OET SPEAKING BY PROFESSION · SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS
OET Speaking for speech pathologists: the role play explained
OET Speaking for speech pathologists 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 speech pathologists, 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 with you as the speech pathologist. Typical cards involve explaining modified diet textures to a patient or carer, coaching a family member on communication strategies after a stroke, or managing frustration when progress is slow. You are marked on structure, empathy, and checking understanding as well as language.
WHAT THE CRITERIA REWARD
WHO ACCEPTS IT
OET Speech Pathology is accepted in contexts including Speech Pathology Australia's certification requirements and the New Zealand Speech-language Therapists' Association. Routes differ by country and can change, so confirm the current requirements with the body you are applying to before booking.
See the exact current requirement
LAST REVIEWED 9 AUGUST 2026
COMMON QUESTIONS
What does the OET Speaking subtest involve for speech pathologists?
Speaking is two role plays with you as the speech pathologist. Typical cards involve explaining modified diet textures to a patient or carer, coaching a family member on communication strategies after a stroke, or managing frustration when progress is slow. You are marked on structure, empathy, and checking understanding as well as language.
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 Speech pathology?
OET Speech Pathology is accepted in contexts including Speech Pathology Australia's certification requirements and the New Zealand Speech-language Therapists' Association. Routes differ by country and can change, so confirm the current requirements with the body you are applying to before booking.
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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