Overcoming OET Listening Part C Challenges
Overcoming OET Listening Part C Challenges: The OET Listening paper comprises three parts. In Part A, doctors and patients engage in two consultations, and test takers must fill in notes about the medical encounters. Part B includes six short dialogues between various healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and therapists, and testers must answer multiple-choice questions. Part C consists of 12 multiple-choice questions divided into two groups of six. Each set of six multiple-choice questions is based on recordings that are four to five minutes in length and are presented in different formats, such as an interview, a presentation, or a training, covering general topics in healthcare.
In this blog, we will provide tips for succeeding in Part C of the OET Listening paper.
Reading & Listening At the Same Time
For each recording on Part C of the OET Listening paper, there are six multiple-choice questions along with their corresponding answers. You don’t need to read the instructions in Part C of the OET because you are already familiar with the relevant instructions based on the test format you are taking, such as paper-based, home-based, or home-based OET at home, which utilizes remote proctoring.
During the reading time, it is recommended to underline keywords in the questions and observe differences in the answer choices. This practice will assist you in activating your background knowledge about the topic and enable you to make predictions about the content of the recording.
Distractors
In OET Listening Part C, each multiple-choice question typically presents three answer choices that generally include specific words from the recording. The purpose of this is to distract and confuse you. It is crucial to keep in mind that although all answer choices may feature specific words or phrases from the recording, their intended meaning may differ from what the speaker intended. Therefore, it is vital to closely read the answer choices and eliminate any distractors.
Accent
Many countries speak English as the main language, such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, and many other countries consider it an important language in education and business. Consequently, the world exhibits a variety of accents, some of which may initially pose challenges in comprehension. Therefore, we recommend that you actively engage with radio programs from various regions of the English-speaking world as part of your preparation for the OET Listening test, similar to the way you are encouraged to explore different specialities, such as nursing. Accessing a wide range of programs, lectures, and interviews on your phone or computer will prove beneficial.
Notably, OET Listening Part C may feature two to four speakers, each with a distinct accent. This necessitates understanding individuals from different countries as they speak for extended durations. While practising sample exams, take note of the accents that pose difficulties, and ensure you allocate additional practice time specifically for those accents.
Speed
The OET Listening parts B and C differ primarily in the length of recordings. In part B, you will encounter a brief conversation or monologue, typically lasting around a minute, followed by a break. On the other hand, part C entails listening to an uninterrupted interview or presentation lasting four to five minutes. This can prove challenging, particularly because the speaker(s) will be speaking at a natural pace. To address this, we recommend actively practising by listening to radio programs or podcasts that feature longer dialogues or monologues. This will help you grasp the main idea of the conversation and understand the opinions of each speaker.
Most importantly, engaging with the Hzadeducation OET practice course should assist you in overcoming the issue of speed.
Signpost Phrases
In the OET listening Part C, we mentioned that you will hear one or two speakers talk for several minutes on a topic. Hence, you will need to answer six multi-choice questions at the same time. It is important for you to be able to recognize when the speaker or speakers change topics so that you can answer the question related to that moment in the recording. One key skill in doing that is listening for certain signpost phrases, such as those that indicate an example, a counterexample, or a change of topic.
When people give presentations or interviews, they use phrases like “for example,” “such as,” “like,” or “for instance” to introduce an example. When they want to change the topic, they may use a phrase like “now, moving on…”
Lastly, remember that no matter what format of the OET you take, the listening paper comes first. Feeling confident in Part C, the last part of the OET Listening paper will help you get off to a good, confident start as you continue.
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