OET Reading Part A – The Complete Guide
OET Reading Part A – The Complete Guide: One of the challenging sections of the OET is Reading Part A, where candidates need to skim and scan a variety of healthcare-related texts to find specific information. This comprehensive guide will explore effective strategies and tips to assist you in excelling in OET Reading Part A.
In a healthcare setting, when dealing with a patient or client, you may need to quickly find relevant information. Part A simulates this by putting you under timed pressure as you locate the information first and then read it more carefully.
This guide will cover the format of OET Reading Part A and will review the skills you’re being tested on. It also includes test tips and preparation recommendations.
Test Format:
The four Part A texts comprise extracts from reference materials that healthcare professionals encounter when caring for patients. They encompass medication tables, dosage charts, instructions, treatment pathways and options, descriptions of presenting factors, symptoms, and diagnostic tools. Additionally, at least one text may incorporate information presented visually, such as a table, flowchart, or diagram.
Part A consists of 20 questions categorized into three types: Matching, Short Answer, and Sentence Completion. Since this section evaluates your ability to read quickly, it is strictly timed, and you must complete all 20 question items within 15 minutes.
OET Reading Part A at a Glance:
- Four texts on a single healthcare topic
- 20 questions:
-
- Matching
- Short Answer
- Sentence Completion
- 15 minutes
Skills:
Part A of the reading test mirrors your professional practice. It assesses your ability to read expeditiously, locate information, and accurately record specific information.
OET Reading Part A – Questions
In OET on paper, you receive a separate Question Paper and Text Booklet. The instructions on the Question Paper guide you to write your answers in the provided spaces and remind you about the 15-minute time limit.
Before addressing the questions, it’s advisable to swiftly examine the texts. You won’t have sufficient time to read them from start to finish, but you should determine their purpose, structure, and differences by skimming. To skim effectively, focus on the titles, introductory sentences (if available), headings, sub-headings, bullet points, and labels on visuals.
Matching Questions:
The first set of questions always consists of matching questions, and there are usually between 5 and 7 of them. You need to decide from which text (A, B, C, or D) each piece of information comes. Your answer to each question should be a single letter, either A, B, C, or D.
Short Answer Questions:
The next set of questions will consist of either short answers or sentence completion. In this practice test, questions 8-14 will be short answer questions. Here, you must answer each of the questions with a word or short phrase from one of the texts. Each answer may include words, numbers, or both. Avoid writing full sentences.
Sentence Completion Questions:
Sentence completion questions function in a similar way. Once again, you must read the sentence, find the correct text, and read carefully to identify the precise answer that fills the gap.
OET Reading Part A – The Complete Guide
Test tips:
Here are 5 tips to succeed in Part A.
1. Do the questions in order.
Starting with the matching questions will better prepare you to locate the answers for the remaining questions. This is because you will know the topic, purpose, and target audience of each text.
2. Copy exactly from the text.
For short answer and completion questions, you must copy the text exactly as it’s written into your answer spaces. Your answer will be marked wrong if you make a spelling error or add unnecessary words.
3. Keep your answers short.
Answers are usually between 1 and 3 words. Writing full sentences or including extra information will mean your answer is wrong.
4. Write clearly.
If you’re taking OET on paper, your Part A is marked by human assessors. If they cannot understand your writing, you will not get the point.
5. Manage your time.
There are only 15 minutes for this part of the test, so you need to work quickly. Don’t spend too long on one question. If you’re struggling, have a guess, move on and come back to it later if you have time.
OET Reading Part A – The Complete Guide
Preparation recommendations:
To prepare for Part A, you need to practice expeditious reading, reading quickly and effectively. Here are some ways you can work on this:
1. Practise Skimming Texts.
To perform Part A well, you must have the ability to grasp the idea of a text quickly without reading every single word. You can practice this by setting a timer for yourself and skimming any kind of text. Read titles, headings, subheadings, introductory sentences, and bullet points, and utilize labels on visual information.
2. Practise Scanning.
Scanning is another useful skill. It involves actively looking for a specific word or piece of information, rather than reading the entire text. Think of it as using the Control F function on your computer. You can search for a particular drug or an age group to find the answer to a question. To improve this skill, practice Listening tests with transcripts. Look at the question and scan the text to locate the relevant information. Remember not to read the entire text; instead, try moving your eyes backwards through the transcript or up and down, rather than reading from left to right as you normally would. Word search puzzles are also a fun way to practice scanning.
3. Start Slow.
When beginning your Part A preparation, throw away the clock and focus instead on your skills and strategy. Ensure that you know the instructions for the different tasks and how to answer the different question types. Once you feel confident in how to tackle the questions, you can start working on completing them faster.
Preparing for OET Reading Part A will help you improve the key skills of locating information quickly and recording it accurately, which are important in the healthcare workplace.
CONCLUSION
OET Reading Part A requires a combination of effective reading strategies and healthcare knowledge to perform well. By improving your skimming and scanning skills, paying attention to details, and practising with sample tests, you can enhance your performance in this section. Remember to manage your time wisely and stay calm during the exam. With sufficient preparation and practice, you can successfully navigate through OET Reading Part A and achieve your desired score.
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