Are you new to OET? Don't know where to start? Then watch this
video because I'm going to show you how and where to begin your preparation.
Hi, I'm Jo from Specialist Language Courses. As Premium Preparation Providers,
we know we can help you pass the exam, are you ready? Let's go!
So you've decided to take the OET exam, what now?
We know there is a lot of information out there which can be overwhelming, and perhaps you're
not sure how to begin your preparation. Well, let me help you with the step-by-step guide.
What should you do before you take the exam? Let's take a look. Your goal is to take and pass the OET
exam, but before you do this, you need to prepare. When you feel confident, you then book the test
but before this, you need time to prepare. This really is key, so let's talk about preparation.
You've decided to take the exam, but where do you begin? There are two key aspects that should form
part of your OET preparation. The first is know the test and the second is improve your English,
so you can enter the room on test day confidently you need to learn the format of the exam,
then find out about the strategies and skills needed to complete the tasks and then you need
to practice using these skills and strategies in both untimed and timed exam practice.
Another key aspect to your OET preparation is language proficiency. So you need to be
working towards improving your English as well as learning about the exam
areas. You might need to work on are a range and accuracy of grammar vocabulary
such as patient-friendly language to describe medical conditions.
You should definitely work on your skills, for example skimming and scanning skills for reading.
With so much OET material available online, it can be difficult to know where to begin,
so where should you start? The three main places you can access information for free are the OET
website, live lessons and YouTube, but also if you can find an OET teacher or join an online course.
First of all check out the OET website and go to prepare. There
is a lot of information there so don't try and read it all in one go.
I would recommend starting with the OET master classes which give you an overview of the papers,
then take a look at some sample papers so you know what they look like. You can also
click on the preparation portal and you will find links to lots of resources to help you.
So next, you should learn about the different skills and strategies needed to pass the exam,
if you can buying a course book or an online course can really help you such
as OET preparation for nurses, this was co-written by SLC's Head of Medical English Virginia Allum.
Or why not check out our course Reach OETB? this is available for both nursing
and medicine. This course provides you with a full introduction to OET and tips, strategies
and skills work on all four papers. It also includes weekly live lessons with the teacher,
access to our video library and two full practice tests, so be sure to check it out, links below.
Another useful resource are the free live lessons broadcast by OET on their Facebook
page and of course there is YouTube with loads of OET content but do stick to official OET
and endorse providers such as us SLC. OET SLC YouTube channel has lots of short video, guides
to all things OET. On our home page click here on playlists and you will see lots of different
ones such as our previous seasons of tips and strategies. We also have videos divided by skills,
for example if we choose writing, click on view full playlist and you will find over 20 videos,
including how to approach grammar lessons and information on the criteria.
My students are always on the lookout for good reliable resources to use,
here are my recommendations.
Use OET official materials for practice tests or materials from endorsed providers such as us SLC,
so use websites containing healthcare articles to improve your skills and language which should be
a key part of your preparation. I have a list of useful websites for you at the end of this video.
Remember you also need to be working on your general language proficiency and
there are lots of resources for this online the OET website has lots of language tips,
the British Council website is a good resource for grammar explanations and we also have some
videos on language on our YouTube channel, as I showed you before. Or you can check out our course
Essential Grammar for Healthcare, which provides explanations and practice of grammar but in a
healthcare setting, perfect for those preparing for OET, the link is in the description box below.
As I mentioned before, taking time to prepare for the OET exam is key.
Daily life can get in the way, we know many of you have jobs, homes and family to take care of,
so planning your time is so important, so you can use your valuable study time most effectively.
Here are my do's and don'ts so you can study at your best. Don't try and do everything at
the same time, instead do organise and plan your time. Create a study plan or schedule so you know
what you're going to do and what resources you're going to use. Don't only focus on practice papers,
do work on your skills, as well don't neglect your general English. Do focus
on improving your grammar and vocabulary make notes and remember to review regularly,
and don't do it alone, do try and find a study buddy, maybe you have a friend or colleague
also preparing for the OET, or if not, maybe find an online study buddy, or why not click
on OET's improve your English? There you can sign up and get a six week plan to follow,
remember, a study session does not need to be two hours of you studying grammar or doing practice
papers, a 10-15 minute session can benefit you greatly if you use that time effectively.
Here are some 10 to 15 minute study activities that you could try. Read
an article on a healthcare topic and summarise the main point in 2-3 sentences. Then find 5-10
new words to look up the meaning of. Write 10 sentences using past simple passive to describe
hospital treatment using a variety of verbs. For example, “antibiotics were administered”.
Review a Reading C text and underline all words and phrases that express attitude and opinion.
Look at an OET transcript and make a note of patient friendly language/idiomatic
expressions used in Listening A, for example, “feeling a bit run down” “out of the blue”.
Read an OET sample letter and make a note of all the time refencing phrases,
for example “On admission” “In June” “During hospitalisation”.
And here are some useful websites to help you improve your skills. theconversation.com is a
great resource for healthcare articles to improve reading and vocabulary,
likewise the guardian health and BBC health. The NHS website is a great resource for
patient-friendly vocabulary and language for explaining medical conditions and to practice
listening to long audios, try out the BBC inside Health podcast, Ted Med or ABC Health matters.
So, to sum up my top tips: learn about the exam, use the OET website, YouTube videos
and practice papers. Improve your English, dedicated self-study time for this, online
courses and videos can all help. And don't forget about your skills, read, read, listen, listen.
Plan your time, make sure you use it effectively. Review and practice, review your notes,
review past exams, review errors and then practice to improve. Practice your English,
practice your skills, practice OET tests. Follow these tips and succeed in the OET exam.
What do you find most difficult reading, listening, writing or speaking? Tell me
in the comments below, and if you like this video, let others know
by sharing and liking so we can grow this OET SLC community, see you next time bye!