Subtest

General information

Speaking

Time allocation:
approximately 20 minutes

Test format and procedure

This subtest is specific to each profession.
The subtest is a face-to-face interview where candidates are required to participate in two different role play situations
typical of their health profession area. The details of each role play are set out on two cue cards. Candidates take
the role of the health professional while the interviewer takes the role of the patient or client.
This subtest is in three parts:

1.

Warm-up conversation
This is not assessed.
The purpose of the warm-up conversation is to explain the format of the test and to help the candidate to relax.
The interviewer will ask about areas of professional interest, previous work, reasons for coming to Australia,
future plans, etc.

2.

First role play

The interviewer hands the candidate a role play card which the candidate reads carefully. Any questions are
to be asked and answered before the role play begins. The interviewer will finish the role play after about 5
minutes.

3.

Second role play

The above procedure is repeated with a different role play.

The whole interview is recorded. It is important that the candidate and the interviewer speak clearly so that the
assessor can understand everything that is said. Two role plays are provided to ensure the assessment is fair. The
assessment is based on both role plays.

Assessment procedure
In the actual test, speaking is assessed by qualified, experienced English Language assessors who have been trained
in OET assessment procedures. The assessment is based on the following criteria:

overall communicative effectiveness

intelligibility

fluency

appropriateness of language

resources of grammar and expression.

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If the interlocutor (person who takes the role of the patient or client) is trained as an assessor, an assessment is made
during the role plays. If the interlocutor is not trained, the assessment is made in Australia after the test.
All candidate responses are double marked. Borderline tapes are marked by a third assessor.

The sample materials

The sample materials consist of:

role play cards for ten health professional areas

two complete role plays recorded on the audio tape. One of the role plays involves a doctor, and the other
a nurse. It is not possible to provide examples of all professions, but these interviews should provide a clear
idea of the procedures used in the interview.

Using the materials

Select the relevant role play.

Copy the information on to two cards.

Take the role of the health professional.

Ask a friend to play the role of a patient or client.

Ask another friend to observe the role play and give you feedback on your performance.

Read the information on the card carefully.

You have to deal with the case details as outlined on the card by asking and answering questions put to you
by the patient or client.

Speak as naturally as possible.

Remember it is important to be interested in the welfare of the patient and to reassure the patient or relation
of the patient that the treatment being proposed is appropriate.

Keep to the time limit of 5 minutes (approximate) for each role play.

Ask a friend who observed for comments and feedback.

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OET CANDIDATE INFORMATION & SAMPLE MATERIALS

DENTISTS SPEAKING SUBTEST

OET SAMPLE

Candidates Card: Dentists

Setting

Student Dental Service

Dentist

This first-year student is taking advantage of the cost-free check-up which your service
offers. You have just done a complete examination of his/her teeth and extra-oral areas
and have found nothing abnormal. There is some calculus/tartar on the teeth and some
inflammation of the gums.

Task

Tell the student the good news: no holes (because of fluoride in the water). Point out that
tartar and gingivitis are present and explain how to brush teeth.

Roleplayers Card: Dentists

Setting

Student Dental Service

Patient

You started university this year and have decided to have a free check-up at the student
dental service. The last time you went to the dentist was 5 or 6 years ago, when your
mother took you along for a check-up. Youve never had any fillings, and all you can
remember is losing your first teeth.
The dentist has just given your teeth a complete examination.

Task

Find out if there is any dental work that needs to be done on your teeth, and also what
you can do to look after your teeth. You hate the taste of toothpaste and feel flossing will
be too difficult.

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SPEAKING SUBTEST DIETITIANS

OET SAMPLE

Candidates Card: Dietitians

Setting

Outpatient Clinic

Dietitian

Your patient is the parent of an 18 month old boy who is underweight. The patient tells
you that the family follow a very healthy diet.

Task

Find out what the child eats, and why it is important to the parent that the child stays thin
and has a low fat diet.
Explain to the parent that the child needs more energy to help it grow. Encourage the
parent to add more fat to the childs diet.

