Occupational English Test

The Occupational English Test (also known as OET) is an international English language test for the healthcare sector. It assesses the language communication skills of healthcare professionals who wish to register and practise in an English-speaking environment.[1]

OET is available for the following 12 professions: dentistry, dietetics, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry, radiography, speech pathology, and veterinary science.[2]

History

OET was designed in the late 1980s by Professor Tim McNamara, under the guidance of the Australian National Office for Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR), which administered the test at that time. The test has been researched and developed continuously since then to ensure that it has kept up with current theory and practice in language assessment. This work has been done primarily by the University of Melbourne’s Language Testing Research Centre and, more recently, also by Cambridge English Language Assessment.

Since March 2013 the test has been owned by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment Trust (CBLA), a venture between Cambridge English Language Assessment and Box Hill Institute.[3]

Recognition

OET is recognised by regulatory healthcare bodies and councils in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, recently in UK and Ireland. Many organisations, including hospitals, universities and colleges, are using OET as proof of a candidate’s ability to communicate effectively in a demanding healthcare environment.[4] In addition, OET is recognised by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection for a number of visa categories, including work and student visas.[5]

Each recognising organisation determines which grade results mean that candidates meet the language competency standards to function in their profession. A full list of regulatory organisations which accept OET can be seen on the official website.

Format

OET provides a valid and reliable assessment of all four language skills – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking – with an emphasis on communication in medical and health professional settings. OET consists of four sub-tests:

  • Listening (approximately 50 minutes)
  • Reading (60 minutes)
  • Writing (45 minutes)
  • Speaking (approximately 20 minutes).[6]

Listening

The listening test consists of two parts. In Part A, candidates listen to a simulated consultation (dialogue) between a professional and a patient and are required to take notes under headings. In Part B, candidates listen to a health professional giving a short talk on a health-related topic and are required to complete a range of open-ended and fixed-choice questions.[7]

Reading

The reading test consists of two parts. In Part A, lasting 15 minutes, candidates are asked to skim read 3 or 4 short texts and complete a summary paragraph by filling in the missing words. It is designed to test the reader’s ability to scan texts within a time limit, source information from multiple texts, and synthesise information. In Part B, lasting 45 minutes, candidates are asked to read two passages on a general healthcare topic and answer 8–10 multiple choice questions for each text. It is designed to test the reader’s ability to read and comprehend longer texts.[8]

Writing

The writing paper asks candidates to write a letter, usually a letter of referral. For some professions a different type of letter is required, e.g. a letter of transfer or discharge, or a letter to advise a patient, carer or group. Candidates are given case notes which must be included in their letter.[9]

Speaking

The speaking test is in the form of one-to-one conversations with an interlocutor. It starts with a short warm-up interview about the candidate’s professional background. This is followed by two role plays. Candidates have 2–3 minutes to prepare for each role play. Role plays last about five minutes and are based on typical interactions between a health professional and a patient. The candidate adopts their usual professional role (e.g. as a nurse) and the interviewer plays a patient or sometimes a relative or carer. For veterinary science the interviewer is the owner or carer of the animal.[10]

Scoring

Each of the four sub-tests that make up OET are graded A to E, where A is the highest grade and E is the lowest. There is no overall grade.

OET gradeDescription of ability
AVery high level of performance
BHigh level of performance, i.e. able to use English with fluency and accuracy adequate for professional needs
CGood level of performance; however, not acceptable to a range of health and medical councils
DModerate level of performance; requires improvement
ELow level of performance; requires considerable improvement

Listening and reading

There is no fixed score-to-grade link for the listening and reading tests. Grade boundaries are continually reset because different test materials are used at each administration. A mean average of the percentage of candidates in each grade for the writing and speaking tests is applied to the spread of performances on the listening and reading tests to establish the grade boundaries.

Writing and speaking

In writing and speaking, the score is generated through statistical analysis of the two sets of scores from two independent assessors. This is converted, following established practice, to the final grade.[11]

Timing and results

OET is available up to 12 times a year and can be taken at test venues around the world. A full list is available on the official website.

Results are published online approximately 16 business days after the test. Official statements of results are sent out in the post following the release of online results. There is no overall grade – candidates receive separate grades for each sub-test.[12]

Most recognising organisations require candidates to have at least a B grade in each of the four sub-tests and recognise results as valid for up to two years. Most recognising organisations also require that candidates achieve the requisite grades for each sub-test in one sitting. However, candidates should check with the organisation that regulates their profession to confirm current requirements.[13]

Scandals

The Occupational English Test was plagued with criticism from an Australian Government's Parliamentary Enquiry in 2013.[14] The broader community made negative statements about testing conditions and marking consistency to the Enquiry. One submission claimed that it is possible to get a pass by re-sitting the test multiple times as you will eventually be marked higher after 6 sittings of the OET test.

Research

OET is underpinned by over 30 years of research and the test is regularly updated to keep pace with changes in language testing in a healthcare context. There is strong emphasis on the ongoing validity and reliability of the test. Leading language testing academics contribute to the continued development of the test, and subject matter experts are consulted to ensure that tasks are based on a typical workplace situations and the demands of the profession. A full list of research can be seen on the official website

References

  1. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=2428 Accessed 02 February 2015
  2. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org Accessed 02 February 2015
  3. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=2428 Accessed 02 February 2015
  4. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=2411 Accessed 02 February 2015
  5. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=2428 Accessed 02 February 2015
  6. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=2411 Accessed 02 February 2015
  7. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Documents/ViewDocument.aspx?club=oet&DocumentID=7592d58c-f766-4637-98c1-542133ab44f5 Accessed 02 February 2015
  8. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Documents/ViewDocument.aspx?club=oet&DocumentID=b5d05b93-a046-4d09-8e87-1e06ef2ef04c Accessed 02 February 2015
  9. ↑ [http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=256 http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=2569 Accessed 02 February 2015
  10. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=2569 Accessed 02 February 2015
  11. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=2571 Accessed 02 February 2015
  12. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=2411 Accessed 02 February 2015
  13. ↑ http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=2571 Accessed 02 February 2015
  14. ↑ http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=/haa/overseasdoctors/subs.htm
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