12 reviewed letters at 1.5 hours, 6 Reading sets at 1 hour, 6 Speaking sessions at 45 minutes and 2 mocks at 3.5 hours come to about 35 hours: roughly 6 weeks at 6 hours a week. Recheck after your first mock.
- Should you practise all four sub-tests?
- Yes. OET tests all 4, so include Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking in your plan. Listening and Reading are the same for every profession; Writing and Speaking use Nursing tasks.
- Where are official practice tests and answer keys?
- OET’s sample-test hub has free official samples for all 4 sub-tests and every profession, in paper and computer formats, with transcripts and sample answers. The computer and home samples do not save your answers, so write them down and check them against the key.
- How should you practise for handwritten Writing?
- If you will sit OET on Paper, write your practice letters by hand: 5 minutes reading, then 40 minutes writing. Afterwards check that the request is clear, the content you chose is relevant and your handwriting is easy to read.
Sources
- OET Test Handbook 2026 (OET)
- OET on Paper Writing input (OET)
- NMC OET requirements (NMC)
- Ahpra accepted English tests (Ahpra)
- OET Writing assessment criteria (OET)
- OET Speaking assessment criteria and level descriptors (OET)
- OET Ready Study Guide (OET)
- OET computer and home sample-test instructions (OET)
- OET official sample tests (OET)
- OET Writing Guide (OET)
- OET Speaking preparation guides and samples (OET)
- OET Listening guided practice and videos (OET)
- OET Reading guided practice and videos (OET)
- OET Writing preparation samples and videos (OET)
- OET Store (OET)
- OET on Computer Writing input (OET)
- OET@Home Writing input (OET)
- OET Ready (OET)