Part B

INTRODUCTION
 In Reading Part B, there are 6 short extracts(100-150 words) giving background
information for healthcare professionals and 6 multiple choice questions ( 1 question
per text) and each multiple choice question will have 3 answer options ( A, B and C),
you need to choose the answer you think fits best according to the text.
 You have 45 minutes to complete Parts B and C of the Reading Test.
 You should allow roughly 10 minutes to complete this section, so you leave yourself
enough time to complete Part C.
 This means you should aim to spend on average 1 minute 30 seconds to complete
each Part B question, although you may find some questions quicker to answer while
others may take more time.

Know the Instructions

You should make sure you are familiar with what you will be asked to do on Test Day. The
instructions for Part B of the Reading Test will look like this:

In this part of the test, there are six short extracts relating to the work of health professionals.
For questions 1 to 6, choose the answer (A, B or C) which you think fits best according to the
text.

Know the Settings

 Reading Part B contains 6 different healthcare texts.
 The texts in this part of the test are generic hospital-based texts which can be used and
understood by any of the 12 healthcare professions covered by the test.
 The texts that you will see in this section of the test represent the types of texts and
documents that healthcare professionals will often refer to for specific reasons.
 These documents will cover guidelines, policies, and procedures. They might remind
healthcare professionals of the best practice to follow in a given circumstance, or
updates to a data storage system, or even instruct employees how to use machinery.
 Part B texts will generally be made up extracts from the following test types:
o Notices
o Emails
o Manuals
o Memos
o Guidelines

It’s good to take notice of the text type as you read the question because it helps your brain to recall
other examples of the same text type you have read. For example, emails follow a standard format
which your brain remembers: reason for writing, detail, request/ follow up. Knowing the format can
make finding information or understanding the main idea in the text easier.

To answer as many questions in this section correctly as possible, you need to focus your efforts on
understanding the main point of the information provided in each of the texts.
Types of questions
In this section of the test, there are three different question types. We’ll go through each question
type now and provide examples for each question type.

 Main idea
 Detail
 purpose

1. Main Idea

These questions ask for the main idea of the piece of information. To answer these questions,
you will need to assess what the main point is of what is being communicate.

e.g. What is the point of this text?

2. Detail

Detail questions will ask you to answer a question about a specific part of the text. They will often
include words in the question that you can use to skim the text for the relevant information.

E.g. At what point should the medicine be administered?

3. Purpose

Purpose questions require you to choose the answer that best explains the point of the text. Think
about why the text was written, what should healthcare professionals reading the text do as a result
of reading it.

E.g. What is the purpose of this email.

Also, in this section you can see 2 Types of question prompts

 Incomplete sentence – where answer options complete the sentences like the one shown
below.

 Direct question: a direct question with a question mark at the end

How to solve questions in oet part B

1. Carefully read the passage

o Unlike in OET 2.0 Reading Part A where you should skim and scan the text, you
should read the entire passage in Part B. Here you should read the texts deeply and
carefully.
2. Then Read the question prompt and answer options.
o You will have three options to select between each question. It is important that you
read all these options in detail.
o Out of the three options,

One option will say the same thing as the text but in different words, and other 2
options will either contradicts what is written in the text or will not be mentioned at
all.

3. Re-read the text to confirm/ eliminate the answer.

Example

OET reading Sample paper 2: Part B

1. This guideline extract says that the nurse in charge

A. must supervise the opening of the controlled drug cupboard.
B. should make sure that all ward cupboard keys are kept together
C. can delegate responsibility for the cupboard keys to other departments

First you must read the passage carefully and then read the question prompt and the answer options

Re-read passage to confirm or eliminate the options

Why not A

It is mentioned in the first sentence that the “keys for controlled drug cupboard are the
responsibility of the nurse in charge”. However, it is not mentioned that the nurse in charge must
supervise opening of the controlled drug cupboard.

Why Not B

The extract doesn’t insist the nurse in charge to make sure that the all ward cupboard keys are kept
together.

Why A
The last part of the given extract states that “If necessary, the nurse in charge should arrange for the
keys to be held in a neighbouring ward or department by the nurse in charge there.” In other words,
nurse in charge can delegate responsibility for the cupboard keys to other departments.

2. When seeking consent for a post-mortem examination, it is necessary to

A. give a valid reason for conducting it.
B. allow all relatives the opportunity to decline it.
C. only raise the subject after death has occurred.

Why Not B

It is mentioned in the last sentence that many relatives are prepared for the consenting procedure if
they have had time to think about it beforehand. But doesn’t mention that all relatives have the
opportunity to decline it.

Why Not C

This option contradicts the information given in the question.

Why A

It is mentioned in 2nd sentence of the passage that “The person consenting will need an explanation
of the reasons for the post-mortem examination and what it hopes to achieve.

3. The purpose of these notes about an incinerator is to

A. help maximize its efficiency.
B. give guidance on certain safety procedures.
C. recommend a procedure for waste separation.

Why A

It is mentioned in the first sentence that certain materials help maintain high incineration
temperature. Also, in the last portion the extract suggests adding more plastics to increase
incineration temperature. So, the purpose of the notes is to maximise its efficiency.

Why not B and C

Even though the extract mentions about safety and waste separation, they are not the purpose.

4. What does this manual tell us about spacer devices?

A. Patients should try out a number of devices with their inhaler.
B. They enable a patient to receive more of the prescribed medicine.
C. Children should be given spacers which are smaller than those for adults.

Why B

It is mentioned in the passage that “the device allows more time for evaporation of the propellant so
that a larger proportion of the particles can be inhaled and deposited in the lungs.” In other words,
they enable a patient to receive more of the prescribed medicine.

Why not A

It is not mentioned in the extract.

Why not C
Even though extract says spacer devices are useful for children, it is not mentioned that Children
should be given spacers which are smaller than those for adults.

5. The email is reminding staff that the

A. benefits to patients of using bedrails can outweigh the dangers.
B. number of bedrail-related accidents has reached unacceptable levels.
C. patient’s condition should be central to any decision about the use of bedrails.

Why not B

It contradicts the information given in the text.

Why not C

Not mentioned in the test

Why A

The last portion of the given text says,” Staff should continue to take great care to avoid bedrail
entrapment but be aware that in hospital settings there may be a greater risk of harm to patients
who fall out of bed.”

6. What does this extract from a handbook tell us about analeptic drugs?
A. They may be useful for patients who are not fully responsive.
B. Injections of these drugs will limit the need for physiotherapy.
C. Care should be taken if they are used over an extended period.

Why A

The extract says” However, occasionally when ventilatory support is contra-indicated and in patients
with hypercapnic respiratory failure who are becoming drowsy or comatose, respiratory stimulants
in the short term may arouse patients sufficiently to co-operate and clear their secretions.”
Therefore, this drug is useful for patients who are fully responsive.

Why not B

The extract says” Respiratory stimulants can also be harmful in respiratory failure since they
stimulate non-respiratory as well as respiratory muscles. They should be given under expert
supervision in hospital and must be combined with active physiotherapy. Therefore, option B
contradicts the information given in the question.

Why not C

It is not mentioned in the passage.

Tips

Part B of the Reading Test is designed to assess your ability to understand gist and select relevant
information from healthcare texts that you are likely to encounter while working in your profession.
You can practise for this section of the test by reading through instructive materials and making
notes on what is being explained. Take note of the purpose of any emails or communications you
receive in English, and pay attention to signs and notices in English, as these will often use similar
language and settings to those used in this part of the test.