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. Learn more at http://www.jroozoetreview.com.ph/using-abbreviations-oet-listening-sub-test/

1. 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.

2. 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
 Injection: inj
 When required: prn
 Naso-gastric: NG
 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
 Chest X-ray: CXR
 Deep vein thrombosis: DVT
 Gastrointestinal: GI
 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
 Capsule: cap
 Complete blood count: CBC
 Headache: HA
 Hypertension: HTN

3. 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!