Roleplayers Card: Dietitians

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Setting

Outpatient Clinic

Patient

You are the parent of an 18 month old boy. The local health clinic nurse has referred you
to a dietitian because your child is underweight. You are very aware of the importance
of eating healthy food and you and your partner and child follow a low fat diet using only
low-fat dairy products, no butter or margarine and little meat. Your father died of a heart
attack recently and you know that family history is one of the risk factors for developing
heart disease. You are determined to stay healthy and want to make sure your son does
too. You are also determined that your son will not grow up fat. You were fat as a child
and can remember how cruel other children were to you.

Task

Tell the dietitian that you and your family follow a very healthy diet. Tell him/her about your
fathers death and your fears of developing heart disease and also you worry that your
son may end up being fat. Resist suggestions that you should introduce more fattening
foods to your sons diet.

OET CANDIDATE INFORMATION & SAMPLE MATERIALS

DOCTORS SPEAKING SUBTEST

OET SAMPLE

Candidates Card: Doctors

Setting

Suburban clinic, 11 pm

Doctor

This parent has brought in his/her four-year-old child, Tom, who has been well, except
for one day of mild rhinorrhoea. This evening he developed a cough that sounded like a
dog barking. You diagnose mild croup.

Task

You explain the illness and that there is no treatment. You reassure the parent that it
is common and usually harmless but give instructions as to when to seek immediate
attention.

Roleplayers Card: Doctors

Setting

Suburban clinic, 11 pm

Patient

You have brought your four-year-old child, Tom, in with you. Tom had a mild runny nose
through the day and this evening developed a cough. He went to bed as usual and
awoke with a terrible deep cough. He sounded like a barking dog. You feel very worried
about the cough and his breathing.

Task

Seek reassurance from the doctor. Find out if it is dangerous and requires treatment.
Be really anxious.

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SPEAKING SUBTEST NURSES

OET SAMPLE

Candidates Card: Nurses

Setting

A hospital ward

Nurse

You are talking to a 56-year-old patient, a heavy smoker who has just been admitted
with bronchitis.

Task

Find out about the patients general background: family, habits and general health.
Also respond to the patients questions about giving up smoking. Give advice in a
positive and friendly way.

Roleplayers Card: Nurses

Setting

A hospital ward

Patient

You are a 56-year-old smoker who has been admitted to hospital with bronchitis. The
nurse is collecting information from you.
You live in your own home with your wife/husband, who is 50 years old, and you have
three teenage children living at home. You have smoked for 30 years and often had
chest infections.
You would like to give up smoking but have tried several times and have not succeeded.

Task

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Answer the nurses question about your family situation, and ask for advice about how to
give up smoking.

OET CANDIDATE INFORMATION & SAMPLE MATERIALS

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS SPEAKING SUBTEST

OET SAMPLE

Candidates Card: Occupational Therapists

Setting

Aged Care Facility

Occupational
Therapist

You are speaking to the son or daughter of an elderly man who has been admitted
to hospital for diagnostic and functional assessment after having been found on
several occasions wandering in the neighbourhood, unable to find his way home. The
neighbours have also reported that lights are frequently left on all night in the patients
house. However the patient does not acknowledge these things occurring.
The patient has been living alone in the family home for 6 years since his wife died and
has very little contact with people other than his only child, who visits weekly, and his
neighbours.
He is not being very co-operative with hospital staff.

Task

Introduce yourself to the son/daughter and explain what you will be doing with his/her
father in the occupational therapy sessions. Give examples of the assessments you will
be carrying out, as well as the reasons for these.
It is important to obtain the son/daughters co-operation.

Roleplayers Card: Occupational Therapists

Setting

Aged Care Facility

Patient

Your elderly father has been admitted to hospital for assessment after having been found
on several occasions wandering in the neighbourhood, unable to find his way home.
The neighbours have told you that the lights are frequently left on all night in his house.
When asked, your father does not acknowledge that these things occurred. As a result,
the local doctor has had your father admitted for assessment to a special hospital for the
elderly.
Your father is a widower and has been living alone in the family home for 6 years. He
has very little contact with people other than yourself, and his neighbours. He values
his independence and takes pride in his self-sufficiency. He sees no reason for being
admitted to hospital.
You feel guilty for disrupting (maybe permanently) his highly valued independent way of
life (perhaps you should have taken him to live with you).

Task

Find out what the occupational therapist will be doing for your father in the therapy
sessions.
Discuss where your father should live and seek reassurance about the care he will
receive here. Is this really the best place for him?

