OET Preparation for Healthcare Professionals

The OET, Decoded for Clinicians.

A precision preparation programme for international medical graduates targeting B (350+) in all four sub-tests — the threshold required for registration with the GMC, AHPRA, the Medical Council of Ireland and the DOH UAE.

92%
of programme alumni achieve B
in every sub-test on first attempt
Mapped to OET descriptors
ICF-aligned coaching
Delivered globally via Zoom
OET FOUR SUB-TESTS L LISTENING R READING W WRITING S SPEAKING

Who This Is For

Three audiences. Three preparations.

The OET’s stakes are universal but candidates are not. Identify your situation below — each path has a different programme, a different cadence, and a different point of entry.

PATH 01

IMGs Preparing 1:1

Individual doctors targeting registration in the UK, Ireland, Australia, or the Gulf.
  • Doctors already relocated, upgrading registration
  • Specialists from higher-income contexts
  • Candidates who have failed once and need precision
Book a discovery call
PATH 02

Cohort Preparation

IMGs from high-volume markets preparing in fixed-price groups.
  • Doctors from India, Pakistan, Nigeria
  • Doctors from Egypt, the Philippines
  • Same OET methodology, group format
Register your interest
PATH 03

Agencies & Hospitals

Recruitment agencies and hospital groups placing IMGs internationally.
  • Agencies sourcing GMC/AHPRA-ready candidates
  • Hospital groups preparing inbound staff
  • Volume contracts with structured reporting
Open a partnership inquiry
The Proof
92%
of programme alumni achieve B in every sub-test on their first attempt.

The international average is closer to 40%. The difference is not talent — it is preparation calibrated to the OET's specific clinical formats and the band descriptors that decide each grade.

Required by GMC, AHPRA, MCNZ, MCI, DOH
0 +
Combined teaching & coaching experience
0 yrs
Sub-tests covered with bespoke material
0
The cost of an inefficient preparation

The average international medical graduate sits the OET 2.4 times before achieving B in all four sub-tests. Each re-sit costs roughly £385 and delays registration by 6–10 weeks. The variable that most reliably separates first-attempt success from repeat failure is not general English proficiency — it is targeted preparation for the OET's specific clinical formats.

The Four Sub-Tests

One exam. Four distinct disciplines.

Click through each sub-test to see its format, an authentic exam-style example, and the specific traps that derail otherwise capable candidates.

Sub-test 1 of 4

The Clinical Ear.

~50 min 42 questions

Three parts: two patient consultations, six short workplace extracts, two longer presentations. Tests the precise discriminations that matter on a ward — symptom timing, dosage, instructions, family history.

Common pitfalls
  • Mistaking gist comprehension for the discrete-item accuracy required
  • Losing concentration during the longer Part C presentations
  • Spelling errors on medical terminology that lose otherwise correct answers
PART A · CONSULTATION 1 · TRANSCRIPT EXTRACT 0:42 / 5:00
Doctor
Now Mrs. Patterson, can you describe the chest pain you've been experiencing?
Patient
It started about three days ago. It's a sort of tight, heavy feeling — right here, in the centre. It comes on when I'm climbing the stairs, and it goes away when I sit down.
Doctor
And does it spread anywhere — into your arm, your jaw?
Patient
My left arm, yes. Just a dull ache.
Audio simulation
Q3. Complete the patient's description of the pain:
A tight, heavy feeling in the centre of the chest.
✓ MODEL ANSWER SHOWN
Sub-test 2 of 4

The Discerning Reader.

~60 min 42 questions

Part A is a 15-minute information-retrieval challenge across four texts. Parts B and C demand inferential reading of authentic healthcare prose — guidelines, journal articles, hospital notices.

Common pitfalls
  • Spending too long in Part A and arriving at Part C exhausted
  • Selecting the answer that "sounds right" rather than the one the text supports
  • Missing concession structures: "although", "despite", "while" — where meaning often pivots
PART C · TEXT EXTRACT Adapted from a clinical practice review

Recent guidance from NICE recommends that patients presenting with stable angina symptoms should undergo CT coronary angiography as a first-line investigation, rather than the previously preferred exercise tolerance test. While this represents a significant shift in practice, uptake has been uneven, with smaller centres citing capacity constraints and concerns about radiation exposure in younger patients.

Q23. According to the writer, the change in NICE guidance has been:
A
universally adopted across the NHS
B
implemented inconsistently across centres
C
rejected by most cardiology departments
D
limited to patients over fifty
Sub-test 3 of 4

The Precise Letter.

~45 min 1 letter

A single profession-specific letter — referral, discharge, transfer, or advice — based on case notes. Assessed on Purpose, Content, Conciseness, Genre, Style, Organisation, Language. Most candidates lose marks not on grammar but on selection.

