Using Abbreviations in the OET Listening Sub-test

Using Abbreviations in the OET Listening Sub-test

OET Listening Sub-test As one of the more demanding components of the Occupational English Test, the listening sub-test is designed to assess a wide range of listening skills such as identifying specific information, gist, opinion, detail or a speaker’s purpose. The OET listening section consists of three parts with 42 questions. It takes about 40 minutes to finish, including the recorded speech and pauses to give you time to write your answers. You will listen to each recording only once, and you are allowed to take notes while listening to the audio.

During your OET listening test, it can be challenging to write down information quickly enough to keep up with the audio recording. Since you are allowed to use abbreviations in your answers, you can also apply it while taking notes to speed up your note-taking skills. Although the OET Center doesn’t use a specific list of abbreviations that are acceptable in the exam, you can still use abbreviations that are commonly accepted in the medical profession.

Useful Abbreviations for the OET Listening Sub-test One practical approach that students in OET review classes can do is to look at the official guidelines and policies that are used in your healthcare profession. For instance, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has a list of acceptable abbreviations to be used in the prescribing and administration of medications. The following is a short list of the acceptable abbreviations: 

Patient-controlled analgesia: PCA

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Injection: inj

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When required: prn

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Naso-gastric: NG

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Intramuscular: IM

For OET test takers who want to access the full list, click here.

Flinders University nursing school also has a useful list of common abbreviations used by nurses in the Australian healthcare system. Check out these examples: 

Medication: meds

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Chest X-ray: CXR

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Deep vein thrombosis: DVT

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Gastrointestinal: GI

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Intensive care unit: ICU

If you want to get the full list and use it in your OET review preparation, click here.

Created by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR and Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, the MedicineNet.com has a great list of common medical abbreviations and acronyms that you can use in your OET classes. Some of these include: 

Below the knee amputation: BKA

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Capsule: cap

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Complete blood count: CBC

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Headache: HA

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Hypertension: HTN

For more information about the common medical abbreviations and acronyms list, click here.

Are you still looking for more tips for the OET listening section, updates and test-taking strategies?

Enroll now in JRooz OET Review Center and check out our blog today!