Frequently Asked Questions

The Occupational English Test (OET) is an international English language proficiency exam developed specifically for healthcare professionals. Unlike general tests such as IELTS or TOEFL, OET uses profession-specific scenarios — nurses face nursing consultations, doctors encounter medical case summaries, pharmacists deal with pharmacy interactions. All four language skills are assessed: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The test is administered by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment (CBLA) and is recognised by healthcare regulators and immigration authorities in more than 20 countries.

OET is recognised in more than 20 countries. Key accepting countries and regulatory bodies include:

• United Kingdom: NMC (nursing), GMC (doctors), GPhC (pharmacy), HCPC (allied health)
• Australia: AHPRA (all health professions) and Australian visa authorities
• Ireland: NMBI (nursing), Medical Council of Ireland
• New Zealand: Nursing Council, Medical Council, Pharmacy Council
• Canada: NNAS, CNAS, various provincial regulatory bodies
• United States: CGFNS, several state nursing boards (acceptance is growing)
• UAE: DHA (Dubai), HAAD / DoH (Abu Dhabi), MOH
• Singapore: Singapore Nursing Board and allied health councils
• Malta, Qatar, Namibia, Maldives: Various national health authorities

⚠ Always verify current requirements with your target country's regulatory body before registering.

OET scores range from 0 to 500, expressed as letter grades: A (450+), B (350–440), C+ (300–340), C (200–290), D, and E. The standard requirement is Grade B (350+) in all four subtests. Important exceptions:

• UK – NMC & NZ Nursing Council: Grade B in Listening, Reading & Speaking; C+ (300+) in Writing.
• Ireland – NMBI: Grade B in all four subtests (no C+ concession for Writing).
• Australia – Visa (Functional English, from Aug 2025): Combined total of 1020+ across all four subtests.
• USA: Varies by state board — typically 350 in L, R, S and 300 in Writing; always verify.

⚠ Requirements change. Always verify directly with your target regulatory body before registering.

On average, candidates need around 2 months of structured, focused preparation to reach Grade B readiness. A B2 candidate may be ready in 6–8 weeks. A B1 candidate may need 3–4 months. Those starting below B1 should allow 4–6 months and combine English level-building with OET-specific preparation simultaneously.

OET Grade B corresponds roughly to CEFR C1 level — advanced English. Most Arabic-speaking healthcare professionals begin at B1 or B2 level. B2 candidates can reach Grade B with focused effort over 2–3 months. B1 candidates typically need 3–5 months of parallel work on general English and OET technique.

We recommend starting OET preparation immediately. Working towards OET is one of the most effective ways to raise your English level because the content is directly relevant to your medical vocabulary and clinical communication needs. The OET Ultimacy Full Course is designed for this situation — it builds your English foundation while simultaneously developing OET exam technique.

The standard OET exam fee for all four subtests is AUD 587 (approximately USD 375–455). This fee is the same worldwide and includes a non-refundable booking fee of AUD 7. Individual subtest retakes are available at lower pro-rated fees. Payment is made online at oet.com.

OET is available in three formats — questions, scoring, dates, and fees are identical across all:

• OET on Paper (at a venue): Pen-and-paper; Speaking face-to-face with a live interlocutor. Most universally accepted format.
• OET on Computer (at a venue): Typed on a computer; Speaking remotely via Zoom from home on a separate day. Accepted by most major regulatory bodies.
• OET at Home (fully remote): All subtests on your own computer; Speaking via Zoom. ⚠ NOT accepted by all regulatory bodies — Canada, USA, and others require centre-based results. Always confirm with your target authority.

Yes. Fees depend on when you make the change:

• Before bookings close: AUD 120 + AUD 7 fee; refund ~AUD 460.
• After bookings close (until 2 days before test): AUD 200 + AUD 7 fee; refund ~AUD 380.
• Within last 2 days or on test day: No refund.

Paper bookings close ~24 days before test. Computer/Home bookings close ~7 days before test. Refunds processed within 7–10 business days.

