OET Preparation Classes in Bharatpur, Chitwan
LIFE Academy runs OET preparation classes in Bharatpur, Chitwan, and online across Nepal, for nurses, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals preparing to register and work in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and beyond. Classes cover all four sub-tests — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — and are taught by OET-certified teachers, including a former OET interlocutor and official OET administrators.
Why LIFE Academy
- The first OET-certified institute in Chitwan — and still the only one.
- Ten years of experience teaching English and communication to healthcare professionals.
- All teachers are OET certified.
- Taught by a former OET interlocutor and official OET administrators — the people who have sat on the other side of the Speaking test.
- Three ways to study: self-paced online, live online, or in person at our institute in Bharatpur.
- Location: Bharatpur 12, Chitwan, Nepal.
Course Plans and Fees
| Course | Mode | Duration | Fee (NPR) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online self-paced course | On our website, study any time | 4–6 weeks, flexible | 15,000 | Working professionals on shift duty who need to study at their own pace |
| Online live classes | Live classes with a teacher | 4–6 weeks | 20,000 | Candidates outside Chitwan who still want live teaching and feedback |
| Physical classes | In person at our institute, Bharatpur 12 | 6 weeks | 30,000 | Candidates in and around Chitwan who want full classroom support |
| Current batch timings for live online and physical classes: please call or message us — timings change with each new batch. |
What the OET Is
The Occupational English Test (OET) is an English language proficiency exam built specifically for healthcare professionals. Unlike general English tests, it uses medical contexts and real situations you meet at work — with patients, relatives and colleagues. It assesses whether you can use English accurately and safely in a clinical setting.
The OET covers 12 healthcare professions: Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology and Veterinary Science.
OET Exam Structure at a Glance
The exam has four sub-tests. The order can vary by location, so plan for a full day.
| Sub-test | Duration | Core skill assessed | Task type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 40–45 minutes | Comprehension of spoken healthcare English | Note completion and multiple-choice based on consultations, workplace extracts and presentations |
| Reading | 60 minutes | Comprehension of written healthcare English | Skimming, scanning, identifying specific information, gist, opinion and attitude |
| Writing | 45 minutes | Written healthcare communication | One profession-specific letter written from case notes |
| Speaking | About 20 minutes | Oral communication in healthcare settings | Two role-plays with an interlocutor |
Sub-test by Sub-test
1. Listening — 40–45 minutes, 42 questions
Tests your understanding of spoken English in healthcare contexts. The audio is relevant to all 12 OET professions.
| Part | Audio | Length | Questions | Question type | Skill assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Two recordings: healthcare professional and patient consultations | 4–5 mins each | 24 (12 per extract) | Note completion | Identifying specific information in consultations |
| B | Six short workplace conversations | ~45 secs each | 6 (1 per extract) | 3-option multiple choice | Detail, gist, opinion or purpose |
| C | Two professional development recordings (lecture or interview) | 4–5 mins each | 12 (6 per audio) | 3-option multiple choice | Advanced listening and comprehension |
| Each recording is heard only once. You answer while you listen — there is no pausing and no replay. |
2. Reading — 60 minutes, 42 questions
| Part | Time | Texts | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A — Expeditious reading | Strictly 15 minutes | Four short health-related texts (A, B, C, D) on one healthcare topic | 20 questions: matching, short answer, sentence completion |
| Part B — Focused reading | 45 minutes for B and C combined | Short workplace-related extracts | Multiple choice |
| Part C — Focused reading | 45 minutes for B and C combined | Two longer texts, about 750–850 words each | 8 multiple-choice questions per text, 4 options each |
| Part A answers are usually 1–3 words and must be copied exactly as written in the text to be marked correct. |
Part A texts may include graphs or flowcharts, and questions come in three or four sets of increasing difficulty. Part C questions assess gist, main points, attitudes, opinions and their source, and lexical reference.
3. Writing — 45 minutes, one letter
You write one profession-specific formal letter from case notes: a nurse might write a discharge letter, a physiotherapist a transfer letter. The target is about 180–200 words. There is no automatic penalty for going over or under, but a large deviation can signal problems with relevance, organisation or understanding of the task.
The time is split: 5 minutes reading the case notes, then 40 minutes composing the letter.
| Letter type | When it is used |
|---|---|
| Referral letter | Referring a patient to another healthcare professional for further evaluation or treatment |
| Urgent / emergency letter | When a patient's condition needs immediate attention |
| Discharge letter | When a patient is being discharged from a hospital or facility |
| Transfer note or letter of advice | Other common formats, depending on the scenario |
The letter is assessed on six criteria:
| Criterion | What it means | Target for Grade B |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | The letter's main objective is clear and consistent throughout | 2 out of 3 |
| Content | All necessary information is included, accurately and comprehensively | 5 out of 7 |
| Conciseness and clarity | Concise, with no unnecessary jargon or irrelevant information | 5 out of 7 |
| Genre and style | Tone, register and abbreviations suit the recipient and the situation | 5 out of 7 |
| Organisation and layout | Well structured and easy to read, with clear paragraphs | 5 out of 7 |
| Language | Accurate grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation | 5 out of 7 |
4. Speaking — about 20 minutes, two role-plays
Tests effective and empathetic communication in a simulated healthcare setting. The interlocutor plays a patient, relative or caregiver, and the role-plays are tailored to your profession.
