OET GUIDES · LAST REVIEWED 12 JULY 2026
OET Reading format explained: Parts A, B and C, and why it's the same test for everyone
By the MedEngly clinical team, led by a UK based IMG doctor who came through this pathway.
OET Reading runs 60 minutes across three parts and 42 questions. Unlike Writing and Speaking, Reading is not profession specific: every candidate, whatever their profession, sits the same test, built around general healthcare topics rather than any one field.
This guide walks through each part's format and what it actually tests, before you start practising against the clock.
Part A: expeditious reading, strictly 15 minutes
Four short texts on one healthcare topic, things like dosage tables, treatment pathways, or symptom lists, with 20 questions across matching, short answer and sentence completion, worth 20 of the 42 marks. Materials are collected after exactly 15 minutes.
Answers must use the exact word or short phrase from the text, correctly spelled, UK or US spelling both accepted. Adding a synonym or an extra word, even a technically correct one, can score zero for that answer.
Parts B and C: a shared 45 minute budget
Part B is six short workplace extracts of 100 to 140 words, one three option multiple choice question each, worth 6 marks. The answer is always in the text; no outside knowledge is needed, and matching on a keyword alone is a common trap.
Part C is two longer texts of about 800 words each, journal or review article in style, with eight four option multiple choice questions per text, worth 16 marks. These test attitude, opinion and implied meaning, not just located facts, so skimming works against you here.
Why Reading is not profession specific
OET deliberately keeps Listening and Reading common to all candidates, focused on general medical and health interest topics, while Writing and Speaking are built around each candidate's own profession. Practically, this means every Reading task you practise is realistic preparation regardless of your profession.
Common mistakes flagged in OET's own guidance
Illegible handwriting or inaccurate copying in Part A loses marks that candidates otherwise had. In Part C specifically, skimming and scanning work against you; careful reading of the full text is needed to catch attitude and implied meaning.
COMMON QUESTIONS
How long do I have for OET Reading Part A?
Exactly 15 minutes, after which the Part A materials are collected. The remaining 45 minutes covers Parts B and C together.
Is OET Reading different for doctors and nurses?
No. Reading is the same test for every profession, built around general healthcare topics rather than any one field. Only Writing and Speaking are profession specific.
Why did I lose marks in OET Reading Part A even though my answer was correct?
Part A requires the exact word or short phrase from the text, correctly spelled. A synonym or an added word, even one that is factually accurate, can score zero, and illegible handwriting or inaccurate copying can cost marks candidates otherwise earned.
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Reading about the criteria is the start; seeing them applied to your own letter is what moves the grade. Get one letter marked against all six criteria, free, no signup.
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Independent preparation guidance based on publicly available OET materials; not affiliated with, or endorsed by, OET or Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment. Regulator requirements change: confirm current scores with the regulator you are registering with.