Things You Must Know Before Taking Your OET Exam
Things that you should know before taking OET test
1. No matter what your English level is, the sooner you prepare, the better. OET is a high-stakes English test in which organisation will use it to evaluate its future employees. Such employees are responsible for the safety of patients.
2. You must be aware of OET test structure and how it will be marked. The OET comprises four sub tests, which are graded from A to E (where A is the highest and E is the lowest). Test structure:
- Listening (approximately 50 minutes)
- Reading (60 minutes)
- Writing (45 minutes)
- Speaking (approximately 20 minutes)
3. Check out the minimum marks for the acceptance of your school or your visa, then set the goals that you need and want to achieve. Although the goals are motivation for your study, you need also be realistic about your ability and the goals.
4.OET tests both your English and knowledge of healthcare terms, especially your occupation-related topics. Understanding the most commonly used and more complex terms is the key for your achievement in OET.
5.Practice tests help you familiar with test format, understand your weaknesses and strengths and get yourself ready for the real exam. You can check your Reading and Listening with answer keys but If you have friends whose English is proficient, ask for feedback on your Writing and Speaking.
6.You might feel alone and struggle with OET preparation time, let SLS stand by you. Our experienced trainers with updated materials will give you a higher chance of success on test day.
More Tips on How to Achieve a High OET Mark
- Learn about the test overview and structure: this involves fully understanding each section of the exam and what it is assessing. If you know what to expect on the test, you can go into test day able to focus on the questions and task themselves.
- Create a study plan: Look at how many days you have until you take OET, what your goals are and how much time you will realistically be able to dedicate to revising every day and then create a study plan.
- Sharpen your skills: If you like working in a group, enroll in a preparation course from a certified preparation provider. If you prefer to prepare on your own, find an online course or preparation book that will provide you with exercises and key strategies for correctly answering each part of OET.
- Take practice tests: take multiple sample tests throughout your preparation. Not only will it familiarize yourself with the OET, but it will also give you ideas of your strong areas and where you need to improve.
- Review everything: Go over the test overview again to review the key strategies. It’s also a good time to practice those sections of the test where your performance is weakest. Recheck your OET application to make sure everything is in order and contact the OET help desk if there are any problems.
- Let our experienced OET trainers help you! Sydney Language Solutions offers ONLINE CLASSES!
Tips on How to Achieve a High OET Mark
- Active listening skills during the speaking test: this involves carefully listening to the interlocutor and fully understanding the scenario presented to you.
- Empathy and reassurance during the speaking test: instead of just focusing on what to say next, it is important to first listen to the interlocutor and reassure them in order to avoid skipping directly to another topic.
- Stay within the word limit in the writing section: many students either write too much or too little information related to the case. Your writing can go a little below or above the word limit but try not to have a drastic difference in the size of your writing piece.
- Take mock exams: mock exams are a great way to familiarize yourself with the pattern of the exam and also to identify areas lacking practice and improve in them accordingly.
- Listen to podcasts and youtube videos to help with the listening section: playing podcasts and youtube videos while exercising on travelling on the train/bus can help you improve your listening skills.
- Time management: prioritizing your time in the right way across the different sections of the exam will ensure that nothing is left out and you are able to complete all parts of the exam on time.
OET Writing – Making subjects and verbs agree (Part 1)
When you write in English, you have to follow a rule called subject-verb agreement. This is also known as “number agreement”, because subjects and verbs have to “agree” with one another in number. That is, if the subject of a verb is singular, then the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural, then the verb must also be plural.
- This is simplest in the present tense: nouns become plural by adding an s, and verbs become plural by removing an s.
1.a. The patient takes medication.
1.b. The patients take medication.
- For verbs in the past simple tense (without any helping verbs), the same verb is used regardless of whether the noun is singular or plural.
2.a. The doctor assessed the patient.
2.b. The doctors assessed the patient.
- However, if a helping verb is used, then this needs to agree with the subject:
3.a. The doctor has assessed the patient.
3.b. The doctors have assessed the patient.