| Stage | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction and warm-up | Brief | The interlocutor verifies your professional background |
| Preparation | 3 minutes per role-play | You read the role-play card — context, situation, key points to cover. Taking notes is permitted and encouraged |
| Role-play | 5 minutes each | You engage with the interlocutor, keep a logical flow, and address every point on the card |
Two independent assessors score you on nine criteria:
| Category | Criterion | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Linguistic | Intelligibility | Clear speech, correct pronunciation, appropriate tone, stress and rhythm |
| Linguistic | Fluency | Smooth speech at an appropriate pace, without excessive pausing or hesitation |
| Linguistic | Appropriateness of language | Suitable words and tone for the situation and patient; avoiding jargon with non-medical people |
| Linguistic | Resources of grammar and expression | A wide range of vocabulary and grammar, used correctly and clearly |
| Clinical communication | Relationship building | Opening respectfully, listening actively, showing understanding, withholding judgment |
| Clinical communication | Understanding the patient's perspective | Asking about and acknowledging the patient's thoughts, worries and expectations |
| Clinical communication | Providing structure | Organising the conversation logically and signalling topic changes |
| Clinical communication | Information gathering | Open and specific questions, seeking detail, summarising, avoiding leading questions |
| Clinical communication | Information giving | Conveying information clearly, advising appropriately, showing empathy |
Grading and Results
Each sub-test is scored separately on a scale of 0 to 500, in steps of 10 (350, 360, 370 and so on). That number maps to a letter grade from A (highest) to E (lowest). There is no single overall grade and no official pass mark.
Most regulatory bodies expect at least 350, which is a Grade B, in all four sub-tests. As a working benchmark, 29 out of 42 questions in Listening and in Reading is typically around a passing grade.
| There is no single official pass or fail score for the OET. The required score is set by the regulator, institution or immigration department you are applying to. |
| Organisation | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), UK | At least Grade C+ in Writing, and at least Grade B in Listening, Reading and Speaking |
| General Medical Council (GMC), UK | Grade B in all four sub-tests |
| Many countries and organisations, including Ireland | A minimum of 350 (Grade B) in every section |
| Always check the exact score requirement with your own regulatory body before you book the test. |
Summary: OET at a Glance
| Sub-test | Time | Format | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 40–45 mins | 42 questions. Part A: 2 consultations (24, note completion). Part B: 6 workplace extracts (6 MCQs). Part C: 2 presentations (12 MCQs) | Audio plays only once |
| Reading | 60 mins | 42 questions. Part A: 4 short texts, 20 questions (15 mins). Parts B and C: workplace extracts and 2 long texts, multiple choice (45 mins) | Part A answers must be copied exactly |
| Writing | 45 mins | One profession-specific letter from case notes (5 mins reading + 40 mins writing), about 180–200 words | 6 criteria; Grade B target 2/3 for Purpose, 5/7 for the rest |
| Speaking | About 20 mins | 2 role-plays (3 mins preparation + 5 mins each) with an interlocutor | 9 criteria, linguistic and clinical |
How to Prepare
- Practise Listening with the audio played once only. Replaying it builds a habit the real exam will not allow.
- Train Part A reading against the clock. Fifteen minutes for 20 questions is the tightest section of the exam, and it is lost on time, not on English.
- Copy Part A answers exactly as they appear in the text. Rewording a correct answer makes it wrong.
- Write letters from real case notes, then check them against all six criteria — not just grammar. Most candidates lose marks on Purpose and Content, not on language.
- Rehearse Speaking out loud with a partner playing the patient. Reading role-play cards silently does not prepare you for the real thing.
- Learn to explain clinical ideas in plain words. Using jargon with a patient costs marks under Appropriateness of Language.
- Know your own regulator's score requirement before you book, so you know what you are aiming for in each sub-test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I take the OET or the IELTS?
If you are a healthcare professional registering with a body that accepts the OET — the NMC in the UK, AHPRA in Australia, NCNZ in New Zealand and others — the OET is usually the better choice. Everything in it is set in a clinical context you already know, so you are tested on English, not on unfamiliar academic topics. Check first that your regulator accepts the OET.
What score do I need?
That depends on your regulator, not on the OET. Most require at least 350 (Grade B) in each sub-test. The NMC accepts Grade C+ in Writing with Grade B in the other three. The GMC requires Grade B in all four. Confirm the current requirement with your own regulator before booking.
How long does preparation take?
Our courses run 4–6 weeks, and the physical course runs 6 weeks. How long you actually need depends on your starting level of English and how much time you can give it each week. Candidates already working in a hospital often move faster through the clinical content and slower through Writing.
Can I join from outside Chitwan?
Yes. The online self-paced course (NPR 15,000) is taken entirely on our website at whatever times suit you, which works well on shift duty. The online live course (NPR 20,000) gives you live classes with a teacher from anywhere in Nepal.
How are Writing and Speaking practised in the course?
Writing is practised from case notes and marked against the six official criteria, so you can see exactly where marks are being lost. Speaking is practised as role-plays with our teachers, including a former OET interlocutor — the same role the examiner plays in the real test.
Where do I sit the OET, and how do I book it?
The OET is taken on computer at an approved test venue, and at home where OET@Home is available. Venues and dates change, so check the current options on the official OET website when you are ready to book. We can help you choose a test date that fits your course and your registration timeline.
Enrol
Call or message us for current batch timings and to book your place.
- LIFE Academy, Bharatpur 12, Chitwan, Nepal
- Phone / WhatsApp: (+977) 9855082586
- Website: lifeacademystudy.com