| Official Free Tests | 3 full sample tests from OET website |
| Best Free Platform | Prep27 free tier (limited practice) |
| Free Materials Available | Listening, reading, writing prompts, speaking cards |
| Limitation of Free Resources | No automated feedback for writing and speaking |
Free OET Practice Tests for Nurses Online: Best Resources in 2026
Preparing for OET Nursing does not have to be expensive. Numerous free resources are available online, including official sample tests, YouTube listening practice, and writing prompts. This guide compiles the best free OET practice materials for nurses, helping you start your preparation without spending money. While premium platforms like Prep27 offer advanced AI feedback, free resources are excellent for initial exposure and basic practice.
However, be aware of the limitations of free resources. Most free materials provide no automated feedback for writing and speaking. You will need to self-assess or find a study partner for feedback. For serious candidates aiming for Grade B, combining free resources with targeted premium feedback is the most effective strategy.
Official OET Free Sample Tests
The official OET website (occupationalenglishtest.org) provides the most accurate free practice materials. These include:
- Three full sample tests covering Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking
- Answer keys and audio transcripts for self-assessment
- Sample writing letters with assessor comments showing Grade A, B, and C examples
- Speaking role-play cards with sample audio responses
These official materials are the gold standard for free practice. They are the only free resources that accurately reflect the real exam difficulty. Take these tests early in your preparation to establish a baseline. However, three tests are not enough for intensive practice - you will need additional resources.
Visit the OET website > Preparation > Sample Tests. Create a free account. Download the test booklets, audio files, and answer keys. Print the writing and reading sections for easier practice.
Prep27 Free OET Practice Materials
Prep27 offers a free tier with limited access to OET practice materials:
- One full OET mock test (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
- Basic writing evaluation (automated score without detailed feedback)
- Speaking role-play practice with basic pronunciation scoring
- Performance dashboard showing your scores
The free tier is an excellent starting point. You can take one complete mock test to understand the format and receive automated scores. For detailed feedback and unlimited practice, upgrade to Prep27 premium. Many students start with free and upgrade after identifying their weak areas.
YouTube Channels for OET Practice
YouTube is a valuable free resource for OET listening and strategy videos:
| Channel Name | Best For | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Official OET Channel | Official information and sample tests | Sample listening tests, writing webinars, speaking demonstrations |
| E2 OET | Test strategies and tips | Method videos, live classes, sample answers |
| OET SLC | Nursing-specific content | Nursing case studies, vocabulary, role-play examples |
| Benchmark OET | Writing and speaking feedback examples | Sample letter corrections, role-play demonstrations |
Subscribe to these channels and watch strategy videos before attempting practice tests. Many channels provide free live classes where you can ask questions to OET experts.
Free OET Listening Practice
Beyond official tests, use these free listening resources:
- BBC Health Check podcast - British accent, healthcare topics
- ABC Health Report (Australia) - Australian accent, medical news
- NPR Health (USA) - American accent, health policy and clinical topics
- YouTube nursing dialogues - Search "nurse patient conversation" for authentic simulations
- Hospital training videos - Many hospitals publish training videos with patient interactions
For Part A (note completion), practice with any consultation audio. Pause after key information, write notes, then check against transcripts. This builds the specific skill needed for OET listening part A.
- Listen to a 5-minute healthcare podcast
- Write down 5 key facts you heard
- Listen again with transcript to check accuracy
- Identify 3 new medical terms and learn them
- Repeat daily for 4 weeks
Free OET Reading Practice
Free reading materials for OET preparation:
- PubMed Central - Free medical research articles (use for Part C practice)
- WHO fact sheets - Short, structured health information (good for Part A skimming)
- Mayo Clinic patient education - Clear medical explanations
- Nursing Times articles - Professional nursing content
- CDC health advisories - Official health guidelines
For Part A practice, take any four short texts on the same medical topic. Create your own matching questions or practice scanning for specific information within 15 minutes.
Free OET Writing Prompts and Samples
Free writing resources:
- Official OET sample letters (3 letters with assessor comments)
- OET Facebook groups - Nurses share letters and receive peer feedback
- Reddit r/OET - Community feedback on writing submissions
- Teacher blogs - Search "OET writing sample referral letter" for examples
- Prep27 free tier - Basic writing evaluation without detailed feedback
Important limitation: Free writing resources provide no expert feedback. You can see sample letters and assess your own, but you cannot receive personalised correction. For serious improvement, invest in a service like Prep27 premium that provides AI-powered writing evaluation with line-by-line feedback.
Self-assessing your own writing is very difficult. Most nurses cannot identify their own grammar errors or organisation problems. Without feedback, you may repeat the same mistakes indefinitely. Consider free resources a starting point, but plan to invest in feedback before exam day.
Free OET Speaking Role-Play Cards
Free speaking resources:
- Official OET role-play cards (sample cards on OET website)
- OET Facebook groups - Nurses share role-play cards they remember from exams
- Nursing forums (allnurses.com) - OET speaking scenarios discussed by test takers
- YouTube role-play demonstrations - Watch examples of Grade B speaking
Practice method: Find a study partner (another OET candidate) on Facebook groups. Take turns being the nurse and the interlocutor. Record your sessions. Review for fluency, empathy, and use of appropriate medical terminology. Without a partner, record yourself responding to role-play cards and self-assess using the official criteria.
| Resource Type | Free Availability | Quality | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Sample Tests | Yes (3 tests) | Excellent | Limited quantity |
| YouTube Strategy Videos | Yes | Good to Excellent | No personalised feedback |
| Listening Practice (Podcasts) | Yes | Good | Not OET format specific |
| Reading Practice (Medical Articles) | Yes | GoodNo questions or answers provided | |
| Writing Feedback | Minimal | Poor to Fair | No personalised correction |
| Speaking Partners | Yes (on forums) | Variable | Partner skill varies |
How to Use Free Resources Effectively: 4-Week Study Plan
Week 1
Take official OET sample test #1 (baseline). Watch YouTube strategy videos for all subtests. Identify your weakest areas from the sample test.
Week 2
Daily listening: BBC Health podcast + YouTube dialogues. Daily reading: medical abstracts from PubMed. Practice note-taking.
Week 3
Writing practice using official prompts. Find study partner for speaking. Take official sample test #2. Compare scores to baseline.
Week 4
Intensive weak area focus. Take official sample test #3. Consider upgrading to Prep27 premium for final feedback.
When to move to premium: If after 2-3 weeks of free practice your scores are not improving, or if you cannot identify why your writing is not achieving Grade B, invest in Prep27 premium. The AI feedback will pinpoint exactly what you need to change. Many students waste months on free resources without progress when a small investment in feedback would accelerate improvement dramatically.
Free OET practice resources are valuable for initial preparation. Start with the 3 official sample tests from OET website. Use YouTube for strategies, podcasts for listening practice, and medical websites for reading. However, free resources have significant limitations - especially for writing feedback and speaking evaluation. For serious improvement toward Grade B, consider combining free resources with premium feedback from Prep27. The investment in feedback is smaller than the cost of retaking the exam multiple times.