An effective study plan is very necessary to crack any competitive exam. A well work out plan is necessary before joining any coaching class. The best way to prepare for the OET exam is to know one’s own weaknesses and prepare accordingly.
Table of Contents
UNDERSTANDING THE OET
It is very crucial to have a clear understanding of the OET test. It assesses your language skills in a healthcare scenario. Just like in IELTS, listening, speaking, reading and writing are assessed.
START EARLY
A candidate needs to give time to prepare for herself/ himself. As there are different parts to be passed in the test a thorough knowledge of the basic skills is desirable. It is really foolish if you think you can clear the test in the first place itself. Knowledge of the basics of English is preferred as the test is in English. Get yourself polished with the English language.
KNOW YOUR WEAKNESSES
A candidate must definitely have a clear picture of his/ her weaknesses. And also it’s good to know your strengths as well. Avoid rushing in reading questions and don’t simply jump into answers.
SET GOALS
Establish goals for your upcoming OET exam. Having a clear vision about the exam helps you to motivate yourself. Improvise your language skills also.
ASSESS YOUR SKILL IN ENGLISH
A candidate should always do self introspection. In order to understand our strengths and weaknesses it is very useful. Some might be poor in reading skills,some in writing. So a self assessment always does good for a candidate.
FOCUS ON EACH SKILL
A basic knowledge of language skills is imperative for an applicant. Do listening to medical lectures and recordings. Note taking skills are also to be improved. Special attention should be given to pronunciation of words.
Read journals and articles related to the medical field and health care guidelines in English. Reading skills like skimming, scanning, intensive and extensive reading should be evolved.
Working on sample referral letters might be helpful for a candidate to expand writing tasks. Ideas should be written in a logical and coherent manner. Check progress in the usage of grammar and vocabulary too.
Real life role playing contexts must be encouraged. Assess your own progression in pronunciation and fluency. Listen to English healthcare lectures and try to speak out in English after listening.
APPLY ONLY AT THE RIGHT TIME
Never rush to apply for the OET exam. Once you understand that you have mastered all the skills then only apply for the exam. You should feel confident enough in your language skills. With the right preparation you can apply at the right time.
BEST BOOKS TO PRACTICE
There are several books available apart from coaching classes. Official Guide to OET, Occupational English Test Preparation Book: Reading Sub- Test, OET Writing Strategy Guide: Everything You Need to Know about the Revised Assessment Criteria etc are some of the best books available.
SOME COMMON MISTAKES
Almost all the candidates make the same mistakes. Not reading the instructions properly is a common mistake that everyone commits. Instructions given are a vital part of an exam. Read them carefully to avoid incorrect responses. Lack of preparation from one’s part also is a factor for failure.
HOW TO AVOID COMMON MISTAKES
There are certain tips to avoid mistakes while taking the OET exam.
- Get yourself prepared and pay attention to every detail. The first major requisite is to fully prepare yourself for the test. Paying close attention to instructions and questions helps to avoid common errors made by some candidates.
- Finding a best tutor or selecting the best online learning platform is of vital importance. Seek out support and guidance whenever possible. Working with an experienced OET tutor can help you to guide in the right path.
Some of the most common mistakes to avoid in taking the test are:
- It is imperative to listen actively to audio extracts. If you are not listening actively the chances of missing major information is higher. Taking down notes while listening is also a good habit. Not doing this will make you land up in trouble.
- Without much preparation candidates book their OET test. They attend the test hoping that they would score a high band. Sometimes they score just 6 or C. Before booking another slot get an expert evaluation. It is simply a waste of money and time. It is one common mistake made by the test takers.
- Another major fault candidates commit is that they neglect the importance of mock tests. They are very crucial before actually sitting for the final test. Mock tests help you to get familiarize with the test format. Some candidates overlook the value of a mock test.
- Building up vocabulary is essential for understanding the test. For answering the question accurately
candidates should have stock words with them. For the OET exam medical vocabulary / terminology is needed. Lack of vocabulary preparation is a common mistake that a candidate should avoid.
- Candidates might get easily affected by distractions. It is quite natural to get distracted by noises or even our internal thoughts. For a competitive exam like this concentration is essential. Find a quiet and conducive ambience to practice and for maintaining concentration stress relieving techniques like yoga or other relaxation techniques can be practiced.
- Learning from mistakes is a crucial part of the learning process. Experience is a teacher. You should be humble enough to accept the mistake and rectify it. After the completion of mock tests analyse your answers and clarify weak areas.
- Another mistake done by the candidates is with regard to writing. Rather than showing off your vocabulary, it is important to remember that the aim of this task is to check your writing skills. Too much verbosity can actually lower your score.
- Another mistake candidates commit is the pace of speech. Talking too fast indicates that you are tensed. Normal speed of talking indicates confidence. Fluency matters a lot while talking to the examiner.
- Give special attention to grammar. It is an integral part of the exam. 25% of the scores in the OET are grammar based structures.