Updated August 2026 Original practice material No signup

OET Nursing Sample Bank 2026

Last reviewed and updated: August 2026

Two full writing letter samples with structure notes, three speaking role-play cards, the exact score every major regulator requires in 2026, and a warning about the score-guarantee scams targeting nurses preparing for OET.

OET for Nurses at a Glance

Test fee
AUD 587
≈₹34,000–₹37,000 depending on exchange rate. Covers all four sub-tests in one sitting — no cheaper partial retake.
Pass mark (most regulators)
Grade B / 350
Out of 500, in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. NMC and AHPRA both require this in all four.
Results turnaround
~10 business days
Computer-based OET, faster than in previous years. Paper-based can take longer — confirm at booking.
Test dates
Up to 24/year
Now offered Wednesday through Saturday, up from the older Friday/Saturday-only schedule.

Before you pay anyone for OET help, read this

OET's own official guidance warns that scammers actively target nursing candidates — offering “insider tips,” leaked exam materials, or claiming they can alter results, and some coaching marketplaces promote “guaranteed” scores. None of this is possible on a genuine proficiency test: your score reflects your English ability on the day, not what you paid.

CourPro does not guarantee a Grade B or any specific score. We do not sell live one-to-one coaching, and we do not claim insider access to OET content. What we offer is structured self-paced preparation, honest practice material, and — on this page — free samples with no signup required, so you can judge the quality yourself before paying for anything.

Public sentiment on OET coaching is genuinely mixed: candidates report frustration with cost relative to difficulty, and a small number of test-centre administration complaints get mistaken online for coaching failures. Treat any provider promising a guaranteed outcome as a red flag, whatever they charge.

What Score Does Your Regulator Actually Require?

Requirements differ by country and, in the US, by state. Verify against the official regulator page before booking — these change.

RegulatorListeningReadingWritingSpeakingNotes
NMC (UK)350 (B)350 (B)350 (B)350 (B)All four sub-tests require Grade B individually.
AHPRA (Australia)350 (B)350 (B)350 (B)350 (B)Ahpra updated its score policy effective 23 April 2026 — confirm current thresholds on Ahpra's site.
US — Oregon350 (B)350 (B)350 (B)350 (B)Four Grade Bs required. US rules vary sharply by state board.
US — Florida / Michigan300 (C+)300 (C+)300 (C+)300 (C+)Four Grade C+ accepted — a lower bar than Oregon or the UK/Australia.
NCNZ (New Zealand)350 (B)350 (B)300 (C+)350 (B)Writing threshold is lower than the other three skills. At-home OET not accepted.

One rule change matters more than any single score threshold: for US licensure, all four sub-test scores must now come from a single sitting — you can no longer mix your best Listening from one attempt with your best Writing from another. Plan your preparation to peak all four skills together, not one at a time.

OET Nursing Writing: Two Full Sample Letters

The Writing sub-test gives you case notes and 45 minutes to write a letter to another health professional — usually a referral, discharge, or transfer letter, around 180–200 words. These are original CourPro practice samples, not official OET material.

Sample 1 — Discharge Referral Letter

Post-surgical wound care

Case notes (as given to the candidate)

Patient: Mrs. Fatima Sheikh, 58. Admitted for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, day-3 post-op, ready for discharge today. Surgical site healing well, no signs of infection, dressing changed daily. Mild wound tenderness reported. Type 2 diabetes (well-controlled, on metformin). Lives alone; daughter visits twice weekly. Discharge plan: community nurse to review wound at day 7 and remove clips at day 10. Patient anxious about managing the dressing herself. Referred to: Ms. Grace Oduya, Practice Nurse, Fairview Medical Centre.

Sample letter

Dear Ms. Oduya, Re: Mrs. Fatima Sheikh, DOB [xx/xx/xxxx] I am writing to refer Mrs. Sheikh, who was discharged today following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed on [date]. I would be grateful if you could review her surgical wound and continue her post-operative care. Mrs. Sheikh's recovery has been uncomplicated. Her wound is healing well with no signs of infection, although she has reported mild tenderness at the site, which is expected at this stage. Her type 2 diabetes remains well controlled on metformin and has not affected her recovery. Please could you review the wound at day 7 and remove the surgical clips at day 10, in line with the surgical team's plan. I should mention that Mrs. Sheikh lives alone and is anxious about managing the dressing independently, though her daughter visits twice weekly and can assist. Some reassurance and clear written aftercare instructions at your review would be appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact the ward if you require further information. Yours sincerely, Registered Nurse

Why this scores well

Structure: opens with a clear reason for referral, groups related clinical information together (surgical outcome, then the diabetes aside), states the specific action needed (review day 7, remove clips day 10), and closes with the one social/psychological detail that changes how the receiving nurse should approach the patient — her anxiety. Common mistakes it avoids: dumping every case note in the order given rather than grouping by relevance, omitting the specific ask, and forgetting the register expected between health professionals.

