“OET Test completely changed my life and career development.”
At a glance
Name: Dr Sherif Mohamed Kamal Zayed
Profession: Doctor, Obstetrics and gynaecology
Now working in: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London
OET Test goal: Achieving the English language score needed for GMC registration
Key benefit of the OET Test: Preparing for clear, patient-centred communication in the UK workplace
When we speak with Sherif on a video call one evening, London traffic and sirens can be heard in the background.. Sherif is currently based in accommodation very close to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital where he works.
Originally from Egypt, Sherif first moved to Kuwait before continuing his professional journey to the UK. Today, he works in obstetrics and gynaecology at Chelsea Westminster NHS Trust in London.
“It was quite a long, challenging way,” he says. “But at the end, here I am.”
As part of that journey, Sherif needed to achieve the required English language score for GMC registration. He chose the OET Test because it felt closely connected to the language and communication skills he uses as a doctor.
Why Sherif chose the OET Test
Before choosing the OET Test, Sherif had considered IELTS. But as a doctor with years of clinical experience, he felt the OET Test for Medicine was more relevant to his professional background.
“To be honest, I was planning first for IELTS. However, because I’m in the clinical field and I’ve worked as a doctor for a long time, the scientific terms and expressions in the OET Test were easier for me,” he says.
For Sherif, the difference was that the OET Test was based on healthcare communication. The test reflected the kind of language doctors use when speaking with patients, explaining information and managing clinical conversations.
“I found that the OET Test was much more feasible and accessible for me. And it is internationally accepted.”
Working towards GMC registration with the OET Test
Sherif achieved the OET score he needed for GMC registration on his second attempt.
After his first sitting, he knew he needed to improve his Listening score to meet the English language requirement for his UK medical registration journey. Rather than leaving a long gap before trying again, he decided to continue preparing while the learning was still fresh.
“Even if you don’t make it the first time, you are still learning. You can reflect on where you fell down and learn from it.”
How the OET Test helped Sherif communicate with patients in the UK
Sherif has now been working in the UK for around eight months. Looking back, he says preparing for the OET Test helped him not only meet an English language requirement, but also prepare for the communication demands of working in a multicultural healthcare environment.
“British society is multicultural, and English can sometimes be tricky in terms of scientific terms and how you explain things to patients,” he says.
“What I found in the OET Test helped me gain experience with common expressions that can be used between doctors and with patients as well.”
For Sherif, this was one of the most valuable parts of the OET Test. It helped him think about how to explain information clearly, avoid misunderstandings and communicate with patients in a way that feels professional, compassionate and easy to understand.
“If you are starting in a new place, with a new culture and new techniques, the OET Test can help prepare you,” he says.
“It tells you a lot about how to deal with patients — the way you speak to them, the way you handle the conversation, and how you communicate in a way that can be properly understood.”
One recent patient interaction in particular reassured him that he was communicating in the right way.
“One of the patients told me, ‘I’m very happy to have a chat with you today.’ She was British, and she was happy with the way I counselled her and the way I talked to her.”
“That made me really happy, because I felt I was delivering care in the way it should be delivered.”
Sherif’s advice for other healthcare professionals
Sherif’s advice for other internationally trained doctors preparing for the OET Test is to keep going and see the process as part of your wider professional journey.
“Everything starts with a step.” he says.
He knows the process can feel challenging, especially if you do not achieve the score you need the first time. But he believes each attempt can still move you forward, helping you understand your strengths, focus on the skills you need to improve and build confidence for the next step.
For Sherif, the OET Test was more than an English language requirement. It helped him achieve the score he needed for GMC registration and prepare for the kind of patient-centred communication he now uses every day in the UK.
As he puts it: “OET Test can turn your life 360 degrees.”
Start preparing with free OET Test resources
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Intro to OET Medicine — a free introductory course to help doctors understand the OET Test format and what to expect
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Get OET Ready – Prep for Success webinar playlist on YouTube.
Preparation courses are available online and offline from global providers. Browse the full list.