As part of our #OETLearnuary Challenge, we've been asking you for your questions, and Deepa, one of our YouTube students got in touch and asked this great question.
"Can you please explain to us the types of questions asked in the OET reading part c and how to solve them?"
Thanks for your great question, Deepa. We will definitely do a video on it after the OET Learnuary sessions are over, but in the meantime, this may help.
OET Reading Part C
What can you expect in the OET Reading Part C?
Well, you get two longer texts, on general medical topics. It might be a review of some research carried out, or an opinion piece about some new medical technology being used. It's the kind of reading you would do as part of your CPD and to keep up to date with current affairs in the healthcare sector.
You'll get 12 questions (6 for each text) and they will all be multiple choice with 4 options per question.
The types of questions you might be asked here are to:
identify the meaning of a word or phrase within the text (this will always be underlined for you).
identify the reason why the author said something (e.g. was it to show his or her agreement, or doubt? Did he or her feel encouraged by a development mentioned or dismayed?).
identify the correct summary of a point or paragraph (e.g what is the point made by the programme's launch?
All the questions are in paragraph order and you'll be told which paragraph you can find the answers in.
Some tips to help you do well in the OET Reading Part C
Read as many of these kinds of texts as you can - not just OET material! Language is a skill and like any skill, the more you practice, the better you'll get.
Make a note of any new vocabulary that you see regularly come up. Don't forget this is an English test, so you have to have a good vocabulary and grammar base. No matter how many great test-taking skills you have, if you don't know the words, you really won't be able to get very far.
Practise summarising points or paragraphs in your own words after you've read them. This will help you reformulate the ideas and so help you when you come to look at the OET questions.
Look for connotation or implication in what's being said. Why did the author choose to say X and not Y? - Becoming familiar with the language of opinion will definitely help you in the Reading Part C section of the OET.
Practise identifying key words in the tests. This is a good technique because it will help you focus and spot any subtle clues in the answer options.
If you need more help with the OET Reading Sub-Test, why not take a look at our On-demand course on Udemy? The lessons are pre-recorded, so you can watch them in your own time. The course is designed to give you an insight into the test and some tips and advice on how to answer each section step-by-step. Here's a discount code for you, and you know, if you try it and find it's not for you, there's no problem because Udemy offers a refund policy too!