Common pitfalls
  • Including every detail from the case notes — losing marks for Conciseness
  • Writing to the wrong audience register (e.g., colloquial to a senior consultant)
  • Burying the purpose in paragraph three rather than the opening sentence
WRITING TASK · CASE NOTES Time allowed: 45 minutes
PATIENT
Mr. James Walker, age 67
ADMITTED
18 April 2026 — Right total knee replacement
PMH
Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes (diet-controlled)
MEDS
Ramipril 5 mg OD; Paracetamol 1 g QDS PRN
SOCIAL
Lives alone, two-storey home; daughter visits twice weekly
DISCHARGE
Mobile with crutches; sutures removed; wound clean
PLAN
Refer to community physiotherapy for rehabilitation
The Task

Using the information in the case notes, write a letter of referral to Ms. Helen Carter, Senior Physiotherapist, requesting ongoing rehabilitation for Mr. Walker. Do not use note form. Expand the relevant case notes into complete sentences.

Within the programme: 12 graded letter-writing iterations with band-descriptor feedback.
Sub-test 4 of 4

The Composed Clinician.

~20 min 2 role-plays

Two profession-specific role-plays of approximately five minutes each. Assessed on Indicators (intelligibility, fluency, language) and Clinical Communication (relationship, gathering information, providing information).

Common pitfalls
  • Treating the role-play as a language test rather than a clinical interaction
  • Forgetting to acknowledge concerns before delivering information
  • Over-using rehearsed phrases that sound mechanical to an examiner
ROLE-PLAY 1 · CANDIDATE CARD 5 minutes · You speak first
Setting
Hospital ward
Your role
You are the Doctor.
The patient
A 58-year-old man recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who is anxious about starting insulin.
Your tasks
I
Acknowledge the patient's anxiety; find out his specific concerns.
II
Explain why insulin is now indicated despite previous oral therapy.
III
Reassure him about the practicalities of self-injection.
IV
Agree on a follow-up plan.
The Threshold

Why 350 is the only number that matters.

OET reports each sub-test on a 0–500 scale and converts to a letter grade. Most healthcare regulators require a minimum of B (350) in every sub-test — not an average.

A
450–500
Highly proficient
B
350–440
Required for registration
C+
300–340
Below threshold
C
200–290
Below threshold
D
100–190
Limited
E
0–90
Beginner

The Engagement Process

Your path to B in all four.

I

STAGE 01 · BASELINE

Diagnostic Mock

A full timed mock OET under exam conditions. We map your performance against the band descriptors to identify the precise point of failure in each sub-test.

II

STAGE 02 · DRILLING

Targeted Drilling

Profession-specific practice for your weakest band-descriptor. For most candidates this is Conciseness in Writing or Discrete-Item accuracy in Listening.

III

STAGE 03 · COACHING

Communication Coaching

ICF-aligned coaching addresses the clinical-communication dimension of Speaking — the part that separates a B from a C+ for fluent candidates.

IV

STAGE 04 · CALIBRATION

Calibrated Mocks

Three further timed mocks at two-week intervals. We do not enter you for the live exam until your mock results are reliably above 380 in every sub-test.

The Architect

Built on academic rigour and certified coaching.

MedPerformatics is the specialised medical-English brand of Dr. Constantine Samartzis. The preparation is not generic English coaching with medical vocabulary bolted on — it is purpose-built for the OET and the registration pathways it serves

Academic Foundation
PhD · Education Policy
OET Specialisation
Profession-specific exam prep
Coaching Layer
ICF-aligned · TEFL
Brand Specialism
MedPerformatics · Medical English

What Alumni Say

Voices from the cohort.

"
My acquaintance with Dr. Samartzis began shortly after I moved to Boston from Greece while searching for a tutor to help me prepare for the OET, a test I needed to pass to become ECFMG certified(...) He guided me on where to focus my efforts and provided tailored learning materials. In the following sessions, he identified my weaknesses and offered clear and effective strategies to improve them. His engaging teaching style and expertise made the preparation process both efficient and enjoyable(...) Overall, I give Dr. Samartzis my highest recommendation as a tutor for the OET exam.
Spyros P.
MD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Boston, USn
"
I took OET Medicine lessons with Constantine for about 2 months to obtain the certification. Although my level wasn't C2, thanks to his excellent organization, ability to convey knowledge, and pleasant personality, I managed to achieve my goal on the first attempt. I highly recommend him!
Elia
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Plymouth, UK

Your Next Step

Ready to take the OET once?

Whether you require intensive 1:1 preparation, structured cohort training, or a high-volume partnership for your hospital or agency, the first step is a brief conversation to map out your timeline and target scores.

All paths · Zoom · No obligation

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