Conquer OET Reading: Your 1 guide for success

Introduction

If you are a health professional who wants to work or study in an English-speaking country, you may need to take the Occupational English Test (OET). OET is a language test that assesses your ability to communicate effectively in various health care settings. OET has four sub-tests: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. In this blog post, we will focus on the OET Reading sub-test and give you an overview of its structure, format, and tips and tricks to ace it.

What is the OET Reading Test?

The OET Reading Test is designed to measure your reading comprehension skills in a health care context. It consists of three parts: Part A, Part B, and Part C. You will have 60 minutes to complete the whole test. If you are opting for a paper-based test, you will need to use a pencil to mark your answers on the answer sheet.

Part A: Summary Completion

Part A is the shortest but also the most challenging part of the OET Reading Test. You will have 15 minutes to complete this part. In Part A, you will be given four short texts related to a common health care topic. The texts can be graphs, diagrams, tables, charts, or written passages. You will also be given a summary of the main points of the texts, with some gaps. Your task is to fill in the gaps with words from the texts. There are 20 gaps in total, and each gap is worth one mark.

Part A tests your ability to scan and skim the texts for specific information, identify the main ideas and key details, and use appropriate vocabulary and grammar to complete the summary.

To do well in Part A:

• Before you start reading the texts, read the summary first and try to predict what kind of information you need to fill in the gaps.
• Use the headings, subheadings, captions, and keywords in the texts to locate the relevant information quickly.
• Pay attention to the word limit for each gap. You can only use one word or a short phrase (up to three words) from the texts. Do not add or change any words.
• Make sure that your answers fit grammatically and logically into the summary. Check for spelling, punctuation, and capitalization errors.
• If you are not sure about an answer, make an educated guess based on the context. Do not leave any gaps blank.

Part B: Multiple Choice Questions

Part B is the second part of the OET Reading Test. You will have 45 minutes to complete Part B and Part C together. In Part B, you will be given six short texts related to various health care topics. The texts can be guidelines, policies, procedures, manuals, emails, letters, or notices. For each text, you will have one question with three possible answers (A, B, or C). You have to choose the best answer that matches the meaning or purpose of the text. There are six questions in total, and each question is worth one mark.

Part B tests your ability to read and understand different types of texts in a health care context, identify the main purpose and tone of the texts, and infer meaning from implied or explicit information.

To do well in Part B:

• Read the question before you read the text. This will help you focus on the relevant information and eliminate distractors.
• Read the text carefully and look for clues that indicate the meaning or purpose of the text. For example, pay attention to the title, introduction, conclusion, format, layout, language, and tone of the text.
• Read all three options carefully and compare them with the text. Eliminate the options that are clearly wrong or irrelevant. Choose the option that best reflects the overall message or intention of the text.
• If you are not sure about an answer, use logic and common sense to make an educated guess. Do not leave any questions unanswered.

Part C: Multiple Choice Questions

Part C is the third and final part of the OET Reading Test. You will have 45 minutes to complete Part B and Part C together. In Part C, you will be given two long texts related to a specific health care topic. The texts can be articles, reports, reviews, or research papers. For each text, you will have four questions with four possible answers (A, B, C, or D). You have to choose the best answer that demonstrates your understanding of the text. There are eight questions in total, and each question is worth one mark.

Part C tests your ability to read and comprehend complex and detailed texts in a health care context, analyze and evaluate information from different sources, and synthesize and apply knowledge to different situations.

To do well in Part C:

• Skim the text first and get a general idea of what it is about. Look at the title, headings, subheadings, introduction, and conclusion of the text.
• Read the questions before you read the text in detail. This will help you focus on the relevant parts of the text and avoid getting lost in the details.
• Read the text in detail and look for evidence that supports or contradicts the options. For example, pay attention to the facts, opinions, arguments, examples, and references in the text.
• Read all four options carefully and compare them with the text. Eliminate the options that are clearly wrong or irrelevant. Choose the option that best matches the information or idea in the text.

If you are not sure about an answer, use logic and common sense to make an educated guess. Do not leave any questions unanswered.

Conclusion

The OET Reading Test is a challenging but achievable test that requires you to demonstrate your reading comprehension skills in a health care context. By following the tips and tricks we have shared in this blog post, you can prepare yourself well for the test and ace it with confidence. Remember to practice as much as possible with authentic OET reading materials and mock tests before you take the real test. Good luck!

Ready to boost your skills for the OET? Check out our blog, OET for Nurses.