OET Listening: 42 questions, each recording heard once
The Listening sub-test is the same for every profession. You hear consultations, workplace extracts and talks once only, and answer as you go. Here is the format and how to practise.
In short
- About 40 minutes, 42 questions, and every recording is played once.
- Part A is note completion from two consultations; Parts B and C are multiple choice.
- The test is the same for all professions. Grade B is 350 out of 500.
The OET Listening sub-test in 30 seconds
| Part A | 2 consultations, 24 gaps in notes to complete |
|---|---|
| Part B | 6 short workplace recordings, 1 question each |
| Part C | 2 longer recordings (interviews or talks), 6 questions each |
| Time | About 40 minutes, each recording heard once |
| Questions | 42, the same test for every profession |
| Grade B | 350 out of 500 |
Where we see marks lost
From the work students send us, not from OET.
- Writing the first answer heard when the patient then corrects it.
- Numbers and doses that sound alike, such as fifteen and fifty.
- Part C options that reuse the speaker’s words but change the meaning.
Practise free now
- OET Listening Strategies: free sampleFree
A sample of our Listening book, free to download.
Free OET Listening starter: three lessons by email
How to keep your focus for the whole test, a routine for test day, and the three traps that cost most marks, ending with a short recording to score yourself.
The course
OET Listening in 10 Lessons
Ten lessons by email with our own recordings, from note completion to following an argument.
- Part A: predicting gaps, numbers and corrections
- Part B: gist, purpose and attitude
- Part C: signposts, opinion and paraphrase
$29
Lesson pages behind your own sign-in, a daily email, and a PDF to keep.
See the course Or all four skills for $59Practise more
- OET Listening Strategies (book)$12
Every question type, the traps, and how to stay focused.
- OET Listening Mock Tests 1 to 3$10
Three full tests of 42 questions with our own recordings, marked at once.
Mock tests marked at once
Each mock test is sat online with our own recordings. You see your marks out of 42, by part and by question type, with an explanation that quotes what was said.
By profession
Listening is the same test for every profession, so one course and one set of mocks serves everyone. Your profession matters for Writing and Speaking.
OET Listening: questions
How long is the OET Listening sub-test?+
About 40 minutes. There are 42 questions in three parts, and each recording is played once.
Can I hear the OET Listening recordings twice?+
No. Each recording is played once, so you answer as you listen. Practise that way from the start.
What is in OET Listening Part A?+
Two consultations between a health professional and a patient. You complete 24 gaps in notes, usually with a word or short phrase, spelt correctly.
Is OET Listening different for each profession?+
No. Listening and Reading are the same for all professions. Only Writing and Speaking are set for your profession.
How can I practise OET Listening?+
Work on Part A gap prediction and numbers first, then sit full mock tests once through without pausing, and check every answer you missed against the explanation.
The other sub-tests