Thomas M. Carpenter

If you are a healthcare professional, like a nurse, dentist, pharmacist, or physiotherapist, and looking for an opportunity in countries like the UK, New Zealand, Singapore, UAE, or Australia, you will first have to clear OET (Occupational English Test). It is a proficiency test that evaluates your English language skills in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.

Since the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) approved OET, the number of healthcare professionals, especially nurses, appearing for the same has increased significantly. But while more and more candidates are taking up the OET test, it is not easy. A large number of candidates are not able to get a Grade of B in all the sub-tests, which is something that most organizations ask for.

If you are planning to appear for OET and clear the test, knowing the common reasons why most people fail will surely help you improve your preparation. Here are some of the most common reasons why candidates are unable to clear OET

Not preparing Enough 

Most people consider OET to be a Basic English language test. But in reality, it is a highly comprehensive exam aimed specifically at healthcare professionals that will require considerable preparation for all four sub-tests. The majority of the candidates book the exam without really preparing for it. This is very commonly seen among people who believe that they are good in English and are appearing for OET for the first time.

There is a valid reason why a lot of candidates prefer to opt for OET training to prepare for the exam. You need the guidance of experienced professionals, a solid study schedule, quality learning material, and at least a few months of preparation to crack OET.

Consuming a Lot of Information

We now live in a digital age where we use the internet to decide our next meal. While there is nothing wrong with that, this often leads to unhealthy learning practices. Many candidates prepare for OET YouTube videos and read articles and blogs. However, all the information is only good as long as you learn something from it and take real action.

Just consuming information and not doing anything about it would not help you in any way. Moreover, this overload of information often leaves your brain paralyzed, and you fail to understand what your next course of action should be. This is the reason why it is so essential to get in touch with an expert who can rightly guide you through the preparation phase while evaluating you constantly.

Problem with the Pronunciation

One of the biggest challenges with non-native English speakers is concerning their accent in their Reading and Speaking sub-tests. Due to this, a lot of healthcare professionals start learning the UK or the US accent. However, this is generally not required as long as you speak with clarity irrespective of what accent you naturally have.

Moreover, pronunciation is just one of the many factors based on which you are being evaluated. The other factors play an equally important role such as your grammar, relationship-building skills with the patient, your ability to make the patient feel comfortable, your ability to give information to the patient, etc.

Not Learning from Your Mistakes

Many candidates appear for OET over and over again believing that by doing this, they might end up getting lucky at least once. But that is not how it works. You will mostly end up wasting your money and time in the process with no positive outcomes.

It will be almost impossible to ace OET, no matter how many times you appear, until you do not find out your weak areas and work on them. The problem might be related to your grammar, writing, vocabulary, etc. Focus on things you are weak at during the preparation phase to improve your chances of success.

Not Preparing Specific to Your Profession

OET, unlike IELTS, is specifically for healthcare professionals. It is aimed at evaluating the communication skills of 12 healthcare professions such as Nurses, Dentistry, Optometry, Medicine, etc. While the first two parts of the test, Listening, and Reading, are similar across all professions, the Writing and speaking tests may vary according to your specific healthcare profession.

For instance, the role plays in a speaking test for nurses may be different from what a dentist or a doctor might get.

Relying on the Wrong Sources

While the internet is flooded with information related to OET, you don’t need to believe everything you read or watch. The source of information you select for the preparation also has a lot with whether or not you will be able to crack OET.

So, it is generally better to only trust the information coming from official sources. For instance, to get any details regarding OET, you can visit its official OET website. For test preparation, rely on the course material offered by your training institute or use a reputable online portal for the same.

Professional OET Preparation Course 

Benchmark OET offers professional OET training available in regular and weekend batches. Our experienced trainers, including nursing mentors from the UK, cover all four sub-tests and have a reputation for offering individual attention to every candidate.

What is OET?

OET is called Occupational English Training. The test is taken by specialized specialists like nurses, doctors, and pharmacists. Like the IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE, it is an English language competency test, but only some professionals choose to take it. In many nations, people must generate an OET score to work as specific professionals, particularly in the medical industry. It offers a valid and trustworthy evaluation of each of the four language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In healthcare professional contexts, communication is also emphasized. People who want to sign up and practice in an English-speaking setting do so.

OET Course: How to Prepare

It is challenging to prepare for the OET Course whether you are a nurse or a doctor. How long should you spend studying? How many practice exams should you take? When do you schedule your test? How many assessments should you pass?

Here is some pro advice from our best OET teachers:

1. Create a starting point

Take an OET practice exam in each of the test sections as soon as you start your studies i.e Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking.

You should grade your work. Did you find that your essay contained a lot of grammar errors? Did you perform poorly on the listening and reading tests? Was your speaking test tense and disorganized?

This gives you a clear picture of your current situation and the obstacles you will face with the OET exam.

2. Start preparing

It takes practice to score well on the OET exam. The greater your chance of passing an exam is, the sooner you start studying. Take your time, don’t rush, and make sure you pass the first time unless you have a deadline that is approaching. Every student is unique, but on average we find that it takes most students 8 to 12 weeks of practice before they feel confident enough to pass the exam on the first try.

3. Planning and Practicing