Oet reading

Question

Hi, I am one of the OET candidate and I would like to ask who ever is concerned about oet reading part A.why there is only 15 mins allocated ,we are not able to skim and scan within that time and we are under so much time pressure that by the time we start of the times finished.please do consider our situation we are human beings and what was wrong with the old reading style? why make it so hard,that we have to keep doing it for so many times and I really have to face hardships to pay my fees each time.I have passed all the rest and only hope that this time I'll pass my reading.It is so hurting and the only help is to shed my tears.

JohnParis · Accepted Answer

Dear Anon,

The OET is not an easy exam and I understand your frustration with the reading section.

You have, however, chosen a profession that requires fast thinking, comprehension and response. I do not know which branch of healthcare you are in, but I am willing to bet that you could understand the pressure that, for example, nurses and physicians deal with in an Emergency service or Intensive Care unit of a hospital. In ICU or Emergency, you need to be able to read and understand quickly. The OET attempts to see if you can do this. It is designed to ensure that language competency is assessed in a relevant professional context.

Here is a hint to help you improve your skimming and scanning skills. Since the exam is particular to Australia and New Zealand, you may wish to consult PubMed and find current literature in your field written by Australian/New Zealand authors. If there are not that many, search for and use any article that catches your fancy as long as it's written in English. Find as many articles as you can and make copies of their abstracts. Practise your skimming and scanning using the abstracts as your learning platform. Scan the keywords first and move on to the text. Go for speed and accuracy and time yourself - perhaps with a colleague.

Hope this helps and chin up - you'll make it.

John

Anonymous · Answer

YEA I AGEE.IT IS REALLY HARD AND TRICKY.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes your right, sad to say a lot of healthcare professionals are losing their hope now.I am hoping that they will give some considerations especially reading part A, its not merely just skimming and scanning, they made it more complicated, and even those english speakers whose trying to help me they said that they cant finish rea

ding part A in 15 mins..

Mister Micawber · Answer

Sorry to hear about your difficulties, Anon, but here is not an effective place to complain about it. I suggest that you contact the OCCUPATIONAL ENGLISH TEST people ( http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org ) directly to air your concerns.

And in the meanwhile, follow John's excellent advice.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes it is very hard....

Anonymous · Answer

hi there,

I am more interested to know regarding the reading part B section because its this portion of reading section which shock your brain down......I will really appreciate if you give me few tips to solve inference/imply and matching questions

thanks

adnan

Anonymous · Answer

I recently graduated from a nursing college and to be registered as a nurse, I am required to demonstrate that my English language skills will enable me practice safely with my profession and because I haven't completed at least five years full time education in Australia. In addition to my nursing course, I have successfully completed four other courses in Australia, but that is not enough. I think that's fair enough that they take safety seriously and I don't mind sitting the English exams. I also agree the profession requires fast thinking, comprehension and response. For a nursing student to successfully complete and graduate in nursing, they must complete and pass all their clinical placements in addition to their college exams. If students have passed all their clinical placements and school exams, isn't that a clear demonstration that they can practice safely in their profession?. Clinical educators shouldn't pass students who can't demonstrate that they can practice safely in their profession.

Ok, it's clear that is not enough and you are required to meet the English language registration standard. According to Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, the reason why you have to meet the registration standard is to demonstrate that your English language skills will enable you to safely practice your profession. You can be exempted from sitting the English exam if you grew up and completed your studies in Australia or you have completed at least five years (full-time equivalent) education in English in a recognized country. Don't you think it is logical and fair that EVERYONE who wants to be registered as a health practitioner in Australia should sit the English exams irrespective of whether you grew up and completed your studies in Australia or you have completed at least five years (full-time equivalent) education in English in a recognized country?. If the Registration Board is serious about safety, then there shouldn't be one rule for people who didn't grow up and completed they studies in Australia and another rule for everybody else. There shouldn't be any kind of preferential treatments so called "Exemptions".

It is heartbreaking and unfair that I have to go extra miles than others, pay extra costs (more than $600) to sit the English exams in order to get my registration, while other nursing students who finished the same course as me are now working as nurses because of "exemptions". They don't have pay extra $600 for the English exams or the ridiculous amount you pay the tutors that is if you can afford them. They are getting their registration way to easy than the non-native English Students.

My point is, everyone who wants to be registered as a health practitioner should sit the English exam. It should be 'One rule for all; Fair and Square'. Fair dinkum

Oet reading

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