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SPEAKING SUBTEST PHARMACISTS

OET SAMPLE

Candidates Card: Pharmacists

Setting

Community Pharmacy

Pharmacist

The patient visited the pharmacy four days ago complaining about an itchy rash between
the toes, which you diagnosed as tinea pedis. You sold her/him an antifungal cream to
apply twice a day.
She/he has been doing what you recommended, but there has been no improvement.

Task

Explain to the patient that it usually takes several days before the
symptoms are relieved.
Reassure the patient that the product is the best one for the condition.
Encourage her/him to persist with the treatment and to continue using the cream for a
further seven days after the symptoms clear to prevent relapse.
Check whether she/he has been following advice to prevent reinfection and transfer of
the infection to other members of the family. (eg. wash the feet daily and dry carefully
especially between the toes; use a separate towel and wash it separately; wear
absorbent cotton rather than synthetic socks; open footwear if possible.)

Roleplayers Card: Pharmacists

Setting

Community Pharmacy

Patient

You visited the pharmacy four days ago complaining about an itchy rash between your
toes. The pharmacist said you were suffering from athletes foot and sold you a cream
to apply twice a day. You have followed the instructions, but there is no improvement.
You have been careful to use a separate towel for your feet and not let anyone else use
the towel.

Task

Ask the pharmacist to give you something more effective, as the condition is very itchy
and uncomfortable.
Be insistent.

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OET CANDIDATE INFORMATION & SAMPLE MATERIALS

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS SPEAKING SUBTEST

OET SAMPLE

Candidates Card: Physiotherapists

Setting

Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Group

Physiotherapist

You are a member of the cardiac rehabilitation team, specifically responsible for the
graded exercise program of each participant. You have a new 45-year-old patient, who is
attending for the first time with his/her partner, who is extremely anxious and protective.

Task

Give an outline of the program (walking program, monitored exercises, stress

management, group discussion/education over a 6 week period). Respond to the
partners anxiety and seek to gain his/her confidence to participate in the rehabilitation
program.

Roleplayers Card: Physiotherapists

Setting

Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Group

Patient

Your 45-year-old partner suffered a heart attack 10 days ago, was admitted to the
coronary care unit, and had an uncomplicated recovery. He/she has now been
discharged and referred to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Group.
Both your parents died of cardiac disease at a relatively young age and you are
extremely anxious and fearful regarding the recovery of your partner, about whom you
feel very protective.

Task

Find out some guidelines on physical activity from the physiotherapist in charge of the
rehabilitation group. How effective are they likely to be in this sort of case? What sort of
strain are they likely to put on your partner?

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SPEAKING SUBTEST PODIATRISTS

OET SAMPLE

Candidates Card: Podiatrists

Setting

Suburban private practice

Podiatrists

This otherwise healthy 18 year old is suffering from an onychocryptosis (ingrowing toe
nail) by poor nail cutting which left a splinter of nail in the fibular sulcus of the right hallux.
The splinter of nail needs to be removed, and antiseptic measures need to be taken to
clear the infection.

Task

Explain to the patient that you are going to remove the offending splinter of nail from the
fibular sulcus after administering a local anaesthetic injection to the hallux. An antiseptic
dressing will then be applied to contain the infection.
Inform the patient:

your treatment will resolve the immediate problem

condition may recur, due to toe nail shape

if so, a partial nail avulsion is possible (to effect a permanent

cure without drastically altering the shape of the nail).

Roleplayers Card: Podiatrists

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Setting

Suburban private practice

Patient

You are 18 years old. The nail of the big toe of your right foot has been causing you
some irritation on the inner side, so you cut a section of the nail away to relieve the
irritation. A few days later you noticed that the side where you had cut the nail away was
red and painful. When you examined the area, you noticed some pus.

Task

Seek a remedy for the problem. You are concerned that the pain is preventing you from
playing basketball, and that wearing any shoe is uncomfortable. However, youve never
had an anaesthetic and are very apprehensive about the process. You want the problem
fixed once and for all.

OET CANDIDATE INFORMATION & SAMPLE MATERIALS

RADIOGRAPHERS SPEAKING SUBTEST

OET SAMPLE

Candidates Card: Radiographers

Setting

Pre-procedure waiting area

Radiographer

The patient is 58 years old, and has been suffering from pain in both lower legs.
Clinical notes: Bilateral Claudication; left greater than right; absent pulses below l. knee;
possible bilateral peripheral vascular disease.
Examination required: Lumbar aortagram and bilateral femoral angiogram.
You will be carrying out the x-ray procedure together assisted by a radiologist and a
nurse.

