Let’s face it—OET Speaking isn’t just about chatting with a patient; it’s about demonstrating you can communicate clearly, professionally, and effectively in English. But what if I told you that a few common mistakes could keep you from the score you deserve?
Let’s dive into three pitfalls many candidates face and how to dodge them, with real-life examples to drive the point home.
1. Initiating all role-plays in the same way
Many candidates assume all roleplays start the same way. Spoiler alert: they don’t! Each roleplay has unique cues; missing them can set the wrong tone from the get-go. The key to a great start is carefully reading the setting, the context sentence, and the first task.
Let’s look at some examples
Example 1: The cue card context statement mentions that you’ve just finished examining the patient.
In this case, you wouldn’t begin with, “Hello, my name is Dr. Singh. How are you today?” because that introduction would have already happened before the examination. Instead, you might say, “Thank you for letting me examine you. I’d like to discuss your symptoms further / share the findings with you / explain what has caused your current symptoms.”
Example 2: The cue card indicates this is a follow-up appointment
Here, you wouldn’t ask for the patient’s name again, or say, “Nice to meet you.” You could jump straight into, “It’s good to see you again. How have you been feeling since our last appointment?”
You’ll become more professional and attentive by picking up on these subtle cues. And yes, this is exactly the kind of thing we drill at our OET coaching institutes in Chandigarh, ensuring you know how to handle every roleplay like a seasoned pro.
2. Grammar Slips – The Silent Score Killer
You’ve probably heard this before: grammar matters! But when you’re nervous, even the most basic grammar rules can slip. Trust me, we see this all the time during our OET exam training in Mohali. However, being mindful of these errors is what sets high scorers apart.
Bad Example:
“You have had a cold for how long?”
Here, the incorrect verb tense and word order disrupt the flow.
Good Example:
“How long have you had the cold?”
A quick tip? Practice speaking with someone who can give you constructive feedback. Even better, ask yourself “which is the best OET coaching near me?” (yes, that’s us!) – and join formal OET training where daily practice sessions help sharpen your fluency.
3. Structuring the Roleplay – Use Signposts, Don’t Get Lost!
Without structure, your roleplay can feel like a rambling conversation. A well-structured dialogue helps the patient (and most importantly, your examiners) follow along smoothly. This is where signposting comes into play—it’s all about guiding your listener from one point to another.
Signposting like this is a game-changer for clarity, and it’s one of the things we emphasize during our Best OET coaching in India. We make sure you know when and how to use these techniques to meet the clinical communication criteria.
Let’s compare these two examples
Example 1
* Nurse: “Good morning, Mr. Patel. My name is Nurse Gurleen, and I’ll be taking care of you today. First, I’d like to ask you a few questions about how you’ve been feeling lately, then we’ll discuss your treatment options. After that, I can answer any questions you may have. Does that sound alright?”
* Patient: “Yes, that sounds fine.”
* Nurse: “Great! Let’s start by talking about the pain you mentioned. Can you describe it for me?”
Example 2
• Nurse: “Hello, Mr. Patel. I’m your nurse today. So, let’s get started. Tell me about your pain. Oh, and after that, I’ll explain the treatment options, but first, I might need to ask you about your symptoms.”
• Patient: “Um… okay, I guess?”
• Nurse: “Alright, let’s begin.”
The first example provides a structured, patient-centered conversation, while in the second example, the sequence of topics is confusing because the nurse jumps between different points and doesn’t check for understanding or ensure the patient feels comfortable.
Finding yourself thinking, “Where’s the best OET training centre near me to get more such lessons?” Our team specializes in helping candidates like you avoid these common mistakes, with tailored feedback and practice sessions. Don’t leave your OET Speaking score to chance—join us and master the exam!