How is OET Reading structured?

Three parts with about 42 questions in 60 minutes, on generic healthcare topics.

What's special about Part A?

It's strictly timed (about 15 minutes) and speed-based — you scan four short texts to locate information fast.

How do Parts B and C differ?

Part B has short workplace texts with one question each (main point/detail); Part C has two longer passages testing deeper comprehension, opinion and attitude.

What reading technique wins Part A?

Skimming and scanning to find the right text and spot quickly, rather than reading everything.

Should you leave OET Reading questions blank?

No — there's no penalty, so flag hard ones and guess before time runs out.

← Back

Home › OET Smart Notes › OET Reading: Three Parts in 60 Minutes

Smart Note6 min

OET Reading: Three Parts in 60 Minutes

OET Reading's three parts — fast text-matching, gap-fill from short texts, and two longer passages — and how to beat the clock.

The big picture

OET Reading (60 min, 42 items)
- Part A — Fast text-matching · ~15 min · 4 short texts
- Part B — Short workplace texts · gist/detail
- Part C — Two longer passages · deeper meaning
- Generic healthcare — Same for all professions

Three parts, 60 minutes, healthcare texts

OET Reading has three parts, about 42 questions in 60 minutes, on generic healthcare topics. Part A is strictly timed (~15 minutes) and speed-based; Parts B and C give you the remaining time for shorter and longer texts.

💡

Real example: Because Part A has its own tight time limit, treat it as a separate sprint — don't carry a slow Part A pace into it or you'll run out before finishing.

🧠 Memory hook: 3 parts, 60 min total. Part A is a ~15-min sprint; B & C take the rest.

Part A — scan four texts fast

Part A gives four short healthcare texts and questions (matching, sentence completion, short answer) that you answer by quickly locating information across the texts. It's a skimming-and-scanning race — find the right text and spot, don't read everything.

💡

Real example: A question asks which text mentions a dosage — scan headings and keywords to jump to the right text, grab the figure, and move on. Speed and location, not deep reading.

🧠 Memory hook: Part A = locate fast across 4 texts. Scan for the keyword; don't read it all.

Parts B & C — read for meaning

Part B has short workplace texts (memos, guidelines, notices) with one multiple-choice question each — catch the main point or detail. Part C has two longer passages testing deeper comprehension, opinion and attitude, so read those more carefully.

💡

Real example: A Part B guideline extract may hinge on one instruction ('administer only if…'); a Part C opinion piece may ask the writer's stance — match the reading depth to the part.

🧠 Memory hook: B = quick point per short text. C = deeper meaning in two longer passages.

Manage the clock across parts

Because Part A is separately timed, finish Parts B and C without overspending on any one question. Answer what's clear first, flag the tricky ones, and never leave a blank — there's no penalty for wrong answers.

💡

Real example: Stuck on a Part C inference? Mark it, keep answering, and return with spare time — a guessed answer can score, a blank never will.

🧠 Memory hook: Budget across B & C, flag the hard ones, guess before the end. No blanks.

Frequently asked questions

How is OET Reading structured?: Three parts with about 42 questions in 60 minutes, on generic healthcare topics.
What's special about Part A?: It's strictly timed (about 15 minutes) and speed-based — you scan four short texts to locate information fast.
How do Parts B and C differ?: Part B has short workplace texts with one question each (main point/detail); Part C has two longer passages testing deeper comprehension, opinion and attitude.
What reading technique wins Part A?: Skimming and scanning to find the right text and spot quickly, rather than reading everything.
Should you leave OET Reading questions blank?: No — there's no penalty, so flag hard ones and guess before time runs out.

Keep going — free practice

🎯 Free OET mock test 📚 More OET Smart Notes 📚 All Smart Notes