Yes — OET allows individual subtest retakes at a reduced fee. Whether your regulatory body accepts the combined scores ("clubbing") varies:

• Clubbing accepted: UK NMC and HCPC, Ireland NMBI, Australia AHPRA, New Zealand — with strict conditions.
• Single sitting required (clubbing NOT accepted): UK GMC (Doctors), Canada (NNAS, CNAS), USA (CGFNS and most state boards), Singapore Nursing Board, and most other regulators.

⚠ Always confirm with your specific regulatory authority before booking a partial retake.

Score clubbing means combining subtest results from two different sittings. Whether it is permitted depends entirely on your regulatory authority:

• ✓ Accept clubbing: UK NMC & HCPC, Ireland NMBI & Medical Council, Australia AHPRA, New Zealand Nursing & Medical Councils, UAE DHA, Qatar QCHP — with strict 6-month and minimum grade conditions.
• ✗ Do NOT accept clubbing: UK GMC (Doctors — single sitting required), Canada NNAS & CNAS, USA CGFNS & most state boards, Singapore Nursing Board, and most other regulators not listed above.

⚠ Clubbing rules change. Always verify directly with your regulatory body.

OET has officially stated that cut, copy, and paste functions (Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V / Ctrl+F) are locked down on test day — for both OET on Computer at a venue and OET at Home. These features are only available during official practice sessions. Some candidates have anecdotally reported copy/paste working at specific venues, but this is an inconsistency and not a guaranteed feature. Always practise writing your letter completely from scratch.

OET Ultimacy is an expert-led online preparation platform built specifically for Arabic-speaking healthcare professionals — doctors, nurses, and pharmacists — who need to pass the OET. The platform is founded and taught by Dr Ahmed Elgendy, a medical doctor and certified OET tutor who specialises in advanced medical English linguistics and the specific language barriers faced by Arab OET candidates.

Our platform is designed for Arabic-speaking healthcare professionals preparing for the OET exam in order to work or migrate to English-speaking countries such as the UK, Australia, Ireland, the USA, New Zealand, or Canada.

Dr Ahmed Elgendy combines advanced medical English linguistics with deep knowledge of the specific language barriers faced by Arab candidates. OET Ultimacy offers computer-based reading mock exams that replicate the real exam interface, expert writing evaluation from Dr Ahmed Elgendy, and a structured 60-day intensive programme — all tailored to the Arabic-speaking medical professional's needs, vocabulary gaps, and grammatical challenges.

We offer three flexible Ultimacy Premium subscription plans: 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Each plan unlocks 14 advanced platform features including optimised recall tools, reading mocks, writing mocks, leaderboard access, and exclusive community groups.

After signing up, contact Dr Ahmed Elgendy directly via Telegram (@elgendy011) or WhatsApp to complete your enrolment and have your subscription activated. Payment instructions and onboarding details will be shared at that stage.

Yes. You can upgrade from a shorter plan to a longer plan at any time. Contact us via Telegram or WhatsApp and we will process the upgrade, crediting any remaining days from your current plan.

The full OET Ultimacy course covers all four subtests: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The platform includes recorded lectures, timed mock exams, expert writing evaluation, and 1-to-1 Speaking evaluation sessions with Dr Ahmed Elgendy.

The core course is structured as a 60-day intensive programme with progressively increasing difficulty. A committed student achieves Grade B readiness within two months.

Yes. Our reading mock exams are fully computer-based and simulate the real OET examination environment, including the same time constraints, question types, and interface layout you will encounter on exam day.

You can submit timed writing letters through the platform and receive expert written evaluation and personalised feedback from Dr Ahmed Elgendy covering letter structure, vocabulary, register, accuracy, and communication effectiveness.

No installation is required. OET Ultimacy is a fully browser-based platform. You can access everything — lectures, mocks, writing tools, and the dashboard — from any modern desktop or mobile browser.

Yes. The platform is fully responsive and works on smartphones and tablets. We recommend using a desktop or laptop for reading mocks and writing sessions to best simulate the real exam environment.

Yes. We have a free Telegram Channel, a Telegram Group, a Facebook Group, and a YouTube Channel. These are open to everyone regardless of whether you have a subscription. Join via the links in our footer or on the Contact page.

You can reach Dr Ahmed Elgendy directly on Telegram at @elgendy011 or on WhatsApp. For general enquiries, email oetultimacy@gmail.com. We typically respond within 24 hours.