Master all three parts of OET Listening with proven strategies, note-taking techniques, and expert tips for nursing candidates.
The OET Listening sub-test lasts approximately 40 minutes and consists of three parts with a total of 42 questions. The recordings feature healthcare professionals and patients in authentic medical scenarios, using a variety of native and non-native English accents commonly encountered in healthcare settings.
Listening is often the sub-test that candidates find most challenging because it tests both your language comprehension and your ability to process information under time pressure. You hear each recording only once, so concentration and effective note-taking are essential.
A score of 350 (Grade B) is required by most nursing regulators. This typically requires answering at least 30-32 questions correctly. The good news is that your nursing background provides valuable context that helps you anticipate content and understand medical terminology.
| Feature | Part A | Part B | Part C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Recordings | 2 consultations | 6 short extracts | 2 longer presentations/interviews |
| Duration | Approx. 5 min each (10 min total) | Approx. 1 min each (6 min total) | Approx. 5 min each (10 min total) |
| Questions | 12 per recording (24 total) | 1 per extract (6 total) | 6 per recording (12 total) |
| Question Type | Note completion | Multiple choice (3 options) | Multiple choice (3 options) |
| Format | Complete healthcare professional's notes | Answer a question about gist or detail | Answer questions about opinions, attitudes, inferences |
| Preparation Time | 30 seconds before each recording | 15 seconds before each extract | 60 seconds before each recording |
Part A consists of two recorded medical consultations. You listen and complete the healthcare professional's notes. There are 12 gaps per recording (24 total), and you must fill in missing words or short phrases (typically 1-3 words).
- Quickly read through the notes to understand the structure
- Identify the type of information needed for each gap (name, number, symptom, treatment)
- Predict what kind of word fits grammatically
- Follow the notes as you listen - the information comes in order
- Write answers in the gaps immediately
- Use abbreviations and shorthand if needed
- If you miss an answer, move on - don't lose track of the recording
- Check your answers make grammatical sense
- Fill in any gaps you missed with your best guess
- Check spelling (especially drug names and medical terms)
Name, age, date of birth, occupation, allergies, medical history
Duration, severity, location, aggravating/relieving factors, associated symptoms
Medications (name and dose), investigations, referrals, lifestyle advice, follow-up
Part B consists of 6 short extracts (approximately 1 minute each) from workplace interactions. You hear one multiple-choice question per extract with three answer options. The extracts include handovers, shift briefings, patient requests, and colleague discussions.
- Read the question carefully - what do you need to identify?
- Read all three options - don't decide prematurely
- Predict what the extract might be about
- Listen for the main message (gist) or specific detail
- Note key words that relate to the options
- Be careful of distractors - wrong options may use words from the recording
- Choose the best answer quickly
- There is no pause between extracts - move straight to the next question
- If unsure, make your best guess and move on
"What is the speaker's main concern?" / "What is the purpose of this conversation?" - Listen for overall meaning, not details.
"What does the nurse advise the patient to do?" / "Why has the doctor been called?" - Focus on specific information.
"What is the speaker doing?" (e.g., complaining, apologising, advising) - Listen for the purpose of the utterance.
"How does the speaker feel about...?" - Listen for tone of voice and emotional cues.
Part C consists of 2 longer recordings (approximately 5 minutes each), typically featuring a healthcare professional giving a presentation, lecture, or being interviewed about a medical topic. There are 6 multiple-choice questions per recording (12 total). The questions test comprehension of opinions, attitudes, inferences, and the speaker's purpose.
- Read ALL 6 questions and options for the upcoming recording
- Underline key words in questions
- Predict the topic based on question content
- Listen for signpost language: "Firstly...", "However...", "The key point is...", "In conclusion..."
- Note when the speaker changes topic - this often corresponds to the next question
- Answers may not come in the same order as questions - be flexible
- Review your answers
- Check you haven't missed any questions
- Guess any unanswered questions
"According to the speaker, what is the main advantage of...?" - The answer reflects the speaker's view, not general fact.
"What is the speaker's attitude toward the new guidelines?" - Listen for evaluative language (positive, negative, sceptical).
"What can be inferred about the speaker's approach to...?" - The answer is implied, not directly stated.
"Why does the speaker mention the study from 2019?" - The reason for mentioning something may differ from the content itself.
