Veterinarians sit OET Veterinary Science for registration with a veterinary board or for work in countries that accept OET. In the role-play, the interlocutor plays the animal's owner, so you are talking with a client who makes decisions for their animal.
In 2025 veterinary candidates averaged 292 Listening, 311 Reading, 327 Writing and 351 Speaking. Listening was the weakest sub-test, and it is the same human health-care Listening paper that every profession sits.
| Sub-test | For veterinarians |
|---|---|
| Listening (about 40 min) | Same test for all 12 professions |
| Reading (60 min) | Same test for all 12 professions |
| Writing (45 min) | A letter from veterinary science case notes, usually to veterinary specialist, veterinary referral hospital, another veterinary practice |
| Speaking (about 20 min) | Two role-plays in settings like small animal clinic, mixed practice, veterinary hospital; the interlocutor plays a animal's owner or farmer |
On paper, OET Veterinary Science runs on alternate paper sessions in 2026. The computer test (at a venue or OET@Home) runs Monday to Saturday.
Sample OET Veterinary Science role-play card
Setting
Small animal clinic
Candidate
You are a veterinarian in a small animal clinic. Pepper, a 12-year-old cat, has severe dental disease, with two loose, infected teeth that need to be removed under general anaesthetic. Pre-anaesthetic blood tests are normal. The owner, Mr Declan Brennan, is worried that Pepper is 'too old for an anaesthetic' and asks whether antibiotics alone would work.
Task (interlocutor: owner)
- Find out what changes he has noticed (eating, drooling, weight, behaviour)
- Explain why the teeth need to be removed and why antibiotics alone will not solve the problem
- Reassure him about anaesthetic safety (normal blood tests, monitoring throughout, fluids, pain relief)
- Advise on preparation and aftercare (no food from the night before, soft food for a few days, giving medication)
- Check that he agrees to book the procedure
You get 3 minutes to read the card and plan, then about 5 minutes to talk. Two assessors mark the recording: four language criteria and five clinical communication criteria. This card is original, written for this site.
Sample OET Veterinary Science letter task
Referral for radioactive iodine treatment. You are a veterinarian in a small animal practice. Biscuit, a 13-year-old cat, has hyperthyroidism, and her owner cannot give tablets reliably. You are referring Biscuit for assessment for radioactive iodine treatment.
Case notes (extract)
- Biscuit, 13 yrs, female spayed domestic shorthair; owner Ms Ruth Albright
- Weight loss 5.2 → 4.1 kg over 6 mths despite good appetite
- Vomiting 2–3×/wk; restless at night
- Total T4 elevated; kidney values normal
- Heart rate 240 bpm; soft heart murmur
- Blood pressure normal
- Oral antithyroid medication started 3 wks ago; owner unable to give tablets reliably (cat bites)
- Owner prefers one-off treatment; aware of hospital stay
- Vaccinations up to date
- Owner works night shifts; asks for morning appointments
Task: Using the information in the case notes, write a letter to Dr Marcus Ellery, Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine, referring Biscuit for assessment for radioactive iodine treatment.
What a strong letter leaves out
- Vaccinations up to date — routine detail, not relevant to the referral question
- Owner works night shifts; asks for morning appointments — compress, or leave for the clinic's booking staff
Letter types veterinarians meet most:
Veterinary Science words to spell right
Listening Part A and your letter both lose marks for misspelt clinical words. Ten that veterinarians need:
| Word | Note |
|---|---|
| anaesthesia | British ae; anaesthetic is both noun and adjective. |
| desexing | Australian term; 'neutering' is more usual in the UK. |
| spay | Remove the ovaries and uterus; past tense spayed. |
| castration | Removal of the testes in a male animal. |
| hyperthyroidism | Overactive thyroid; common in older cats. |
| vaccination | Double c; also vaccinate, vaccine. |
| parvovirus | Serious viral gut infection in dogs; one word. |
| heartworm | Mosquito-borne parasite in dogs; one word. |
| tick paralysis | Emergency caused by the paralysis tick in eastern Australia. |
| periodontal disease | Disease of the gums and tooth-supporting tissues. |
Practise hearing and spelling them: medical spelling dictation.
How veterinarians scored in 2025
OET publishes average scores by profession. For veterinarians in 2025:
| Sub-test | Average | Grade | Against 350 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 292 | C | 58 below 350 |
| Reading | 311 | C+ | 39 below 350 |
| Writing | 327 | C+ | 23 below 350 |
| Speaking | 351 | B | at or above 350 |
Averages hide a wide spread, but they show where veterinarians most often lose marks. Listening and Reading are the same test for every profession, so free Listening practice counts for you too.
Score lines for veterinarians
The body that registers veterinarians sets the line, and in some countries that is a professional association rather than a government board. Most ask for about 350 (grade B) in each sub-test. Check its current rule before you book, and see OET score requirements by regulator for the bodies we track.
Tips for OET Veterinary Science
- Owners decide and pay. In role-plays, explain the options with their pros, cons and rough timeframes, then ask what matters most to the owner before you recommend a plan.
- Use the animal's name and the owner's name. Talk about 'Pepper's teeth', not 'the patient's dentition', and avoid shorthand such as 'GA'.
- Referral letters to specialists should state the question (diagnosis or treatment option) and the key results first, then what has been tried and why it has not worked.
- Give the animal's details early: age, sex, neuter status, breed and weight. Specialists expect them, and one sentence is enough.
Questions candidates ask
Is OET Veterinary Science harder than OET Nursing?
Not officially. The Listening and Reading papers are the same, and their content is human health care, not veterinary. In 2025 vets averaged 292 in Listening against 313 for nurses, so many vets need extra Listening practice with medical vocabulary they do not use every day.
Which letter types come up in OET Veterinary Science?
Most tasks are referral letters to a specialist or referral hospital, or transfer letters to another practice or an after-hours clinic. Update and advice letters also appear. You have 5 minutes to read the case notes and 40 minutes to write about 180 to 200 words.
Can vets take OET on paper?
Yes, but only at alternate paper sessions in 2026; nursing and medicine are the only professions at every session. The computer test runs Monday to Saturday at a venue or with OET@Home. Check that your veterinary board accepts the format you choose.
What score do vets need for OET?
It depends on the veterinary board in the country where you want to register, and boards set different rules on combining sittings. Requirements change often, so check the score lines page and confirm with the board before you book.
Other professions: Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Optometry, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology.
Sources
- OET Test Handbook 2026
- OET: 2025 test statistics, candidate performance
- OET: Book a test (2026 schedule)
- OET sample tests for Veterinary Science
Last checked 22 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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