Speaking

Speaking Test Online

User Guide
Contents
03 Welcome to the OET 05 Before test day
Speaking Test Online User Guide
06 On test day
03 About the Speaking test
08 If the Internet drops out
03 Where to sit the Speaking test
08 Contact information
03 What to have with you
09 Test environment – Dos
03 What NOT to bring
11 Test environment – Don’ts
04 System requirements
SPEAKING TEST ONLINE USER GUIDE

Welcome to the OET Where to sit the Speaking test

Speaking Test Online You can choose where to sit the test. Most importantly,
it should be a quiet place where there are no other
User Guide! people or distractions. Set up a comfortable workplace,
including a desk/ table and chair.
You’ll be taking the Speaking sub-test of OET
Additional requirements:
at home, so we have put this guide together to
help you prepare. The more you know what to Your testing location must be indoors (walled) and well lit.
expect, the more comfortable you’ll feel when
taking the Speaking test! Nobody else must be in the room or enter the room
throughout the test. If this happens, the interlocutor will
end your test and you will not receive your test results.
About the Speaking test
Your desk or table must be free of mugs, books, mobile
The OET Speaking sub-test is delivered individually,
phones and so on. Similarly, there should be no notes or
takes around 20 minutes and consists of two role plays.
anything else that could help you in the test on the walls
Each profession will have specifically designed materials
or in the area around you.
that draw on real healthcare scenarios.

The Interlocutor will begin by asking a few questions to We have put together some pictures that show you
help you relax, but don’t worry, these are not assessed. clearly how your workspace should and shouldn’t look
while you take the test. You’ll find them on the last pages
How to improve your performance in the Speaking sub-test
of this guide.

What to have with you What NOT to bring

Valid ID. Your ID must be the same one you used A bag of any type, including a pencil case
when you booked your test. If you bring the wrong ID
or it doesn’t match the document you used when you
Mobile phone
booked the test, you won’t be allowed to take the test.

Watch
Your computer or tablet with webcam and stable Internet
connection. You’ll find the exact system requirements on
page 4 of this guide Camera or any other electronic device

Dictionaries
A clear plastic bottle of water, with no label on it.
Any labels must be removed beforehand.
Correction fluid/ tape

Blank paper and pen/ pencil so you can make Heavy coats or jackets
notes.
Passport or document holders
A medium to large mirror (e.g. 30cm x 30cm) for the
environment check—see page 6. Headset/ earphones of any type

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SPEAKING TEST ONLINE USER GUIDE

System requirements Please position your device where you can receive
the strongest signal. For the best experience,
we recommend you use one of the following:
Laptop, desktop or tablet with web camera. If you’re
using a desktop computer, your web camera must be a laptop or desktop with Ethernet cable connected
able to move so that you can show the proctor the area directly to the router; or
around you.
a tablet with an adapter so that you can connect
IMPORTANT: No mobile phones or dual monitors are directly to the router.
allowed (i.e. a desktop with two monitors or a laptop
with a separate monitor)
Supported operating systems
Laptop/ desktop or tablet power source: Please plug
your device directly into a power source, unattached Windows 10 (S Mode is not supported0.
from a docking station
macOS X with macOS 10.9 or later
Speakers and microphone: Built-in or USB plug-in
or wireless Bluetooth
Windows 8 or 8.1
Internet Connection: Broadband or wireless
(3G or 4G/LTE) Windows 7
Supported tablets: Surface Pro 2 or higher running Win
Ubuntu 12.04 or higher
8.1 or higher. For tablets running Windows 10, they must
run Windows 10 Home, Pro, or Enterprise. S Mode is
not supported Mint 17.1 or higher

Supported browsers: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.4 or higher

Windows: IE 11+, Edge 12+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
Oracle Linux 6.4 or higher
Mac: Safari 7+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
CentOS 6.4 or higher
Linux: Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
Fedora 21 or higher

Internet Connection Speed: 0.6 mbps as a minimum

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SPEAKING TEST ONLINE USER GUIDE

Before test day

1. Download & Install Zoom

Click on zoom.us/support/download to download
Zoom. Then click on the .exe file to begin the
installation process.

2. Create a Zoom account

Open the Zoom Cloud Meetings app and click Sign Up
Free to sign in with your email address. You must use
the same email address that you used to book OET.