Effective note-taking is essential for Part A and helpful for Parts B and C. Develop your own shorthand system:
Pt = patient, Hx = history, Tx = treatment, Dx = diagnosis, Rx = prescription, b/c = because, w/ = with, w/o = without, + = positive, - = negative
↑ = increase, ↓ = decrease, = = equals, ≈ = approximately, → = leads to, ? = question/doubt, ! = important, * = note
problem = prblm, medication = mdctn, examination = xmntn, discharge = dschrg, assessment = assmnt
chest pain = CP, blood pressure = BP, shortness of breath = SOB, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease = COPD
Prediction is a powerful technique that improves both your focus and accuracy:
Look at the gap and determine what part of speech is needed. "The patient was prescribed _____ for pain relief." - needs a noun (drug name). "The pain was _____ than before." - needs a comparative adjective.
Use surrounding words to predict the meaning. "The patient reported _____ in the left leg, which worsened on walking." - likely a symptom word (pain, numbness, swelling).
Your nursing knowledge helps. A diabetic patient complaining of thirst and frequent urination likely has hyperglycaemia. Use your professional knowledge to anticipate content.
OET Listening features multiple English accents. Familiarise yourself with these key differences:
- Rising intonation at the end of statements
- "Today" sounds like "to-die"
- Shortened words: "afternoon" = "arvo"
- Non-rhotic (no /r/ sound after vowels)
- Varied regional accents (RP, Northern, Scottish)
- Non-rhotic
- Different vowel sounds: "bath" = /ba:th/, "dance" = /da:ns/
- Often faster speech rate
- Rhotic (pronounces /r/ after vowels)
- Clear pronunciation of /t/ as /d/ in some words
- Different stress patterns
- " Schedule" = "skedule"
- May speak more slowly and clearly
- Simpler sentence structures
- Less use of idioms and colloquialisms
- Sometimes easier to understand
throbbing, dull, sharp, constant, intermittent, radiating, exacerbated, relieved, progressively worsening, acute, chronic
blood test, urine analysis, X-ray, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, ECG, biopsy, endoscopy, blood culture, sputum sample, swab
analgesic, antibiotic, anticoagulant, diuretic, bronchodilator, steroid, antihypertensive, statin, proton pump inhibitor, antihistamine
surgery, physiotherapy, wound dressing, catheterisation, oxygen therapy, nebuliser, vaccination, referral, admission, discharge
assess, monitor, administer, document, escalate, reassure, observe, palpate, auscultate, measure, record, refer
firstly, moving on, having said that, on the other hand, in contrast, importantly, essentially, to summarise, the key point is
| Phase | What To Do |
|---|---|
| Part A - Before recording 1 | Skim the notes, identify gap types, predict answers |
| Part A - During recording | Listen actively, fill gaps immediately, use abbreviations |
| Part A - Between recordings | Check answers, guess missing answers, prepare for next recording |
| Part B - Before each extract | Read the question and all options quickly |
| Part B - During extract | Listen for gist and key details; note distractors |
| Part C - Before recording | Read all 6 questions; underline key words |
| Part C - During recording | Follow questions in order; note signpost language |
- Familiarise yourself with the test format
- Listen to healthcare podcasts daily (30 min)
- Complete 2 Part A practice sets
- Build note-taking shorthand system
- Practise 4-5 Part A sets under timed conditions
- Focus on prediction and abbreviations
- Listen to Australian medical podcasts for accent exposure
- Review medical vocabulary daily
- Practise multiple-choice strategies
- Complete 3-4 full Part C recordings
- Focus on signpost language and inference
- Start doing full practice tests
- Complete 3-4 full listening tests (42 min each)
- Analyse mistakes: was it vocabulary, accent, or technique?
- Refine note-taking system
- Maintain daily listening practice
You typically need 30-32 correct answers out of 42 for a Grade B (350+). Part A has 24 questions (most), Parts B and C have 9 and 12 respectively.
For Part A, write your answers clearly. Capital letters are acceptable. Spelling must be correct - incorrect spelling loses the mark.
Don't panic. Move on immediately and listen for the next answer. During the pause after the recording, make your best guess for any gaps.
Both British and American spelling are accepted for Part A answers (e.g., anaemia/anemia, oedema/edema). However, consistency is good practice.
Listen to English audio daily: podcasts, lectures, news. Start with slower content and gradually increase speed. Focus on understanding main ideas first, then details. Shadow speaking (repeating what you hear) also helps.
No. Focus on understanding the overall meaning and key information. Even native speakers don't catch every word. If you miss a word, infer from context and keep listening.
Practise with authentic OET-style listening materials and get instant feedback on your performance.
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