OET Exam Format: Overview of the Test Sections and Timing

While millions of students appear for the IELTS, only a few people appear for the OET test. What makes the OET test different is that it is designed especially for medical and healthcare professionals. It is preferred and is even considered easier to pass. Many candidates often do not look at the exam paper format, which can lead to further mistakes. Candidates should even scout for the best OET coaching centre in India to further improve their skills. Here’s a handy guide to the different formats that we follow and the duration of each.

Test Format

The OET test aims to assess proficiency in the language in different communication mediums. The test will be divided into four sections, namely listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Refer to the table below to determine how much time you will have to complete each section.

The total time to take the test is 3 hours, but you will have to finish the sub-test within the designated time allotted. Take up the best OET course in India or practise some mock tests to speed yourself up and complete the exam on time and accurately.

Let us take each sub-test and find out what the prerequisites are for that.

Listening Sub-Test

The listening test may be divided into three parts and will comprise 42 questions in total. The syllabus will be the same for all OET occupations. Candidates may hear material related to their healthcare background or common issues in the industry. There is no specialised field of medical care involved in this. If you have any trouble hearing the words, you must raise your concern and inform the invigilator. While you can attempt to complete part A with a pen or a pencil, you will only be allowed to use a 2B pencil for parts B and C of the exam.

Be very cautious, as the recording will only be played once, and you are also expected to write answers while listening.

Each part may have a specific topic, which is listed below.

Part A: Consultation Extracts Recordings related to professional patient consultations will be played for about five minutes each.

Part B: Short Workplace Extracts Six recorded extracts from the workplace will be played for about one minute each.

Part C: Presentation Extracts Two presentations or interviews will be played. You will have six multiple-choice questions for each of them.

Reading Sub-Test

Again, the reading part comprises three sections: A, B, and C. Spend 15 minutes on Part A and the remaining 45 minutes on the other two sections. You need to keep in mind that part A will be taken away after 15 minutes. Therefore, you cannot go back and change the answers. You will not even be permitted to go to the restroom for the first 10 minutes or until the first part is finished. The stationary rules implemented for the reading section are similar to those of the listening sub-test. You can use either the pencil or pen for part A, but you are only allowed to use 2B pencils for parts B and C, respectively.

Part A: You will have a mix of questions like matching, filling in the blanks, or writing short answers. Make sure to spell the words correctly and use proper capitalization. If you do not follow this, there are chances that you may lose out on marks.

Part B: This will again have extracts from manuals or internal communications from which you will have to identify the gist, detail, or main crux of six short texts.

Part C: This section contains two longer texts and is aimed at identifying the attitude or opinion of the writer.

You may seek assistance from any experienced overseas education consultant in India to learn more about the pattern and marking of each section.

Writing Sub-Test

In this section, you will have to write a formal letter based on your workplace situation. For instance, nurses will be designated to write a letter specific to nursing, while doctors may have to write anything related to medicine. You should prepare yourself for writing different kinds of letters, including referral, discharge, or urgent update scenarios. You will have five minutes before you begin writing. Consider scanning the case notes within that time and incorporating all the suggestions to improve the quality of your writing. Try to limit the body of the letter to 180 to 200 words. Make sure the grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, and formatting have been done correctly.

Speaking Sub-Test

The appointment for the speaking sub-test is generally on the same day, but it can also happen on the next day. You will be having a one-on-one discussion with the interlocutor, who will be playing the role of the patient. In the case of online meetings, you will have a meeting on Zoom.

The first stage will aim at getting comfortable with the interlocutor. After that, they will assign you a role-play card, which may be specific to your profession. You will have three minutes to review and five minutes to enact. You will have to complete two role plays according to the scene described on the card. Keep in mind that each word of your conversations will be recorded and sent for assessment. The authorities will check your linguistic and clinical communication criteria. Your marks will be based on these bases and focus on how fluently you can communicate or foster a relationship with the patient.

Note that all sections of the OET test are given equal weight. You will have to score equally well in all of them. Firstly, you will get marks between 0 and 500, which will later be shared in the form of grades. Check with the particular registration body to see which grade or score they tend to accept. Use the correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar. Take assistance from our experts at Ajinorah and improve your odds of clearing the exam. We have a well-established team of professionals who may help you with the practise tests and understanding of each format. The competitive tests and assignments will prepare you for the final test.