4 weeks: near your target
A recent result or full mock puts you at your target in most sub-tests, one is just short, and you know the format. The work is technique, timing and one weakness.
OET study planning
OET Study Plan: 4, 8 and 12-Week Schedules
How long you need depends on how far you are from your target grade and how many hours you can give each week. Pick the plan that matches your starting point, follow it sub-test by sub-test, and let your mock results tell you when to adjust.
Which plan fits your starting point?
OET’s own advice is that candidates whose recent results are already close to grade B may need only a few weeks to get used to the test format, while candidates at C+ or C need more time to improve. If you can study only a few hours a week, plan for longer. Choose from evidence: a recent OET result, a full mock or the free placement test.
| Sub-test | Time and questions | What you do | What grade B (350) usually takes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 40 minutes, 42 questions | Part A: consultation notes. Part B: six workplace extracts. Part C: two presentations or interviews. Heard once. | Typically at least 30 of 42 marks |
| Reading | 60 minutes, 42 questions | Part A: 15 minutes, four short texts. Parts B and C share 45 minutes: six short workplace texts, then two longer texts. | Typically at least 30 of 42 marks |
| Writing | 45 minutes | 5 minutes’ reading, then 40 minutes to write one profession-specific letter from case notes (180–200 words). | 2 of 3 for Purpose and 5 of 7 on each other criterion |
| Speaking | About 20 minutes | Two profession-specific role-plays of about 5 minutes, each with 3 minutes to prepare. | Mostly 5 of 6 on the linguistic criteria and 2 of 3 on clinical communication |
OET notes that the exact Listening and Reading mark for grade B varies between test versions, because grade boundaries are adjusted for difficulty.
8 weeks: one or two grades short
One or two sub-tests sit a grade or two below your target, for example C+ or C where you need B. There is time for real skill work and a full mock every two to three weeks.
12 weeks: building from below B
Several sub-tests are below B, or your placement result shows language gaps in more than one skill. The first weeks build grammar, vocabulary and stamina. If most skills are B1 or below, the placement test page explains a foundation-first route.
Before week 1: set your baseline
Spend the first two or three days on these five steps, whichever plan you choose.
1. Confirm your target
Check the exact grade your regulator needs in each sub-test, and whether it must come from one sitting, in the OET score requirements guide.
2. Take the placement test
If you have no recent OET result, take the free placement test before week 1. It takes about 60 to 85 minutes and gives an indicative CEFR level for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
3. Learn the format on a sample
OET advises new test-takers to work through an official sample test slowly and carefully. Our free OET sample tests guide and the free practice resources show where to start.
4. Read the method once
Read the Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening guides before you time yourself, so practice tests a method, not a guess.
5. Fix the end date
OET suggests counting the weeks to your test on a calendar and blocking out work and family commitments before adding study. Check OET test dates and fees so your plan ends on a real date.
The 4-week plan: near your target
Four weeks is for sharpening, not rebuilding. Put most of your time into the sub-test that is short.
| Week | Writing | Speaking | Reading | Listening | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Two timed letters (5 + 40 minutes), each compared with a model | Four recorded role-plays with 3 minutes’ preparation | Part A daily at 15 minutes; one Parts B and C set in 45 minutes | One part a day; check wrong answers against the transcript | Full mock in the first three days if you have no recent result |
| Week 2 | Three letters; send one for assessment | A role-play a day, aimed at the criteria flagged | Your weakest part daily: method first, then time | Your weakest part daily, plus dictation for spelling | Review the mock by error type |
| Week 3 | Two or three strictly timed letters, applying feedback | Two role-plays back to back, as on test day | One full timed paper | One full timed paper | Second full mock at the end of the week |
| Week 4 | One or two letters; plan-only drills from case notes | Short daily role-plays to stay fluent | Light timed sets; no new material | Light timed sets; no new material | Rest the day before |
The 8-week plan: one or two grades short
Four two-week blocks: method, volume, timing, then exam conditions. Spend extra time on the sub-tests your baseline flagged.
| Weeks | Writing | Speaking | Reading | Listening | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | Reader, purpose and note selection; two letters a week, one assessed | Learn the criteria; three or four recorded role-plays a week | Part A scanning drills; Part B method on three texts a day | Part A note-taking; Part B prediction drills | Placement test before week 1; first full mock at the end of week 2 |
| Weeks 3–4 | Three letters a week; rewrite one using your feedback | A role-play a day; work on empathy and signposting | Part C inference: one text a day, untimed then timed | Part C: one recording every other day, summarising each section | Update your error log every weekend |
| Weeks 5–6 | Timed letters of each type; one assessed a week | Role-plays with a partner or tutor, both in one sitting | Full Parts B and C in 45 minutes, twice a week | Full timed paper twice a week | Second full mock at the end of week 5 |
| Weeks 7–8 | Two or three timed letters a week | Short daily practice and one full Speaking mock | One full paper a week, light sets otherwise | One full paper a week, light sets otherwise | Final full mock at the end of week 7; ease off in week 8 |
The 12-week plan: building from below B
Four three-week phases. Do not skip the language phase: technique cannot carry a sentence you cannot yet build.
