Preparing for the Occupational English Test (OET) could be a nightmare to those non-native English speakers. The Occupational English Test requires that you should have proper reading ability so that you can read medical books, guidelines, and patient information to handle day-to-day communications in the healthcare setting.

Understand the Test Format

Before the start of preparation, you must know about the OET Reading test format. It is divided into two parts: 

• In Part A, you’ll need to read several short texts—including notices, memos, or patient information leaflets—and look up specific information very quickly, so you can’t spend too long on each question. 
• Part B is an extended or elaborated writing. For questions on main ideas, details, and inferences, you will need to establish a better understanding of the passage. 

Focus on Health-Related Vocabulary

Since the OET reading texts focus on healthcare, medical vocabulary is vital for this aspect. Even if you are a non-native speaker of English, you can start by learning and getting to know common terms in healthcare. The good news here is that most often, OET reading materials do really mirror real-life documents used in healthcare settings. Therefore, learning keywords and phrases will make you feel more comfortable with the language. 

Tip: Make flashcards of medical terms that you’ll learn along with their definitions. Read health-related articles or patient care materials so you can see how those words are used in context.

Practice Skimming and Scanning

Skimming and scanning are two reading techniques that really save you a lot of time and allow you to find important information. 

Skimming: Reading the text quickly to get an idea of what it’s all about. Don’t bother to read every word—just look for the main idea of the passage. 

Scanning: Looking for a specific word, name, date, etc. that is in the text. Scanning is helpful, particularly in Part A, where you may be looking for a specific answer to a question. 

Both of these skills are involved in the OET Reading test, and using them to practice the above skills regularly makes handling the test easier. 

Improve Your Speed Without Sacrificing Accuracy

A non-English speaker will also be limited in their reading skills. They may not be able to read quickly enough, and with little time to finish the test, this can be a problem. To deal with this problem, they should read as much as they can but still pay attention to accuracy. The more they read familiar things, the quicker they will be at reading.

Tip: Practice reading with a timer so that you get used to the stress of the time limit. The more you do it, the faster you will read with accuracy. 

Use Context Clues

Sometimes you may come across unfamiliar words or technical terms to which you are not accustomed. This can be frustrating, but do not panic. Instead, use context clues to infer the meaning of the word. Read the text around it and try to make your educated guess.

For example, if it is a patient with breathing problems, and it says something about “bronchospasm,”  even if you have no idea what it is, you can conclude from the context of the talk that it somehow relates to a kind of problem with breathing. 

Practice with Real OET Materials

Perhaps one of the best ways to prepare is by making use of official OET materials. These will be designed to reflect the real test, giving you a glimpse into what to expect. Through doing practice tests, you get more accustomed to the look and feel of the test format and the kinds of questions that appear. 

Tip: Practice not once or twice, but every day; it will enhance your confidence. Thus, you can master both the reading and test-taking strategies. 

Don’t Get Stuck on Difficult Questions 

When taking the test, you may come across a question that is ambiguous or read a word that you have never seen before. If that happens, don’t waste too much time on it. Move to the next question, and if you have some extra time left after answering all the other questions, go back to it. You should complete the easier questions first and return to the more challenging questions rather than get stuck on a difficult question and lose what little time you have left. 

Take Care of Your Mental and Physical Well-Being 

Finally, don’t forget that preparation for the OET is more than just going through books. Stress less, get sufficient rest, and be active physically. The better you feel mentally and physically, the more you will improve your reading abilities and concentrate during the exam. 

OET reading preparation may seem rather intimidating if you are not a native English speaker. However, once you start practicing regularly and implement the right strategies, you will see an improvement in your reading skills and be confident while preparing for the test. There are three major things that one can work on: expanding medical vocabularies, practicing skimming and scanning, and enhancing reading speed. With proper implementation of these tips, you can be much better prepared for the OET Reading test. 

For expert help in preparing for OET, Let’s Update Language Academy is considered one of the best institutions for OET aspirants. The academy provides personalized training to deal with the challenges faced uniquely by non-native speakers. Coached and led by the most skilled trainers, with practice materials modeled after the final OET test, Let’s Update Language Academy provides its students with only the best OET training in Kerala. The holistic approach of Let’s Update Language Academy will prepare you for the challenge of defeating OET.