🟦 OET Medicine Guide
The English Test Every IMG Must Pass for ECFMG Certification
🎯 What is OET and why do you need it?
OET (Occupational English Test) is the English language exam required for all International Medical Graduates applying for ECFMG certification.
It proves that you can:
• communicate clearly with patients
• understand medical conversations
• write clinical notes safely
• work professionally in an English-speaking hospital
Without passing OET, you cannot get ECFMG certified, even if you passed Step 1 and Step 2.
So yes — it’s mandatory.
Not optional.
🧩 Good news most people don’t tell you
Compared to USMLE exams, OET is:
✅ shorter
✅ easier
✅ faster to prepare for
✅ less stressful
Most IMGs don’t fail because it’s hard.
They fail because they underestimate it and don’t prepare properly.
Treat it seriously — but don’t overcomplicate it.
📚 Exam structure (4 sections only)
You must pass all four sections.
🗣 Speaking
Role-play with a patient (like real clinical communication)
🎧 Listening
Medical conversations and consultations
📖 Reading
Healthcare texts and clinical information
✍️ Writing
Referral or discharge letters
✅ Required score for doctors
You must score:
Minimum Grade B in ALL sections
If you fail even one section → you repeat the entire exam.
So aim to pass everything together the first time.
🔍 Which section is hardest for IMGs?
Based on experience with many doctors:
Listening → Easy
Reading → Easy
Speaking → Moderate
Writing → Hardest
Most failures happen in Writing, not speaking.
Why?
Because medical writing has a specific structure that many people don’t learn.
✍️ Writing section (where most people lose marks)
You’ll usually write:
• referral letters
• discharge letters
• transfer notes
Common mistakes:
❌ writing too much
❌ including irrelevant details
❌ poor structure
❌ grammar errors
❌ informal language
OET wants:
✔ clear
✔ concise
✔ professional
✔ clinically relevant writing
Think like a busy doctor reading your letter.
Short and focused wins.
🗣 Speaking section (don’t overthink it)
This is not an IELTS-style exam.
It’s simply:
Doctor ↔ Patient communication
You’re tested on:
• empathy
• clarity
• explaining plans
• giving reassurance
• gathering history
They want to see you act like a safe, kind doctor — not a native speaker.
You don’t need perfect English.
You need clear English.
⏳ How long should you prepare?
Most IMGs only need:
4–6 weeks of focused study
Not 6 months.
If your general English is good, even 3–4 weeks can be enough.
Over-preparing wastes time you could use for Step 2 or your CV.
🗓 Simple 4-week study plan
Week 1
Understand exam format + sample tests
Week 2
Practice Listening + Reading daily
Week 3
Focus heavily on Writing structure
Week 4
Speaking practice + full mock exams
Daily practice is more important than long hours.
1–2 hours daily is enough.
⚠️ Common mistakes IMGs make
These cause unnecessary failures:
❌ Thinking “my English is fine, I don’t need to study”
❌ Ignoring writing practice
❌ Not timing themselves
❌ Booking the exam without preparation
❌ Using IELTS-style strategies
OET is different from IELTS.
Prepare specifically for OET format.
💡 Smart tips to pass first attempt
✔ Use official OET practice materials only
✔ Memorize writing letter structure
✔ Practice speaking with a friend daily
✔ Time every mock test
✔ Book your exam early to create urgency
Consistency > talent
💰 Cost and booking
Cost is usually around $400–450 depending on country.
Book early because seats fill quickly, especially before ERAS season.
Plan to finish OET before your application year, not during.
🎯 When should you take OET?
Best timing:
After Step 2 CK
Before ERAS opens
Why?
Because:
• it requires less mental load
• it’s quick to prepare
• you don’t want language exams delaying certification
Finish it early and move on.
🧠 Final takeaway
OET is not a difficult exam.
But it is a required exam.
Respect it, prepare properly for a few weeks, and finish it quickly.
Don’t let a small English test delay your entire residency dream.
Pass it once. Move forward. Focus on bigger goals.