3. Run a system check

You can join a test Zoom meeting to familiarise yourself
with Zoom and test your microphone and speakers.
Visit zoom.us/test and click the blue Join button to
launch Zoom.

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SPEAKING TEST ONLINE USER GUIDE

On test day
When you are sitting comfortably at your prepared desk/table, click on the link you have been
emailed to access your Speaking test. You will wait in Zoom’s virtual lobby until your interlocutor
is ready to let you in and guide you through three security checks.

1. 360° Environment Check

Your interlocutor will ask you to show them a 360°
view of your environment, your computer screen and
keyboard as well as your work surface, using your
webcam. They may request that you remove items,
move items or make other changes to ensure that the
environment meets our requirements. We strongly
recommend having a medium-to-large mirror
e.g. 30cm x 30cm so you can reflect your screen and
keyboard to the interlocutor.

2. Candidate Detail Confirmation

Your interlocutor will check your ID.

Remember that you must have with you the same

ID document that you used to book the test. If you do
not have the same ID, you will not be allowed to sit the
test. The interlocutor will also take a photo of you for
security purposes.

3. Candidate Person Check

Your interlocutor will ask you to stand up to do a scan
of your person. This will include—but is not limited to—
conducting a sleeve, pocket and glasses check. You will
need to raise your pants legs above your ankles, empty
and turn all pockets inside-out and raise shirt sleeves
above your wrists. If you are wearing eyeglasses, you will
be asked to take them off for visual inspection to ensure
they don’t contain a recording device. You are not
allowed to wear any large jewellery during the test. If you
have long hair that covers your ears, you will be asked to
pull your hair back to ensure nothing is attached to your
ear, such as a Bluetooth earpiece. If you are bringing a
clear/transparent bottle of water to the test, you will need
to show this to the Interlocutor.

TIP: Take off any jewellery and empty out your pockets before launching the test.

Here is a video so you know what to

expect of the OET Speaking test online:

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SPEAKING TEST ONLINE USER GUIDE

If the Internet drops out Contact information

If either your or the interlocutor’s Internet For general OET Support:
connection drops out, please rejoin using your
support.occupationalenglishtest.org/hc/en-gb
Zoom Speaking test link. Once you reconnect,
the interlocutor will need to conduct another
360 degree environment check with you. To submit an online
request for help:
If your Internet keeps dropping out and you
are unable to complete a full 16-minute role support.occupationalenglishtest.org/hc/en-gb/requests/new
play without interruption, the interlocutor will
advise you to rebook your Speaking test with
For telephone support:
a more stable Internet connection.
AUS +61 3 8658 3963

UK +44 1202 037333

For live chat:

Visit www.occupationalenglishtest.org and click on the
Help pop-up at the bottom left of your screen.

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SPEAKING TEST ONLINE USER GUIDE

Test environment – Dos

1. Clear, orderly and well-lit room/workspace

2. Sit in an upright position

3. Alone for the entire test

4. Computer must be on a table/ desk

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SPEAKING TEST ONLINE USER GUIDE

Test environment – Don’ts

1. Sitting/reclining on a bed or couch with computer on lap

2. Poorly lit room or workspace

3. Cluttered or crowded room or workspace

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SPEAKING TEST ONLINE USER GUIDE

Test environment – Don’ts

4. Person(s) or pet(s) present in room or area at any time

5. Using a dual-monitor configuration to take the test

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To find out more about OET, contact:

Postal address
The OET Centre
PO Box 16136
Collins St West VIC 8007
Australia

Get in touch
Phone:
AUS +61 3 8658 3963
UK +44 1202 037333
US +1 855 585 0125

Submit a request for support:

support.occupationalenglishtest.org/hc/en-gb/
requests/new

The Occupational English Test (OET) is designed to meet the specific

English language needs of the healthcare sector. It assesses the
language proficiency of healthcare professionals who wish to register
and practise in an English-speaking environment.

OET is owned by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment Trust

(CBLA), a venture between Cambridge Assessment English and
Box Hill Institute. Cambridge Assessment English is a not-for-profit
department of the University of Cambridge with over 100 years of
experience in assessing the English language. Box Hill Institute is a
leading Australian vocational and higher education provider, active
both in Australia and overseas.

Speaking