All sub-tests · Exam strategy
4 common mistakes OET candidates make
OET lists four mistakes it sees candidates make again and again. None is about grammar, and all are easy to avoid.
Booking the test without preparing
The clinical content feels familiar, so many doctors and nurses expect to pass with little study. But feeling at home with the content is not the same as meeting the criteria.
What to do instead
- Do at least one timed practice test before you book.
- Find your weakest sub-test and work on it first.
Answering from medical knowledge instead of English
The OET tests your English. Listening and Reading questions are written so that only the recording or text gives the right answer, so answering from clinical knowledge loses marks.
What to do instead
- In Listening and Reading, answer only from what you hear or read.
- In Writing and Speaking, focus on how you communicate. Medical accuracy is not marked.
Recording answers the wrong way
On paper, Listening and Reading Parts B and C are marked by computer, so an option that isn't shaded correctly loses a mark you had earned.
What to do instead
- Practise on official sample papers so the answer sheet is familiar.
- Shade Parts B and C options in pencil, and re-read the instructions in the room.
Looking for tricks
Online "tricks" promise an easy pass, but some are simply false: there is no pattern in the multiple-choice answers.
What to do instead
- Learn how each part works, then spend most of your time on English itself.
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Practise against the real criteria
OETgo scores your Writing letters on the six OET criteria and your Speaking role-plays on all nine, so you see where you stand before you book. Two free sessions on every new account.
Create free accountFrequently asked questions
Will my medical knowledge help me answer OET questions?
It helps you understand the content, but answers must come from what you hear or read. The test is designed so that answering from your own knowledge loses marks. In Speaking, you are not marked on medical accuracy at all.
Are there tricks to pass the OET?
No. There is no pattern in the multiple-choice answers, and no shortcut replaces language skills. Learn the format and strategies, then spend your time improving your English.