Task

Check the patients identity

Check that the patient has completed a consent form
Explain the procedure as follows:
administration of the local anaesthetic on the groin area, insertion of a thin
plastic catheter into the femoral artery, which is then passed into the main artery
of the abdomen, injection of contrast using a pump and a series of pictures to
follow the contrast down the legs
positions and instructions during procedure (lying very still, flat on back, holding
breath when instructed)
the need to press on the groin to seal the artery for 10 mins after procedure
the need to lie flat in bed for 4 hrs; best rest for 24 hrs (to avoid developing a
large haemotoma).

Roleplayers Card: Radiographers

Setting

Pre-procedure waiting area

Patient

You are 58 years old. Over the last 12 months, you have developed pain in both lower
legs when you walk any distance. Recently, the pain has been much worse, particularly
in the left leg and has occurred more quickly (i.e., over a shorter distance).
Your doctor told you that he needs some pictures of the blood vessels of your legs and
got you to sign a form to allow the procedure.
You are surprised that the blood vessels show up in x-rays and you dont quite know or
understand what the form was for.

Task

Find out what is actually being done. It seems to be a lot of fuss.

Be anxious about the procedure; question why it must be done and what are the side
effects, if any.
Be reluctant to co-operate.

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SPEAKING SUBTEST SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS

OET SAMPLE

Candidates Card: Speech Pathologists

Setting

Early Intervention Centre Outpatient Clinic

Speech
Pathologist

You are talking to the parent of a 2-year old girl with Cerebral Palsy Spastic
Quadriplegia.
Patient is always fed on her mothers knee and tilted back.
She is small and obviously underweight.
She has no speech and limited vocalisations.

Task

Ask about how and what the child is usually fed. Give the parent a basic understanding
of how to feed the child (hold upright, head in the middle). Provide one or two practical
ideas about appropriate posture and types of food for the parent to take home and
implement immediately.

Roleplayers Card: Speech Pathologists

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Setting

Early Intervention Centre Outpatient Clinic

Patient

You are the parent of a 2-year-old girl with Cerebral Palsy. She is severely disabled and
completely unable to eat or drink unassisted. She is bottle fed and eats only pureed
food. You (and your spouse) always feed her on your knee, tilted back.

Task

This is your first visit to a Speech Pathologist. You are very concerned about your
childs weight. You are anxious to do the best for your child, but are worried by what
the therapist tells you to do: in the past you have tried to feed your daughter in a high
chair but she has coughed, lost most of the food, and nearly choked, on more than one
occasion, which frightened you. How can you be sure to avoid a repeat of this, and
what should you do if she does start choking again?

OET CANDIDATE INFORMATION & SAMPLE MATERIALS

VETERINARIANS SPEAKING SUBTEST

OET SAMPLE

Candidates Card: Veterinarians

Setting

Suburban clinic

Veterinarian

Your client has an 11-year-old entire male dog. The client thinks it has diarrhoea
because he/she has noticed a watery discharge from the anus.

Task

Ask your client to explain the symptoms. Get further history. (Any strain on passing
faeces? Any bones fed to the animal?) Tell the owner your diagnosis (constipation
secondary to the feeding of bones and a prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate gland));
explain what should be done. Advise an enema under general anaesthetic if medical
treatment is unsuccessful. Recommend castration at some point in the future. Explain
why.
Give advice about diet for the dog. No bones.

Roleplayers Card: Veterinarians

Setting

Suburban clinic

Patient

You have an 11-year-old uncastrated male dog, Shep. The dog is quieter than normal
and is not eating. You have noticed a watery discharge from his behind and you tell the
vet he has diarrhoea.
If asked, you did notice that he had been straining to pass faeces and yes, you do feed
him bones.

Task

Answer the vets questions and find out what is wrong with the dog. You feel stupid
because you thought he had diarrhoea. You tell the vet that you have always given the
dog bones and never had any trouble before.
Your are concerned that the dog is old and will not stand up to an anaesthetic for an
enema or for the castration. You do not want to have the dog lose its manhood, and
reject the idea of castration for the dog.

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