Are you a healthcare professional preparing for the Occupational English Test (OET)? The Listening sub-test is your opportunity to prove you can effectively understand English in real-world clinical and professional scenarios. It’s not just about language; it’s about demonstrating crucial skills for patient care and workplace communication. Learning how to break down the structure, scoring, and essential tips for tackling the OET Listening sub-test, setting you on the right path to a Grade B or higher. With expert coaching from Tiju’s Academy, you can ace all the modules and clear the exam in your first attempt!
The OET Listening sub-test lasts for approximately 45 minutes and is divided into three distinct parts, challenging you with 42 questions in total. Each part is designed to evaluate a different aspect of your listening and comprehension skills within a healthcare context.
Skill Assessed: Understanding the main ideas, opinion, implications, and attitude in an extended, formal context.
The raw score for the Listening sub-test is out of 42 marks (Part A: 24 marks, Part B: 6 marks, Part C: 12 marks). Each correct answer is worth one mark.
Your raw score is converted into the OET's 500-point scale, which is then assigned a letter grade.
Key Takeaway: The goal for most candidates is to achieve at least a Grade B (350 or above), which demonstrates a high level of clinical and professional communication skill.
Parts B and C (Multiple Choice): These parts are automatically scored by a computer scan.
Part A (Note-Completion): This part is double-marked by trained OET Assessors who use a detailed marking guide to ensure accuracy. Your spelling and grammar are important here!
How you record your answers can make or break your score, especially in Part A.
Extract Exactly: Your answer must be the exact word or short phrase you hear in the recording. Do not paraphrase or use synonyms.
Accuracy Matters: Spelling and grammar are checked. A misspelling of a medical term or a grammatical error that changes the meaning may result in no mark.
Capitalization: Use capital letters for proper nouns (names, places, medications) and recognized abbreviations (e.g., HIV, MRI). Start the first word of your answer with a capital letter.
Short and Sweet: Keep your answers as short as possible to avoid adding conflicting or unnecessary information.
Anticipate: Use the short reading time to underline key words in the question and the options. This helps you anticipate what you need to listen for.
Listen for Synonyms/Paraphrasing: Unlike Part A, the options in Parts B and C often use synonyms or paraphrased language to test your comprehension, not just your ability to hear a specific word.
Use Context: Pay attention to signposting language (e.g., "However," "First," "On the other hand") as they indicate a change in topic, purpose, or a speaker's opinion.
Complete All Answers: Since there is no negative marking, always make a logical guess for any question you are unsure of.
The OET Listening sub-test is a skill that can be mastered with targeted practice and a deep understanding of the exam format. All you need is the best coaching in Kerala to clear the exam in your first try. With our expert OET coaching, updated study materials and OET module wise strategies, you can crack the exam with confidence. Join now at the best OET coaching centre in Kerala now!