OET

Occupational English Test: General Information

Only online applications, pay online/cheque

Can contact OET Centre if we would like to have the test administered in an unlisted city = open to new locations as long as there is enough demand

Location of the test is only emailed to the candidate a few weeks before the day of the test

Results are available 6-8 weeks after sitting the test

After assessment is completed, the data is analysed, highlighting any re-marking required

If candidate decides to defer sitting the test until later, they must state this intention at least 2 weeks prior and will incur a $50 fee

Pricing outside of Australia:
Full test – A$775
3 Sub-tests – A$600
2 Sub-tests – A$425
1 Sub-test – A$225

สารบัญ

• General Information
• The Four Sub-Tests
• Benefits of the OET

Occupational English Test: the Four Sub-Tests

Speaking and Writing profession-specific
Listening and Reading common to all candidates

Listening (50 minutes)

This is a two-part recording, with approximately 20 questions in total. Tape is played once, but with frequent pauses.

A. Consultation between health professional and patient. Candidates are required to take notes under given headings.

B. Lecture on a health-related issue. There is a range of listening tasks to complete – note-taking, sentence/table completion, chart completion, short answer.

This sub-test is marked by qualified English assessors who have been trained in OET assessment procedures. They will decide if the answers given are close enough to be marked correct. 10% of candidate papers are randomly selected and double marked to check assessor reliability.

Many of the questions have several correct answers. Minor variations in wording are acceptable provided the key meaning has been retained. A total score of around 65% (Part A and B combined) should give a satisfactory result.

Development of the listening section: Questions are developed by LTRC (Language Testing Research Centre – Uni of Melbourne) staff and tried out in a panelling session. Unclear, overly easy, or overly difficult items are cut or modified.

Reading (60 minutes)

This is marked objectively (scanned by computer) and is not profession-specific.

There are two texts on health-related issues, both of about 800-900 words long. Students are required to answer between 10 and 14 multiple choice questions per text. Questions assess comprehension of content, complex propositions and vocabulary. A total score of around 65% (Part A and B combined) should give a satisfactory result.

Development of the reading section:

– LTRC developers identify 3-4 suitable texts from specialist medical journals, popular science publications and other sources

– Texts are shortened, modified or sometimes merged to obtain two different test texts

– Developers can also write items independently

– Texts and answer choices are discussed in panelling meetings

– We use ‘logic items’ (‘all of the above’ / ‘none of the above’) and negative stems (‘Which statement is NOT true…’) sparingly

– The panelled drafts of the Reading and Listening sections are administered to between 30 and 60 paid volunteers

– The marking guide for the listening section is further refined after piloting

Writing (45 minutes)

This is profession-specific and marked independently by two different assessors.

Candidates are required to write a response to case notes or other information provided. The response required is usually in the form of a referral or transfer letter, and candidates are required to write approximately 180-200 words.

Students are marked on task fulfilment, appropriate language, comprehension, grammar and cohesion and presentation features.

Speaking (25 minutes)

The candidate takes their professional role in two separate role-plays with the interviewer. There is a warm-up conversation to help the candidate relax – this is not assessed. Candidates can ask any questions about the role-play before the formal testing begins.

Candidates are given task cards displaying their topic. Each role-play is to be about 5 minutes long. They are marked on communicative effectiveness, intelligibility, fluency, appropriateness of language, grammar and expression.

Two assessors independently mark each speaking recording. Borderline tapes are marked by a third assessor.

Occupational English Test: Benefits

Candidates are familiar with the test content and like that it is a test of professional ability

There is a balance between testing English skills through a professional context and testing professional knowledge itself

IELTS is designed to assess academic English proficiency, rather than professional/vocational communicative ability

The OET is arguably closer to real-world language use of health professionals

The real-life basis of the OET content can blur the artificial separation into four sub-tests. For example, listening includes writes (note taking), speaking is very focussed on interaction, so listening is equally important, and writing involves processing two pages of case notes (reading skills)

Role-plays: candidates can tap into their own content resource (their professional knowledge rather than a ‘random’ topic)

Writing topics: candidates know what to do with the information provided (explanation rather than invention). This provides for contextualised and meaningful communication

OET Official Website : http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/