OET Exam 2024 - Modes, Preparation, Test Dates

Are you someone who has always dreamt about going abroad in the pursuit of your professional career or for refined studies, or at least given it a thought at some point in your life?

Well, you are not a solitary intender as there are gazillions of people who share the same thought and some have even flown away to their most preferred destinations. However, given that we have a multitude of standardized tests, including the IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, and so on and so forth, you might ask which one is the best for healthcare professionals?

A simple answer to that would be the OET in the loop! The Occupational English Test, colloquially known as the OET exam, is a one-stop abode for the people in the healthcare domain and that’s why the OET has been getting eminence over the past few years.

OET- What is this exam all about?

The OET exam came into the picture in the year 1980 and was administered by the Australian National Office for Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR).

Ever since then, there has been no halt for this renowned test. In the year 2013, a joint venture between Cambridge Assessment English and Boxhill Institute, called Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment, took over the ownership of this test and has been carried forward by the association.

The Occupational English Test is a sought-after exam for healthcare professionals across various healthcare professions. It evaluates professionals from 12 medical fields such as Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology and Veterinary Science.

This exam evaluates the examinees on the basis of their dexterity at using the English language to assure that communication will not be a constraint in an English language environment. From one’s studies to employment in a healthcare setting, communication is quintessential to survival. Therefore, to prevent complicated scenarios where the language barrier becomes an issue, the OET exam is a vital assessment.

The OET exam is accepted across various medical councils and universities in countries like Australia, Canada, Ireland, Maldives, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America. It is accepted as a determiner of one’s clinical conversations’ prowess.

Modes of OET

The OET exam is quite considerate when it comes to the convenience for examinees. So, various alternatives are given to them to sit and attempt this coveted examination at their comfort and ease without having to undergo any uncalled-for hassles.

It is available in three test formats. The first one is OET on a paper at a test venue, which is the oldest test format ever since the OET exam emerged as an assessment for medical professionals, the second option is to attempt the test on a computer at a test venue, and the third test gives one a liberty to attempt the test in the comfort at one’s home on a computer. The aspirants may choose any one of the options and can sit for the exam as per one’s chosen format.

Tasks in OET

When we talk about communication, all aspects of it are considered, be it one’s oratory dexterity to one’s writing communication skills, one’s reading comprehension, or one’s listening ability and concentration power. Since complete communication is not restricted to only one aspect, the OET sketches its tasks, including the Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking tests that need to be qualified with the required grades or more.

Listening test in OET

The Listening sub-test assesses one’s listening ability and comprises three parts. It has 42 questions and these topics are derived from different healthcare situations. This section is 45 minutes long and has time allotted to deliver the answers. The recording is played only once, and the recordings are approximately 40 minutes long. It has the same format for all healthcare professions.

Reading test in OET

Like the Listening section, the Reading section also consists of 42 questions and gauges one’s reading mastery and how well the aspirants can comprehend the texts. This section is 60 minutes long and consists of three parts. The texts are encompassed around a general healthcare setting and are common for all medical professionals. Part A consists of four interrelated short texts, while part B consists of six different short texts. In Part C, two different texts are there of around 800 words.

Writing test in OET

The Writing section checks for grammatical usage, sentence structure, and expressing emotions while writing. This subtest is 45 minutes long and requires one to write a letter relevant to a medical setting. This test is particular to different professions like dentistry, radiology, pharmacy, etc. The common type of letter asked in the OET exam is a Referral letter. However, other letter types are the Transfer letter and Discharge letter.

Speaking test in OET

The Speaking task checks for the examinees’ articulation, grammatical construction, and diction in a workplace circumstance. This subtest is approximately 20 minutes long and is derived from a clinical arena. This test is specifically set across various professions. Roleplay is the major task in the OET Speaking assessment and the examinee has to participate in two role plays. Each task makes the examinee play the part of a medical professional concerning their field of specialization, and the interlocutor plays the role of a patient/patient’s relative/pet’s owner or caretaker (in the case of veterinary science).

OET Preparation

When you’re ready to prepare for OET, you must ensure that you’re familiar with every bit of its aspects and factors. To streamline your OET preparation, here are some tips and modes of OET and tasks in OET as jotted down below. Apart from this, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Curate a Study Plan

If you wish to score adequately in the OET exam, you must create a proper study plan. According to the number of days left for your OET exam, outline your goals and calculate how much actual time you can dedicate to the revisions each day. While creating a plan, you can consider keeping the refreshed and rejuvenated hours to tackle complex parts and dedicate the remaining ones to revisions.

Refer to Adequate Study Material

When preparing for the OET exam, you must ensure that you’re referring to adequate, upgraded and latest study material. Without this material backing you up, preparing for the final exam may become a cumbersome task. So, find out the latest OET study material and begin your practice.

Sharpen Your Skills

Whether you’re preparing independently or in a group, always look for ways and strategies to improve your existing skills. You can also practice your skills by integrating English as a part of your everyday speaking. For instance, you can talk to a neighbor, a friend or a family member to improve dramatically. The more you’ll use it, the more confident you’ll be.

Take More Practice Tests

Once you’ve learned strategies and tips, you can refer to some of the latest OET sample tests to find out where you stand. Experts recommend taking multiple sample tests throughout the preparation period. This way, you will get to familiarize yourself with your strong and weak areas. Thus, you can adapt accordingly.

Also Check:

• OET Exam Dates
  
• OET Exam Booking
• OET Registration
• OET Exam Fees