OET Success | The Secret Lies in Good Planning!

I hear a lot of candidates say that they don't really have time to plan, and that's understandable. We know how busy you are! Many of you are working full time, looking after family, and trying to study on top of all that, so it's natural that planning is something that gets done quickly or pushed to one side.

The Key to OET Success

However, the key to success in the OET is good and careful planning! In this video, we take a look at 5 top tips to help you to plan successfully for your OET success.

Here are some more ideas to help you:

Start your OET preparation early

It's important not to just do sample tests, but to build your skills. In order to do this, you need to do MORE than just test after test after test. You need to incorporate skill-building exercises into your daily and weekly study routines.

OET Listening Preparation

For example, many of you are familiar with American English. It's pretty much everywhere - Netflix, Amazon, your computer's voice, your teacher, even. The thing is, the OET is an Australian-British exam, so you probably won't hear that many American accents in the tests.

You're more likely to hear British or Australian, Irish, or India. No accent will be very strong, but it will be different to American English.

Start listening to podcasts and shows from a variety of countries to help you with this. There's also a great website which will give you practice in dictation - so spend time trying to write out the phrases word for word. When you listen to podcasts or shows, make notes, so that you are practising hand and ear coordination! Then, why not write a paragraph to summarise at the end of it, so you are also practising your writing skills.

If you don't have time to listen actively, then you can listen passively, on your commute, or while you are making dinner. Just surround yourself with English and that will help you enormously.

OET Reading Preparation

My biggest tip here is to perfect your parts A & B because if you can get most of your answers right in the first two parts, then you only need a bit more in Part C to get your score.

So, spend your time and energy on A and B first. Then also read longer pieces to get you ready for Part C.

OET Writing Preparation

Get yourself familiar with the standard layouts of letters so you know how to do that part of the criteria filling.

Read the samples and become familiar with how to select and group information - you need to practise what to keep and what to leave out.

Also, make sure you know your own mistakes. Make a list of them and check your writing each time to eradicate any 'silly errors' which will cost you points.

OET Speaking Preparation

Once again, get yourself familiar with the criteria. It's so much easier to give the examiners what they want if you KNOW what they want - and the criteria tells you that.

Make a note of the different scenarios you might get and practise those.

It would be great if you can practise with a friend, colleague or even an AI bot. Even better if you can practise with a Premium Preparation Provider like us at Bose Learning.

Wellbeing Preparation

Last but not least, plan to make time for your own wellbeing. Planning should help take the stress out of exam day, but you also need to leave space for yourself and your health. You are not going to preform well if you are tired or anxious. Get outdoors, do some exercise, spend time with the people and pets you love. Be kind to yourself and get yourself in the best frame of mind so you can perform at your best!

Planning well is going to set you up for success, so invest time in doing so.

If you need any further help or 1-2-1 tuition, feel free to get in touch with us. Just drop us a line at hello@boselearning.co.uk