OET SPEAKING BY PROFESSION · DENTISTS
OET Speaking for dentists: the role play explained
OET Speaking for dentists is two role plays, not a general conversation test: you take the professional's side of the conversation, and the interlocutor plays the other side from a card you never see.
This page sets out what the role plays involve for dentists, the two families of criteria they are marked against, and how to practise the consultation itself, not only the English.
THE ROLE PLAYS
Speaking is two role plays where you are the dentist and the interlocutor is a patient or parent. Typical cards involve explaining a treatment plan and its costs, calming a patient with dental anxiety, or giving post extraction care instructions. You are marked on how you structure the conversation and check understanding, not only on grammar.
WHAT THE CRITERIA REWARD
WHO ACCEPTS IT
OET Dentistry is accepted by regulators including the GDC (UK) and the Dental Board of Australia via AHPRA. Acceptance and required grades vary elsewhere, and rules change, so confirm the current English language requirements with your registration body before booking the test.
See the exact current requirement
LAST REVIEWED 9 AUGUST 2026
COMMON QUESTIONS
What does the OET Speaking subtest involve for dentists?
Speaking is two role plays where you are the dentist and the interlocutor is a patient or parent. Typical cards involve explaining a treatment plan and its costs, calming a patient with dental anxiety, or giving post extraction care instructions. You are marked on how you structure the conversation and check understanding, not only on grammar.
How long is the OET Speaking subtest?
About 20 minutes in total: a short warm up that is not assessed, then two role plays of roughly five minutes each, with about three minutes of preparation per card.
Which criteria does OET Speaking mark?
Two families: linguistic criteria (intelligibility, fluency, appropriateness of language, and grammar and expression) and clinical communication criteria (relationship building, understanding the patient's perspective, providing structure, and information gathering and giving).
Which regulators accept OET Dentistry?
OET Dentistry is accepted by regulators including the GDC (UK) and the Dental Board of Australia via AHPRA. Acceptance and required grades vary elsewhere, and rules change, so confirm the current English language requirements with your registration body before booking the test.
Independent preparation service. Not affiliated with, or endorsed by, OET or Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment. Practice feedback is based on published OET criteria and is not an official evaluation. Regulator requirements change: confirm current rules with the regulator directly.
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