Reading: Overview & Method

Part A

PREPARED BY
AMELIA CHRISTMAS DAVID
What is Reading sub-task?

 Aim: To assess reading skills such as scanning, identify detail,

gist or purpose information
 Total time for reading: 60 minutes
 3 main parts
 Part A: 15 minutes
 Part B and C: done together in 45 minutes
 The reading texts are same for all professionals
Reading Part A: An overview

 Aim: To read text quickly, efficiently and accurately

 Time: 15 minutes
 Total number of questions: 20
 Type of text: Medical theme/ topic
 4 text boxes: Text A, B, C and D
 There is no negative marking for incorrect answer
Sample “Instruction” in Part A
Type of text in Part A

FORMAT OF TEXT TYPE OF INFORMATION

• Bullet points • Diagnostics tools
• Table with notes • Treatment procedures
• Flow Diagram or • Treatment algorithms
• Large piece of text • Classification tables
• Dosages
• Discharge advice
Types of question in Part A

 Matching questions
 Short answer questions
 Sentence completion questions

 The number of question under each question type may vary

 The type of answer expected in each question type will be
different from each other and hence read the instruction
clearly
 Method for Part A:

 First: Note the MAIN TOPIC of the text (at the top) as each text below will
be related to this topic
 Second: Note the SUB-HEADINGS, bullet points, bold text, names within
Text A, B, C and D
 Example: Main heading could be fractures and sub heading could be
definition, causes, clinical manifestation, treatment, drug protocol, etc..

 Note: There will always be one graphic image/table in one of the texts
 Do not read the full content> Go to questions after scanning the text
Sample Text from
Part A
What is the Main
Topic?

What are the sub

headings?
Sample Text from
Part A
What is the Main
Topic?

What are the sub

headings?
Sample Text from
Part A
What is the Main Topic?
Fractures, dislocations
and sprains

What are the sub

headings here?
Definition, causes,
Immediate management
Clinical presentation,
management
Sample Text from
Part A

What are the sub

headings and keywords
here?

Drug therapy Protocol

practitioner, Morphine
dose, route, duration,
resp depression
Sample Text from
Part A

What are the sub

headings here?
Application of Plaster-
fractures
Arm fracture
Method: Matching question type

 Aim: Identify which text has this information

 You have to match statements to either Text A, B, C or D
 Identify what is the main theme under which the statement will
fall
 Look at the text with that sub-heading and confirm your idea
and enter the alphabet in the space given.
 Do not spend more than 30 seconds for each question.
Sample: Matching
questions
What is the sub-heading,
each question would
come under?
What are the sub-
headings, each question
could come under?

1. Pain relief-C
2. Splinting/plaster-D
3. Assessment-B
4. Definitions-A
5. Pain relief-C
6. Assessment-B
7. Cause-A
Tips for matching question

 Sometimes there may be more than one text which may seem
to fit the question eg: Pain relief is in Text B but drug explained in
Text C. Splinting in Text B but explained in Text D.
 So make sure you completely can rule out from other text
before you finalise.
 Successful answering of the questions depends on your
complete understanding of the layout of the text.
Method: Short Answer

 Read one question at a time

 Identify a sub-heading under which the question falls
 Identify a key word in each question
 Scan for the key word in the textbox with that subheading
 Use clues in the question to guess what type of answer would
be expected. E.g. what dose- answer should be numerical
Sample: Short
Answer
In each of the questions
1. What is the
subheading?
2. What is the keyword?
Sub Keyword
heading
Manage- Elevate
ment
Morphine Max Dose
per kg, IM
(Number)
Splinting? Padding
Manage- (Limb)
ment?
Tips: Short answer

 There are lot of strategies, however some questions can be

tricky
 E.g. Text contains: Max dose for morphine for IM and IV and
then in IM we have max dose per Kg and max dose per
individual.
 But question only asks Max dose per kg in IM route. There are
more than 1 key word- 3 keywords.
 Some answers you may not get immediately, make a guess and
go on to next question, you come later to it if you have time.
Don’t leave unanswered.
Method: Sentence completion

 Sentences could be synonyms of a statement in the text

 Similar to short answers, identify sub-heading and key words
 Look for an answer that grammatically fits into the sentence-
VERY IMPORTANT
 E.g. a____ (single noun) (starts with consonant)
 Ensure correct spelling.
 Use abbreviations only if it occurs in text.
 Sometime verb may be noun in answer.
Sample: Sentence
completion
In each of the questions
1. What is the
subheading?
2. What is the keyword?
3. What grammatically
fits?
Sub Keyword
heading
15. Cause Elbow
16. Manage- Elevate,
ment upper limb
17. Plaster Wearing,
backslab
18. Swollen
Assessment limbs
19. Plaster Layer, skin
20. Pain relief Aged,
high dose
Tips: Sentence completion

 Ensure the answer matches the singular/plural clauses in the sentence

 Because the sentences are synonyms of the actual text, you might have to read the
whole text to be completely sure that is the answer
 Underlining important texts while you read my help you read and understand quickly
at the same time.
 Circle what you think may be the probable answer and if you found another probable
answer-check both answer to see which fits the statement grammatically correct.
 E.g. in Q 18 Check whether swollen limbs are throbbing or enlarging is given in text (But
enlarging is already given as ‘Increasing in size’ in text), so the other word is ‘throbbing’
Tips: Do’s and Dont’s

 Keep the Text Booklet open in front of you so that you can see all the texts
and the answer booklet at the same time. You need to be able to move
between the different texts quickly and easily.
 Use correct spelling: incorrectly spelt answers do not receive any marks.
You may use either British or American spelling variations (e.g. anemia and
anaemia are both acceptable).
 The answers for Part A need to be consistent with the information of the
texts.
 It is not a good strategy to use your professional background knowledge
to answer Part A
Contd..

 Don’t use words with similar meaning to words in the texts as answers
 Don’t waste valuable time using an eraser to correct a mistake if you
make one. Just cross them out.
 Don’t begin Part A by simply reading all texts from beginning to end as this
will waste valuable time. Use the questions to guide you to which text to
read first
 References:

 Free Resources from E2 language website:

 https://app.e2language.com
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBLAjlcaU0U&feature=youtu.be
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct0A5VKiawU&feature=youtu.be
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_EKnuZI6gI&feature=youtu.be

 Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment (OET). OET Nursing: Official Practice Book 1: For
tests from 31 August 2019 (p. 7). Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment (OET). Kindle
Edition.
 Joseph, Jojo. Oet 2.0 New Format: Authentic Strategies & Reading Tests (P. 7). Kindle
Edition.