Overcoming Common Challenges in OET

The OET (Occupational English Test) is a well-known language competency test for healthcare professionals seeking to work in English-speaking countries. Many healthcare workers need to pass this exam in order to continue their career abroad, as employers and healthcare regulatory authorities hold it in high respect. Even so, a lot of students continue to commit typical errors on the OET exam, which might negatively impact their chances of passing and result in a lower score.

In this post, we’ll discuss typical errors that students make on the OET and provide tips on how to avoid them.

Elevate your OET scores with Entri Expert Team! Join for Free Demo Class!

What is OET Writing?

The OET writing section evaluates your proficiency in writing English in a range of healthcare situations by requiring you to be clear, succinct, and error-free. The OET writing portion is graded from 0 to 500, where 500 represents the highest possible score.

In order to score highly on the writing portion of the OET, you must be able to:

• Write sentences that are precise and succinct.
• Make use of proper punctuation and grammar.
• Make use of suitable terminology
• Arrange your thoughts rationally.
• Carefully proofread your work.

Tips to overcome challenges in OET Writing

Lack of Clarity and Focus

Uncertainty in Expression

• To prevent more confusion, use language that is plain and simple.
• Steer clear of really complicated sentences.
• Give precise information and instances to back up your claims.

Uncertain Pronoun Reference

• To prevent confusion, make sure pronouns have obvious antecedents.
• To ensure clarity, repeat the noun if required.

Incorrect Grammar and Syntax

Subject-Verb Consensus

• Steer clear of combining plural verbs with solitary subjects and singular verbs with plural subjects.
• Take extra care when handling complex problems.

Run-On Phrases and Broken Sentences

• Divide lengthy sentences into more manageable, concise ones.
• Verify that each sentence has a predicate and a subject.

Insufficient Vocabulary and Word Choice

Recurrence

• Repetition of words or phrases should be avoided.
• To keep things interesting, reword sentences or use synonyms.

Incorrect Word Use

• To verify the definition and proper usage of words you are unfamiliar with, consult a trustworthy dictionary.
• Make use of specific terminology related to the medical industry.

Poor Organization and Structure

Insufficient paragraphing

• Every new concept should begin in its own paragraph.
• Steer clear of broad or ambiguous topic statements.

Absence of a logical flow

• Refrain from repeatedly utilising the same transition phrase.
• When presenting the material, employ a cause-and-effect or chronological arrangement.

Neglecting Task Requirements

Putting the Case Notes aside

• Read the case notes carefully and make sure you understand them.
• To demonstrate your understanding, make sure your response touches on every pertinent subject.

Not Adhering to the Letter Format

• Follow the official letter format that the OET recommends.
• Add the proper greetings, introductions, conclusions, and signatures.

What is OET Speaking?

The OET’s speaking subtest consists of a single activity split into two distinct role-plays. You will be acting as a health professional in the role-plays, and the other person will be acting as a patient or patient carer. These role-plays will be relevant to encounters you might have in your particular sector of healthcare in real life. Before starting the role-plays, you will also have a warm-up talk with the other person; however, this conversation will not be graded. The sub-test will take fifteen minutes total to complete.

Elevate your OET scores with Entri Expert Team! Join for Free Demo Class!

Tips to overcome challenges in OET Speaking

Not structuring your discussion

You will always assume the position of the healthcare professional in the role-plays of the OET speaking subtest. It is therefore your responsibility to steer the conversation. The best method to accomplish this is to organise the information that has been supplied. In the two to three minutes you have before the role-play, use this time to review the role-play card and decide what you want to talk about first, second, third, and so on.

Providing short responses

When answering the OET Speaking Sub-Test, it is not advisable to use a single statement. Don’t restrict your responses. Assume control of the conversation and work to make it seem “conversational.” Make sure each of your answers has two or three sentences.

Not providing context for your responses

Always provide more details in your answers. Provide specifics and elucidate technical jargon and idioms. Recall that you have a maximum of two minutes to showcase your oratory abilities. Don’t let a second pass.

Making up words to fill in silences

Using words like “um” and “er” as fillers can lower your speaking score. Don’t use them to make up for silence. You can pause and punctuate in many ways. Enrol in a top-notch training programme, such as the JRooz OET review centre in Baguio, to learn how to buy yourself some time on the test.

Allowing the OET examiner to take over the conversation

It’s normal for the examiner to occasionally question you, particularly if they’re acting in the capacity of a patient. That does not, however, imply that you can allow them to dominate the discourse. Always keep in mind that you are the healthcare expert in any situation. It is your responsibility to counsel or guide your client or patient. If the examiner talks more than you do during the role-play, that’s a warning sign.

What is OET Listening?

The OET Listening test is a difficult exam that determines your ability to comprehend spoken English in a medical setting. To increase your chances of success and prevent frequent mistakes made by candidates, it’s critical to be aware of them.

Tips to overcome challenges in OET Listening

Not actively listening

During the OET Listening test, it is crucial to actively listen to the audio tracks. This entails listening intently to the speaker, participating in the discussion, and taking notes as needed. You won’t be able to accurately answer the questions if you are not actively listening. You will also miss out on essential information.

Relying only on memory

Candidates must be able to take in and process material quickly when taking the Listening test. Not actively listening might lead to the exclusion of important details when relying solely on recollection. Instead of only using your memory to recall information, concentrate on understanding the audio as it is presented.

Ignoring note-taking

Taking good notes will greatly improve your listening comprehension. There are some candidates who ought to focus more on this important tactic. While listening, you can stay focused on the audio recordings, retain important details, and make notes that are succinct.

Not knowing what kinds of questions to ask

There are several different kinds of questions in the OET Listening test, including matching information, identifying speakers, and responding to questions. To successfully answer the various question kinds, it is necessary to comprehend them. You are probably going to make a mistake if you do not comprehend the type of question.

Underestimating mock exams

Mock tests assist you become familiar with the format and schedule of the test by simulating the exam experience. Some applicants fail to see the benefit of mock exams, which means they need to set aside additional time to prepare for actual exam situations. Use practice exams to evaluate your performance, pinpoint areas for development, and hone your test-taking techniques.

Elevate your OET scores with Entri Expert Team! Join for Free Demo Class!