The OET speaking Scoring Criteria (Communication skills). Master the OET English Test: Essential Tips and Resources for Outstanding Results in 1st attempt.

The OET speaking Scoring Criteria (Communication skills)

A significant aspect of the OET assessment is evaluating clinical communication skills, particularly in the speaking sub-test. This article delves into the OET speaking and the OET speaking scoring criteria, focusing on how candidates are assessed based on giving information, understanding and integrating the patient’s perspective, collecting information, and establishing relationships which are all key skills in clinical communications. Understanding these criteria is essential for effective preparation for the OET exam.

Information Giving During the OET Speaking Module
Information Giving During the OET Speaking Module In the OET speaking test is an important skill not to ignore. This is the ability to effectively convey medical information to patients. OET Candidates are required to demonstrate that they can clearly and precisely convey complex medical information to patients using lay terms. The OET speaking marking scheme focuses on how effectively candidates explain treatment options, medical procedures, and pass on medical instructions. It’s essential to use language that the listener can understand easily, ensuring that explanations are both thorough and concise. For instance, it is better to ask your patient “Have you noticed that your heart us racing recently” rather than “Do you have palpitations”. At OETprep, we focus on helping our clients communicate clinical information effectively while avoiding the use of medical jargons.

Grasping & Incorporating the Patient’s Perspective in Your OET exam
This part of the OET exam measures how well candidates empathize with patients and include their views and emotions in the discussion. Candidates need to actively listen, recognize the patient’s concerns, and tailor their responses to make care more personal. This skill helps make patients feel important and understood, which is crucial in clinical settings.

Information Gathering in OET

Information gathering is a key component evaluated in the OET speaking test. Candidates are scored on how well they ask open-ended questions to get detailed answers and closed questions for specific details. They must also summarize and rephrase what the patient says to ensure they have understood correctly. This ability is essential for healthcare professionals to gather all the necessary information for informed decision-making.

Relationship Building in OET

In healthcare settings, forming and maintaining strong relationships with patients is crucial for effective care and positve patient treatment outcomes. There has been several publication revealing that patients tend to build trust with healthcare professionals who they feel listens to them and builds a relationship with them to certain extent. Patients are more likely to be compliant when working with healthcare professions they can trust which often begins with a good patient-physician rapport. The OET speaking test assesses candidates on their ability to initiate conversations, use verbal and non-verbal cues to build trust, and keep the conversation flowing smoothly. Candidates are evaluated on their initial interactions, which should be warm and professional, setting a positive tone for the consultation. They must demonstrate effective use of verbal cues like empathetic language and clear explanations, as well as non-verbal cues such as appropriate eye contact and body language. Building trust is a key aspect, where candidates need to show respect, empathy, and professionalism. This involves validating patients’ feelings, acknowledging their concerns, and adapting communication styles to suit individual needs. Keeping the conversation flowing smoothly requires managing dialogue efficiently, asking relevant questions, summarizing key points, and handling interruptions gracefully.

Summary of What is Expected of You in the OET Speaking Subset (OET speaking marking scheme)

The above details have revealed the scoring criteria for OET exam or OET test. During OET preparation, candidates are expected to focus on areas like information giving, information gathering, relationship building and incorporating of patient’s perspectives through a tested and proven OET course or training program. At OETprep, we strictly guide our clients on the key aspect of clinical communications skills based on the official OET marking scheme.