OET Preparation

In most cases, nurses and doctors sitting the OET will be required to write a discharge or referral letter in the Writing Sub-test. Using a logical, consistent structure can help you to include all the relevant information in your letter. The following structure is useful for scenarios involving referral to a new healthcare provider after a patient has been in hospital....

How to structure a discharge or referral letter In most cases, nurses and doctors sitting the OET will be required to write a discharge or referral letter in the Writing Sub-test. Using a logical, consistent structure can help you to include all…

Many candidates who sit the OET are familiar with the structure of the exam, have studied English grammar, built up a good vocabulary and done lots of practice tests. However, all that time and effort can go to waste if you don't physically know HOW to write. It's often a surprise to candidates with good English that this isn't enough to pass the OET....

When your grammar is good, but you get a C anyway Many candidates who sit the OET are familiar with the structure of the exam, have studied English grammar, built up a good vocabulary and done lots of practice tests. However, all that time and eff…

Asking questions in an important skill to demonstrate in the Speaking test, as it will improve your grade and encourage a more natural conversation between you and the role player. The list of questions below is a good starting point. Try to memorize them and practice saying them out loud as often as you can - asking them out loud will gradually improve your pronunciation and develop "muscle memory"....

Questions you should ask in the Speaking Test Asking questions in an important skill to demonstrate in the Speaking test, as it will improve your grade and encourage a more natural conversation between you and the role player. The list of ques…

Collocations are great to add to your vocabulary, because native English speakers use them often. This also means that you will sound more fluent if you use them, too. Collocations are 2 or more words that are commonly used together. For example, "fast food" is commonly used to refer to food that can be purchased quickly, eaten while you are walking/working, and is usually not very healthy....

Make writing and speaking English easier – learn collocations! Collocations are great to add to your vocabulary, because native English speakers use them often. This also means that you will sound more fluent if you use them, too. Collocations are 2 or more wo…

Advice and advise are two of the most commonly confused words in OET Writing. There are key differences between them, however, and there are some helpful tips you can use to remember which word to use. Firstly, it's important to note the key differences between advice and advise. Advice (spelled with a "C") is a noun. It means "an opinion…...

Advice or advise? Getting it right in the OET Writing test. Advice and advise are two of the most commonly confused words in OET Writing. There are key differences between them, however, and there are some helpful tips you can use to remember which word to …

What is the best way to prepare for OET? Here are 6 key steps recommended by the OET Centre for maximising your chance of success! 1. Start early. Your performance depends on your current level of English, but even candidates whose language level is test ready still need to take time to prepare properly. OET is a high-stakes English test. This means that your results are used by organisations who require the highest levels of security and validity from them....

How to prepare for the OET: 6 steps from the OET Centre What is the best way to prepare for OET? Here are 6 key steps recommended by the OET Centre for maximising your chance of success! 1. Start early. Your performance depends on your current level of …

We have had a few messages from OET Nursing candidates who would like more specific guidance on what topics they should use to practice speaking skills. To help nurses preparing for the Speaking Test, we have compiled a list of the most common topics that have appeared in the Speaking Test for nurses since 2010. These topics have been sourced from the OET Centre, OET Teachers and candidates who have taken the exam....

Common Topics in the OET Speaking Test: Nursing We have had a few messages from OET Nursing candidates who would like more specific guidance on what topics they should use to practice speaking skills. To help nurses preparing for the Speaking Te…

During the OET Listening Test, it can be hard to write down information quickly enough to keep up with the audio. However, you are allowed to use note form and abbreviations in your answers (see the official OET "Listening FAQs"). You should try to make the most of this to speed up your note-taking. The OET Centre doesn't use a specific list of abbreviations that are acceptable in the exam, but states that "you can use abbreviations that are commonly accepted in your profession and which are clear to other professionals." Many candidates ask, "How do I know what abbreviations are common in healthcare professions?"...

Useful abbreviations for the OET Listening Test During the OET Listening Test, it can be hard to write down information quickly enough to keep up with the audio. However, you are allowed to use note form and abbreviations in your answers (see th…

The mistake made most often by candidates in the Writing Test (with all levels of English) is... ...incorrect use (or no use at all) of determiners. Determiners are articles ("a/an", "the"), possessive pronouns ("his", "her"), qualifiers ("this", "that") and quantifiers ("one", "any"). They must be used in certain situations in order to make a sentence grammatically correct. Follow the three simple rules below to avoid leaving out determiners by mistake or using them incorrectly:...

Avoid making the most common mistake in the OET Writing Test The mistake made most often by candidates in the Writing Test (with all levels of English) is… …incorrect use (or no use at all) of determiners. Determiners are articles (“a/an& #8…

Complain and complaint are very commonly confused words in OET Writing. There are key differences between them, however. Here are some helpful ways you can remember which word to use. Firstly, here are the main differences between complain and complaint: To complain (spelled with no "t") is a verb. The present tense is he/she/it complains or they complain. …...

Complain vs complaint: how to use the right word in the OET Writing test Complain and complaint are very commonly confused words in OET Writing. There are key differences between them, however. Here are some helpful ways you can remember which word to use. Firstly, here…

There are several words which are commonly pronounced incorrectly in the healthcare context. Here are some examples: Diphtheria Don't say: dip-the-ria Do say: dif-the-ria Regardless Don't say: irregardless Do say: regardless Comment: The suffix "-less" already means ''without'' so there is no need to repeat the same meaning with "ir-." Prescription Don't say: per-scrip-tion Do say: pre-scrip-tion Clothes Don't say: close…...

Commonly mis-pronounced words in OET Speaking There are several words which are commonly pronounced incorrectly in the healthcare context. Here are some examples: Diphtheria Don’t say: dip-the-ria Do say: dif-the-ria Regardless Don& #8217…

Leading up to the OET exam, it can help to have some last-minute tips that allow you to maximise your performance. Here are our top 5 tips for improving your score in the OET Writing Test: Read the recipient's role first. This will help you to decide what information in the stimulus will be relevant to the letter. Make it clear in the introduction…...

Top 5 Tips for the OET Writing Test Leading up to the OET exam, it can help to have some last-minute tips that allow you to maximise your performance. Here are our top 5 tips for improving your score in the OET Writing Test: Read the…