The following are all helping verbs:
| Singular | Plural |
| is | are |
| was | were |
| has | have |
| does | do |
Practice using these different helping verbs with the sentences in examples 3.a and 3.b.
- Finally, the subject-verb agreement rule applies to all pronouns except I and you (singular). Even though Modafinil health they are singular, I and you (singular) always use the plural verb:
4.a. I appreciate your help with this patient.
4.b. You (singular) talk to the girl.
Remember, this is for verbs that have only one subject! Stay tuned for Part 2 – Compound subjects.
All the best with your preparation!
– Anna Brzeska, OET Teacher
FAQs in OET Writing – for Medicine
In my time as an OET teacher at Sydney Language Solutions, I have seen many Medicine students take the OET examination. Here are some questions that Medicine students frequently ask me and I will provide the subsequent answers.
What kind of a letter will I be writing?
You will be writing a referral letter based on the patient’s notes provided.
Who will I be writing to?
Most of the time, you will be writing to a specialist for further management of the patient’s presenting problems. However, perhaps it is also wise to be prepared to write a letter to a nurse or an allied health professional. It is very important to keep in mind WHO you are writing to and what their ROLE in the patient care is.
Do I have to include all the information?
No, you do not have to include all the patient’s information. In fact, you shouldn’t because you may exceed the word limit of 200 words. Choose the most relevant and appropriate findings. If possible, write only positive findings. Try to SUMMARISE and write as CONCISELY as you can.
Are the address, date, subject line and salutation (e.g. Dear Doctor) included in the word count?
No, these sections of the letter do NOT contribute to your word count. The word count begins at the start of Diazepam shops your introductory paragraph. However, it is still important to include these elements (address, date, subject line, salutation) because they make your letter LOOK like a letter.
All the best!
Another tips for OET Writing
“The” patient
A common mistake that ESL students make in the writing section is when making reference to the patient. This is done as necessity all throughout the letter.
Letter header
The patient’s full name and date of birth or age should be mentioned right at the start of the letter in the letter header “Re: (patient’s first name AND surname, date of birth).” This should always be included in a referral letter as the doctor or health specialist that you are writing to will most likely have hundreds of patients they see and need a quick way of filing and identifying patients without mixing them up.
First paragraph
In the introductory paragraph of the letter, you will invariably be mentioning the patient. It is important to mention at least the patient’s first name or their surname with appropriate title of Mr/Ms when referring to them.
Body paragraphs.
Ideally you would mention the patient’s name at the first sentence of every new paragraph. You would refer to the patient by their name if there is more than one person involved in the patient’s case. For example, the patient’s name may be mentioned when describing reports from a collateral account like a parent to not confuse the two.
Otherwise, you can refer to the patient as “the patient” or she/he etc as appropriate grammatically. Oftimes I see students just writing “patient” instead of “the” patient. It is always “the patient.” It may seem like a pedantic pointer but always remember this is a English test so proper grammar counts!
Example of a Writing Task OET for students to practice during Christmas holiday
You are a health professional at the Royal North Shore Hospital. Read the case notes and complete the writing task as follows:
Patient: Mr James Naismith
DOB: 25.12.1940
History:
1.1.2010
Symptom A, symptom B, symptom C
Examination shows sign A and sign B
Diagnosis: disease A
Prescribe drug A 25mg tid
1.1.2011
Reports compliance with therapy A
Symptoms B and C are worse
Examination shows sign C
Increase dosage of drug A 50mg tid
PMHx:
Chronic condition A since 2002
Surgery A in location A – 1996
Episode of acute condition A in 1995, resolved
FMHx:
Father died of disease B at age 65
Social history:
Widower, lives alone in Sydney Retirement Solutions
Quit smoking in 2005
Emergency contact is son who lives in Homebush, mobile: 0555 555 555
Plan: refer to specialist to discuss possibility of therapy A
Using the information in the case notes, write a letter of referral for further investigation and discussion of a new management plan to the specialist Dr Michael Jordan, at 55 Main Street, Newtown.
In your answer:
– Expand on the relevant notes in complete sentences
– DO NOT use point form
– Use letter format
The body of the letter should be approximately 180-200 words
Latest Comments