Sample 2 — Transfer Letter to Aged Care

Elderly patient, mobility support

Case notes (as given to the candidate)

Patient: Mr. Ramesh Iyer, 81. Admitted after a fall at home resulting in a fractured left wrist, now casted. Mild cognitive decline noted (short-term memory lapses, no formal diagnosis). Independently mobile with a walking frame prior to admission; now requires assistance due to the cast. Family requesting temporary residential care placement while recovering, as his wife (primary carer) is also unwell. Medications: amlodipine, atorvastatin. No known allergies. Transferring to: Sunrise Residential Aged Care, attention Nurse Manager.

Sample letter

Dear Nurse Manager, Re: Mr. Ramesh Iyer, DOB [xx/xx/xxxx] I am writing to refer Mr. Iyer for a period of temporary residential care following a fall at home that resulted in a fractured left wrist, now immobilised in a cast. Prior to this admission, Mr. Iyer was independently mobile using a walking frame. He currently requires assistance with mobility and daily activities due to the cast, and this support will likely be needed until the cast is removed and his strength returns. You should also be aware that Mr. Iyer has some mild short-term memory lapses, though this has not been formally diagnosed. Staff may need to repeat instructions and should monitor for any further cognitive changes during his stay. Mr. Iyer takes amlodipine and atorvastatin daily and has no known drug allergies. His usual primary carer, his wife, is currently unwell herself, which is why this placement has been requested at this time. Please contact the ward if any further clinical information would be helpful ahead of admission. Yours sincerely, Registered Nurse

Why this scores well

Structure: leads with the reason for transfer and the physical limitation, separates the cognitive concern into its own paragraph so it cannot be missed, lists medications and allergies together as receiving facilities expect, and explains the social context (unwell primary carer) briefly rather than at length. Common mistakes it avoids: burying the memory-lapse detail inside another paragraph, over-explaining the family situation, and omitting the allergy status, which nursing home admissions almost always require explicitly.

OET Nursing Speaking: Three Role-Play Cards

Two role-plays, five minutes each, straight after two minutes of reading time. You play the nurse; a trained interlocutor plays the patient or a relative. These are original CourPro practice cards, not official OET material.

Role-Play 1 — Explaining Wound Care Before Discharge

Setting: surgical ward
Candidate card (you, the nurse)

Your patient is being discharged today after gallbladder surgery. Explain how to care for the wound at home.

• Explain the dressing should stay dry and be changed every two days

• Explain the signs of infection to watch for (redness, swelling, discharge, fever)

• Reassure the patient that mild tenderness is normal at this stage

• Confirm the community nurse follow-up appointment

• Check the patient understands before ending the conversation

Interlocutor card (the patient)

You are being discharged after gallbladder surgery. You are anxious about looking after the wound yourself, especially since you live alone.

• Ask what happens if the dressing gets wet by accident

• Ask how you would know if something is wrong

• Mention you are nervous about doing this alone

• Only feel reassured once the nurse gives specific, concrete answers

Examiner is listening for: clear, jargon-free explanation delivered at the patient's pace; genuine acknowledgement of the anxiety before moving to logistics; and confirmation the patient actually understood, not just a one-way information dump. Candidates who list all five points mechanically without pausing to address the patient's specific worry about living alone tend to lose marks on the clinical communication criteria, even with perfect grammar.

Role-Play 2 — A Patient Reluctant to Continue Medication

Setting: outpatient clinic
Candidate card (you, the nurse)

Your patient has stopped taking their blood pressure medication because of side effects. Discuss this with them.

• Find out what side effects they experienced and when they stopped

• Explain the risk of stopping suddenly without medical advice

• Explain that alternatives or dose adjustments may be possible

• Do not pressure the patient; agree on a next step together

• Arrange a follow-up with the doctor this week

Interlocutor card (the patient)

You stopped your blood pressure tablets two weeks ago because they made you feel dizzy and tired. You feel fine now and are reluctant to restart them.