| Weeks | Writing | Speaking | Reading | Listening | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–3: language | Grammar for letters; turn case notes into full sentences | Explain common conditions in plain English; record and replay | Daily healthcare reading; summarise Part B texts in one sentence | Healthcare podcasts and talks; dictation for spelling | Placement test before week 1; first full mock at the end of week 3 |
| Weeks 4–6: method | Reader, purpose, selection; one letter a week assessed | Role-play structure; three or four role-plays a week | Part A scanning and Part B method, untimed first | Part A note-taking and Part B prediction | Second full mock at the end of week 6 |
| Weeks 7–9: timing | Two or three timed letters a week | A role-play a day; clinical communication criteria | Part C inference; full Parts B and C in 45 minutes weekly | Part C recordings; one full timed paper a week | Third full mock at the end of week 9; confirm or move your date |
| Weeks 10–12: exam conditions | Timed letters with feedback on remaining errors | Full Speaking mocks, both role-plays in one sitting | Full timed papers, reviewed by error type | Full timed papers; spelling check | Final full mock in week 11; ease off in week 12 |
How many hours a week? Suggestions, not rules
OET suggests finding at least one hour a day to study, as long as the schedule is realistic and still leaves time for commuting, rest, meals and sleep. The figures below are our suggestions; adjust them around your shifts.
Suggested weekly time
- 4-week plan: around 12–15 hours a week, roughly two hours on most days.
- 8-week plan: around 8–12 hours a week, with longer sessions at the weekend.
- 12-week plan: around 7–10 hours a week, with at least half of weeks 1–3 on general language.
How to split the time
Give about half your time to the sub-test furthest from your target and share the rest so the others do not slip. Writing and Speaking need feedback from someone who knows the criteria.
Why the mocks are spaced out
OET recommends one practice test every two to three weeks, fixing the skills behind your errors in between; test after test builds test-taking skills, not language. A full mock is about two and three-quarter hours of test time, so plan it like a shift.
Common study-plan mistakes
Check your plan against this list at the end of every week.
Mock after mock, no review
A mock only diagnoses. Improvement comes after it, when you sort every lost mark by type and practise that skill.
Equal time for unequal gaps
Giving all four sub-tests the same hours when one is two grades short.
Writing letters nobody marks
Ten unmarked letters can repeat one selection error ten times.
Practising Speaking silently
Reading model role-plays is not practice. Say each one aloud, within 3 minutes of preparation and about 5 of speaking, and record it.
Choosing the plan by the calendar
Forcing a 12-week gap into four weeks. If your mocks are not moving, move the date, not the standard.
Cramming in the final week
New material in the last days adds stress, not marks.
Key takeaway
Choose your plan from evidence, weight your time towards the weakest sub-test, get feedback on Writing and Speaking, and space full mocks two to three weeks apart so each one measures real progress.
Official sources
The test facts on this page were checked against these official OET pages on 2 November 2026. OET can update its guidance, so check them again before your test date.
- OET: How much preparation do I need to do for OET?
- OET: Have you got an OET study schedule?
- OET: Sample tests
- OET: Get ready for the Listening sub-test
- OET: Get ready for the Reading sub-test
- OET: Strategies for managing time in Reading
- OET: Get ready for the Writing sub-test
- OET: Get ready for the Speaking sub-test
- OET: Three preparation minutes in Speaking
- OET: Results and scoring
OET study plan FAQ
Short answers to the planning questions candidates ask most.
How long does it take to prepare for OET?
It depends on your starting level and your weekly study time. OET says candidates already close to grade B may need only a few weeks to get used to the format, while candidates at C+ or C need more time. If you can study only a few hours a week, plan for longer.
How many hours a day should I study for OET?
OET suggests at least one hour a day if that is realistic for you. Our plans suggest roughly 7 to 15 hours a week, but rest and sleep matter too, and a schedule you can keep beats one you abandon.
How many mock tests should I take before OET?
OET recommends one practice test every two to three weeks, spending the time in between on the skills that caused your errors. Repeating tests on their own improves test-taking skills, not language skills, so review each mock before you sit the next.
Can I prepare for OET in 4 weeks?
Yes, if a recent result or full mock shows you are already near your target in most sub-tests and you know the format. Four weeks is mainly for exam technique and one or two weak areas, not for building general English.
When should I take the free placement test?
Take it before week 1 if you have no recent OET result. It gives an indicative CEFR level for each skill, which helps you choose a plan and shows which sub-test to prioritise.
Start your plan
Set your baseline, then follow the plan
Take the free placement test to see where each skill stands, then sit a full timed mock in your test-day format. Together they show which plan fits.