Shajahan Jan 25, 2024
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Entrance Tips

OET Pulse – A New Healthcare-Specific Placement Test

The OET (Occupational English Test) is a placement test that assesses the language skills of people applying for specific jobs in the healthcare industry. It tests the English language proficiency in a healthcare-specific context.

Trusted by regulators, hospitals, and universities in OET-accepted countries like Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Dubai, Ireland, Namibia and Singapore, OET assesses the language communication skills of healthcare professionals.

OET Pulse is a new OET variant that focuses on assessing candidates' communication skills applying for healthcare-related positions. OET Pulse also benefits employers by providing an accurate assessment of how well applicants will perform in their desired position before they are hired, resulting in increased productivity and reduced costs. Let's take a deeper look at OET, the emergence of OET Pulse and its benefits. Healthcare professionals prefer OET as it uses terms and language that are specific to medicine.

All About the OET Exam

Occupational English Test (OET) is a placement test that a potential immigrant can take for different occupations, such as skilled trades or healthcare. OET exam assesses the applicant’s ability to use the English language to help them work with others effectively on an everyday basis. OET also tests their knowledge of things like grammar, spelling, punctuation and sentence structure.

Those considering working in a healthcare environment can take the OET exam to validate their English proficiency. OET focuses on 12 different dentistry, dietetics, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry, radiography, speech pathology, and veterinary science.

Through OET Training preparation classes, you can avail the training required to pass the OET exam and pursue a thriving medical career in Australia, Dubai, New Zealand, Singapore, and many more. You can now enrol in NIOS Course to complete your higher secondary education. 

OET Assessment Structure

The Assessment structure of the OET Exam covers all four language skills, emphasising the healthcare environment. It utilises the listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections to assess the candidate's proficiency in the English language. The Four Sub-tests of the OET Exam are enlisted below;

  • The Listening sub-test
  • The Reading sub-test
  • The Writing sub-test
  • The Speaking sub-test
  • The Listening sub-test

Providing the same content for all healthcare professionals, the listening sub-test generates a range of health-related spoken materials. In parts, it produces 42 multiple choice questions at a total length of 50 minutes.

The first part of the test assesses your ability to identify specific information in the consultation extracts. The second part tests your ability to identify the detail and purpose for short workplace extracts. Finally, the third part assesses your ability to follow presentation extracts of various accessible healthcare topics.

  • The Reading sub-test

The Reading sub-test consists of three parts and a total of 42 question items. All questions are accessible to candidates across all professions because they deal with generic healthcare topics.

At a length of 60 minutes, the first part contains four short texts as expeditious reading tasks to be completed in 15 minutes. Next, parts B and C assess your ability to identify the detail or gist of eight short texts. Part B holds six reading tasks of 100 - 150 words each, and part C holds two reading tasks of 800 words each.

  • The Writing sub-test

The Writing sub-test is 45 minutes long and consists of one task set for each profession based on a typical workplace situation. For example, a nurse's test will be about nursing tasks, while a dentist does the dental work type questions.

The task is to write a letter, usually a referral letter. An alternative letter type will be a letter of discharge, transfer, or a letter of advice, inform a patient, carer, or group.

  • The Speaking sub-test

The Speaking sub-test is delivered individually and takes around 20 minutes. This part of OET uses materials specifically designed for your profession. In each role-play, you take your professional role while the interlocutor plays a patient, client or carer. For veterinary science, the interlocutor is often an owner or carer of the animal.

Role-plays are based on specific workplace situations and reflect the demand of the health professional in those situations. After a warm-up conversation on the professional background, you have three minutes to prepare for the role-play.

What is OET Pulse?

After a Brief Introduction To OET, you will have a better understanding of OET Pulse. OET Pulse is an assessment system that gives you helpful feedback on how to prepare for your OET. It helps assess reading and listening skills and knowledge of the English language, giving you immense insight into what areas need attention so you can improve them before taking the actual test.

OET Pulse is a short, online English language test that assesses listening, reading and speaking skills. The scenarios are all healthcare-specific, so it makes sense you should take this exam if your career will involve interacting with patients to provide the care or advice. Results are expressed according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) scale.

OET Pulse is not an alternative for the OET Exam but a mere pathway to candidates who want to take up OET. It assists the learners in achieving the level of desired results in the OET. OET Pulse also provides the learners with an opportunity to practice and familiarise themselves with OET. Once the candidate has taken the OET Pulse, they will have enough time to revise the mistakes that might have appeared for the OET Exam

Benefits of OET Pulse

OET Pulse assesses your medical reading, listening, and language skills with 30 minutes from any device, anywhere, anytime. In addition, it provides you with a general understanding of your current medical reading, listening and language skills.

OET pulse also helps learners gain insight into their OET reading, listening, and language skills, leading to target practice for the OET Exam by giving them direct feedback on where they need improvement. The test scenarios are healthcare-specific, adaptive, and more efficient. In addition, it helps to provide accurate feedback on how to prepare for the OET exam, and the results of the OET Pulse are immediate.

The new OET Pulse is a crucial preparation tool for a better understanding of your English language level. It provides you with your strengths and weaknesses before taking up the OET exam because it assesses the three aspects- Reading Comprehension, Listening Comprehension, and Language Skills. And once done, it increases the potential for success in achieving desired results against OET pass rates.

To Sum Up

As the OET Pulse exam is being phased in, it's essential to know the new changes and how they will affect you. The platform gives candidates a chance to get feedback on their performance during practice exams to improve before taking an official test. It also provides them with study materials tailored for their needs based on where they're struggling or excelling on specific topics or skill areas.

You May Also be Interested in: OET vs IELTS

English Trainer

Shajahan is a graduate in English language and literature, who is passionate about teaching and making his students successful by efficient teaching methods in all components of language. As a trainer, he is responsible for developing linguistic ability and enhancing English competency level for professionals especially those who are in the healthcare domain who undertake English proficiency tests such as OET and IELTS for working or studying in native English-speaking countries.

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