OET Reading: A Complete Guide

The OET exam is integral for healthcare professionals looking to work in English speaking countries. The score you get in OET will decide the country you get to work. It is important to score good marks as it helps to bag opportunities in the best hospitals around the world. The OET exam is to assess the skills and abilities of healthcare professionals in four areas- listening, reading, speaking and writing. All these four areas are equally important and it is required to score good marks in it. 

Structure of OET Reading

The OET reading part evaluates the reading and understanding of English in an English speaking healthcare setting. This module is divided into three parts- Part A, Part B, and Part C. Each part focuses on different contexts related to healthcare. This will ensure that you can work well in all scenarios needed. Let’s explore each part in detail-

Part A

The OET reading Part A format is as follows-
Four texts on a single healthcare topic. 
There will be 20 questions in three types – Matching, Short Answer and Sentence Completion.
Part A is 15 minutes.

The Part A includes extracts from reference materials like medication tables, dosage charts, instructions, treatment pathways, symptoms and diagnostic tools and others. It might also include information in visual format, either in table, flowchart or diagram. This part is to assess your ability to read efficiently, gather information and record it effectively. You should complete all 20 questions in 15 minutes time. 

Some tips for Part A Reading- 

Keep your answers short and clear. Write answers in a word or a short sentence crisp and clear for easy understanding. 
Beginning with the matching questions will provide a solid foundation for answering the remaining questions.
Manage time wisely! Do not spend too much time on one question. There are only 15 minutes to complete 20 questions.
Practice skimming skills to save time and quickly get the idea without reading everything. Focus on titles, heading, subheadings, introductions, bullet points etc.
Scanning is also important. Look for particular keywords without fully reading. Doing word searches will help you increase your focus on scanning. 

PART B-

The OET reading Part B format is as follows-
Six audio recordings
100-140 words each
45 minutes is allotted to attend both part B &C
3 option multiple choice questions for each.

In Part B, the test will evaluate your skills in workplace communication to meet requirements. This includes memo, guidelines, policy etc. It will test your ability to read and understand main ideas, purposes and details to recognise information. 
Understanding this will help you perform well in a medical setting. You should complete both B&C sections within 45 minutes. 

Some tips for Part B Reading- 

Read the questions carefully and make sure all elements are there in the text. 
Focus on the meaning of the overall context. Avoid the words that you find difficult and focus on writing the words you’re familiar with. 
Work on understanding the main idea of the text. 
Manage your time efficiently.
While doing practice tests, analyze each question and try to identify why that particular answer is right or wrong. This way you can fill the gaps in your studies and practice more.

PART C

The OET reading Part C format is as follows-
Two texts of 800 words each
Article extracts
Eight four option multiple choice questions for each texts
45 minutes is allotted to attend both part B &C

For a healthcare professional it is important to know about the new research and development in the medical sector. This section evaluates your ability to understand such articles, research and other contents. You should be skilled to understand both the meaning and the implied meaning. Also identify the main idea, attitude, opinions and vocabulary in it. You need skills to understand everything in detail. 

Some tips for Part C Reading- 

Do not take time to read everything. Read the question and go to the extract to find the answer. 
Read all the options carefully. Don’t just look for matching vocabulary. Read and find out how each option is different and choose the right one. 
Skimming and scanning is not for Part. Find the answers from carefully reading the article extract and options. 
Be used to reading long paragraphs. You should have the ability to read long paragraphs without getting distracted. 
Improve the vocabulary to build your ability to understand each word and comprehend the articles well. 

CONCLUSION

OET can be cracked if you practice well and understand what should be given importance. Give importance to all four modules and practice more on the difficult one. Keeping these tips in mind will help you perform well in OET Reading. Having good training and a bit of more hard work will help you crack OET in your first try. Getting a good score will ensure your future and build a career in your dream country. 

At Tiju’s Academy, we offer comprehensive OET courses, both online and offline, tailored to help you excel in the Reading module and every aspect of the OET. Join us to boost your confidence and achieve the scores you need to advance your healthcare career.