How to Score OET Listening in 2024

A testing system called the Occupational English Test, or OET for short, was created to assess the English language proficiency of healthcare professionals who want to relocate to and register in English-speaking nations. It is customised for applicants who work in the various professions of healthcare. Therefore, the test evaluates candidates’ abilities in four areas—Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening—to determine their overall English proficiency. Graded on a scale from 0 to 500, the statement of results lists the scores in each of the four subtests. Most healthcare systems may want candidates to have skills that have an overall score of 350 or higher.

For the best results, candidates should focus on each of the subtests individually so as to attain the highest possible scores in all four essential areas. In this article, we will aim to understand how OET Listening is scored and how to get a top score in the OET listening subtest.

What is OET Listening?

OET Listening aims to ensure that a medical professional is able to comfortably and effectively communicate the treatment and understand the needs of the patient. In the medical field, there is no margin of error when it comes to misunderstanding or miscommunications, as there can be delicate and potentially life-threatening situations that need to be addressed. Thus, the OET Listening is calibrated to gauge the ability of healthcare professionals to listen in English without oversights and errors.

Three subsections make up the entirety of the OET Listening subtest.

Candidates are evaluated in Part A of the Listening test based on their ability to recognise specific information in medical consultation and their ability to fill out the notes. They will be asked to complete the notes in the test booklet for this section, which consists of 24 questions in total. The words spoken in the tape must be reproduced identically to complete the notes. The answers shouldn’t be changed or paraphrased in any way.

Following this, their capacity to comprehend the details, essence, opinion or aim of brief passage extracts from the healthcare industry is evaluated in Part B. Six recorded extracts will be played for the candidates. Each of these could either be staff briefings, handovers, or a conversation between a medical professional and their patient. Each extract will last about a minute. This segment of the exam consists of multiple-choice questions. Each excerpt will be followed by one question and three possible answers. There are six questions in this section, each carrying one mark, for a total of six marks.

Finally, the candidate’s ability to understand a recorded speech, presentation or interview in a general medical setting or in the context of the workplace is evaluated in Part C. Examinees are required to listen to two separate audio excerpts, each lasting five minutes. Each of these has a series of six multiple-choice questions. There are three choices for each question. By attempting all of the questions correctly, the candidate can gain a maximum score of 12 marks in this subsection.

How is OET Listening scored?

Trained OET assessors will check the Part A answers. A thorough marking guide is used by the examiners while grading the test papers, and they are each given a random set of answers in order to avoid any potential conflicts. The test is individually assessed by two separate examiners to confirm that the marks are correctly awarded. Assessors are observed for consistency and accuracy throughout their tenure.

The answer sheets for Parts B and C will be scanned and uploaded to a computer. These computer scans will then be automatically evaluated by a testing algorithm. For the right responses, the appropriate points are awarded. There is no negative marking.

Thus, the complete listening paper consists of 42 questions in total, each of which is worth one mark. Twenty-four points are awarded for Part A, 6 for Part B, and 12 for Part C. To pass the exam, the candidate typically must earn at least 30 out of the possible 42 points.

How to prepare for OET Listening?

The candidates must learn how to sharpen their listening abilities and take into account the format of the listening paper itself in order to perform well on the Listening subtest. As a result, it is advised that you become familiar with the exam’s structure.

You should also start reading up on the duties of other medical professions. You might want to think about reviewing relevant literature on topics like nursing, medicine, oncology, ophthalmology, and cardiology.

Many commonly used abbreviations are employed in the healthcare industry, such as BP (blood pressure) or A&E (accident and emergency department). You should both be able to recognise these acronyms when you encounter them being used in everyday language.

A great way to develop your listening abilities while also learning more about a range of medical subjects all at once is to listen to health podcasts or watch relevant videos on YouTube.

Endeavour to take as many practice tests as possible to polish your skills.

How to attempt the OET Listening subtest?

You will be given some time to read through the question items before each section. It is crucial that you take advantage of this time to study the questions, so you are able to anticipate what you will hear and be ready to search for keywords in the recording.

It is commonly known that the first question will be addressed early in the audio, and the very last question will have its solution somewhere near the end.

Go with the flow of the audio as you move from question to question. You risk missing numerous questions in succession if you focus solely on one question during listening and do not progress to the next in case you have missed the answer.

After each section, you will have the opportunity to go over your responses. You should definitely make use of that to ensure that you receive a high grade.

Conclusion

Mastering the skill of attentive listening is essential for success on the OET listening test. Pay close attention to every aspect. Utilize the OET listening suggestions listed above to improve your preparation and take the first step towards achieving your dreams!