• Explain you feel better without the tablets

• Express doubt that you need them at all

• Agree to see the doctor, but only if the nurse does not lecture you

Examiner is listening for: open, non-judgemental questioning rather than an immediate lecture about compliance; a clear but calm explanation of risk; and collaborative language ("shall we", "would it help if") rather than instructions. This scenario is designed to tempt candidates into a one-sided warning speech — the stronger response involves the patient in the decision.

Role-Play 3 — A Nervous Patient Before a Blood Test

Setting: pre-admission clinic
Candidate card (you, the nurse)

Your patient needs a routine blood test but is visibly nervous, mentioning a bad experience in the past. Reassure and prepare them.

• Ask about the previous bad experience briefly

• Explain what will happen, step by step, in simple terms

• Offer a practical comfort measure (e.g. lying down, distraction, telling them before each step)

• Reassure without dismissing the patient's fear

• Confirm they are ready before starting

Interlocutor card (the patient)

You need a blood test but had a bad experience with fainting during one several years ago. You are visibly anxious.

• Mention you fainted last time and are scared it will happen again

• Ask if you can lie down instead of sitting

• Ask the nurse to tell you before they actually insert the needle

Examiner is listening for: empathy expressed early and specifically (not a generic "don't worry"), a concrete accommodation offered rather than just reassurance in words, and checking readiness before proceeding. Dismissive reassurance ("it'll be fine, everyone feels that way") scores lower than acknowledging the specific fear and adapting the approach to it.

What Changed in OET for 2025–2026

Format and scheduling

  • Overall score reporting introduced from 29 January 2025, alongside existing letter grades and 0–500 sub-test scores
  • Speaking sub-test moved from Zoom to OET's own proprietary video platform
  • Test dates expanded to up to 24 sittings a year, Wednesday through Saturday
  • Computer-based results now typically back within about 10 business days

Rules that affect your strategy

  • US licensure now requires all four sub-test scores from a single sitting — no more mixing best scores across attempts
  • Ahpra (Australia) updated its minimum score policy effective 23 April 2026 — verify current thresholds directly
  • Most regulators still require the 350 (Grade B) threshold per sub-test; the new overall score is informational, not a replacement
  • No sub-test-only retake exists — missing one skill means booking the full AUD 587 test again

OET for Nurses: Your Questions Answered

Grade B (350 or above) in all four sub-tests: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. There is no averaged pathway around this — every sub-test must individually clear 350.

Grade B (350+) in all four sub-tests, the same as the NMC. Ahpra updated its score policy effective 23 April 2026, so confirm current thresholds on Ahpra's official site before booking.

No. These are original practice materials written by CourPro to match OET's published nursing format and marking criteria. They supplement, but do not replace, OET's own official sample tests at oet.com/ready — the only guaranteed-accurate reflection of current test content.

Depends on the regulator. NCNZ (New Zealand) allows combining scores from two sittings within 12 months, provided both are test-venue or computer-based. US licensure now requires all four scores from one single sitting. NMC and AHPRA should be checked directly for their current combined-score policy.

Treat any guaranteed-score claim as a red flag. OET's own "Protect Yourself" guidance warns candidates about scammers offering insider tips or promising to alter results. No legitimate provider can guarantee your grade on a genuine proficiency test.

AUD 587 globally — roughly ₹34,000 to ₹37,000 depending on the exchange rate — covering all four sub-tests in one sitting. Computer-based results typically arrive within about 10 business days. There is no discounted single-subtest retake.

Sources

  • OET official site — fees, format, "OET Ready" sample tests and "Protect Yourself" scam guidance (oet.com)
  • Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK) — English language requirements for registration (nmc.org.uk)
  • Ahpra — accepted English tests and minimum scores for health practitioners (ahpra.gov.au)
  • Nursing Council of New Zealand — English language requirements (nursingcouncil.org.nz)
  • Individual US state boards of nursing for state-specific OET acceptance and score thresholds
  • CourPro's related guide: OET for Nurses — full preparation guide

Regulator requirements and fees change. This page was accurate to the best of our knowledge in August 2026 — always verify current score thresholds directly with your regulator and current fees at oet.com before booking or paying anyone. Nothing on this page is immigration, visa or registration advice. If you spot an outdated figure, tell us and we will correct it.

Practise Every Sub-Test With Feedback

The OET Masterclass covers all four sub-tests with nursing-specific writing and speaking practice, plus full mock tests — one payment, lifetime access, no guaranteed-score claims.