OET Reading Strategies: Hey there, healthcare pro! If you’re preparing for the Occupational English Test (OET), you’re likely aiming to practice in countries like Australia, the UK, or Canada. Reading Part C can feel like a beast—dense texts, tricky questions, and a ticking clock. 

As a nurse who has navigated the OET process and coached dozens of colleagues to success, I know it’s tough, but conquerable. With over 15 years in healthcare education, I’ve seen what works: innovative strategies, consistent practice, and a calm mindset. 

In this 1500-word guide, updated for August 21, 2025, I’ll break down practical approaches to ace Part C, using relatable examples and tips. Platforms like oetpro.com are gold for tailored practice, so let’s dive in and make this section your strength!

Understanding OET Reading Part C

• What It Is: Part C is the final leg of the OET Reading sub-test, following Part A (summary completion) and Part B (workplace scenarios). It features two 800-word texts from medical journals or guidelines, such as articles on telemedicine or patient ethics, accompanied by 16-20 multiple-choice questions (8-10 per text).

• Time Limit: You’ve got 60 minutes for the whole Reading test, so budget 35-40 minutes for Part C to balance speed and accuracy.

• Question Types: Expect questions on the author’s opinion, implied meanings, or argument connections (e.g., “What does the writer suggest about X?” or “Why is Y a concern?”).

• Challenges: Dense vocabulary, time pressure, and distinguishing facts from inferences. Distractors—those almost-right answers—can trip you up.

Example: A text on antibiotic resistance might ask, “What’s the writer’s stance on policy?” You’ll need to spot subtle cues, such as “governments lag,” to pick the right option.

Why Part C Feels Tough (and How to Overcome It)

• Time Crunch: Long texts tempt you to overread, consuming minutes. Solution: Skim first, dive deep only when needed.

• Complex Language: Academic terms like “efficacy” or “anecdotal” can slow you down. Build vocab strategically.

• Inferences and Opinions: Questions often require reading between the lines, not just finding facts. Practice spotting tone and intent.

• Distractors: Wrong answers closely mimic the text, testing precision. Learn to eliminate systematically.

Example: My colleague, Priya, a physiotherapist, struggled with inferences until she practiced daily on oetpro.com, boosting her score from a C to a B in just weeks.

Strategy 1: Master Time Management

• Skim First (2-3 Minutes per Text): Glance at headings, subheadings, and first/last sentences of paragraphs to grasp the main idea. Jot down notes like “Para 1: Intro” or “Para 3: Solutions” to create a mental map.

• Read Questions Before Text: Preview questions to know what to scan for (e.g., “risks” or “benefits”). This saves rereading time.

• Allocate Time: Spend 15-18 minutes per text (including questions). If stuck, guess and move on—return later if possible.

• Practice Timing: Use timed mocks on oetpro.com to build speed without losing accuracy.

Example: A doctor I coached wasted 10 minutes per text until he adopted skimming, cutting his time to 15 minutes and scoring 80% on Part C.

Strategy 2: Skim and Scan Like a Pro

• Skimming: Get the text’s structure—main argument, tone, and flow. Focus on topic sentences; they often summarize the paragraph’s point.

• Scanning: Search for keywords tied to questions (e.g., “telemedicine drawbacks” ? scan for “limitations” or “concerns”). Underline if allowed.

• Practice with Real Texts: Medical journals or oetpro.com’s Part C samples mimic the test’s style, training your eye for quick info grabs.

• Avoid Over-Reading: Don’t dwell on every word; focus on question-relevant sections.

Example: A text on dementia care might ask about “barriers to treatment.” Scan for “challenges” or “obstacles” in paragraphs discussing implementation.

Strategy 3: Build a Robust Vocabulary

• Focus on Context: Don’t just memorize—learn from context. If a text says, “The intervention’s efficacy was limited,” infer that “efficacy” means effectiveness.

• Thematic Word Banks: Group terms by topic, like “research” (e.g., cohort, placebo) or “policy” (e.g., equity, compliance). Use flashcards with example sentences.

• Daily Exposure: Read healthcare articles (e.g., on oetpro.com) for 15 minutes daily, noting 5-10 new words.

• Common Traps: Watch for synonyms (e.g., “mitigate” vs. “reduce”) that appear in distractors.

Example: A dentist I mentored struggled with “anecdotal evidence” until she practiced context clues, nailing inference questions after two weeks.

Strategy 4: Spot Opinions and Attitudes

• Signal Words: Look for “fortunately” (positive), “regrettably” (negative), or “however” (contrast). Adjectives like “promising” or “overstated” reveal tone.

• Fact vs. Opinion: Facts are verifiable (e.g., “20% reduction in cases”); opinions are subjective (e.g., “This suggests a breakthrough”). Mark F or O in practice.

• Hedging Language: Words like “may” or “potentially” indicate caution—key for inference questions.

• Practice Drills: Use oetpro.com to annotate texts, identifying the author's intent (supportive, skeptical, or neutral).

Example: A text praising a new drug but noting “cost concerns” might imply cautious optimism. Misreading “concerns” as outright criticism cost my student points until she practiced tone analysis.

Strategy 5: Defeat Distractors

• Process of Elimination: Cross out wrong options first (e.g., those using “always” when the text says “often”).

• Paraphrase Questions: Rephrase in your own words (e.g., “What’s the author’s view on funding?” ? “Does the text support or criticize funding?”).

• Check Word-for-Word: Match options to exact text phrasing to avoid twists, like reversed cause-and-effect.

• Practice Traps: oetpro.com’s mocks include distractor-heavy questions to sharpen your precision.

Example: A nurse continued to pick distractors until she started double-checking answers against the text, thereby boosting her accuracy from 60% to 85%.

Strategy 6: Sharpen Inference Skills

• Read Between Lines: Inferences rely on evidence, not assumptions. If a text emphasizes benefits but ends with warnings, infer cautious support.

• Use Logic: Connect clues (e.g., “limited funding” + “urgent need” = policy inadequacy).

• Practice Varied Texts: oetpro.com’s inference drills cover topics like ethics or innovation, mirroring Part C’s complexity.

• Avoid Bias: Don’t let your knowledge skew answers—stick to the text’s perspective.

Example: A question on a cancer screening text asked, “What’s inferred about early detection?” The answer (improves outcomes) came from stats plus positive adjectives, not prior knowledge.

Putting It All Together: Your Prep Plan

• Daily Routine:

• Warm-up: Skim a 500-word healthcare article (5 minutes).

• Practice: Complete one Part C text with questions (20 minutes).

• Review: Analyze errors—vocab gaps? Rushing? (10 minutes).

• Weekly Goals: Aim for 80?curacy on mocks; increase text difficulty gradually.

• Group Study: Discuss tricky questions with peers to uncover blind spots.

• Resources: oetpro.com offers authentic Part C sets with feedback, perfect for building speed and confidence.

Example: A midwife I coached achieved a B+ after a month of daily practice, focusing on skimming and inference questions.

Mindset and Test-Day Tips

• Stay Calm: Take deep breaths before starting. Visualize success to ease nerves.

• Manage Fatigue: Sleep well and eat a light, protein-rich meal before the test. Tired brains miss inferences.

• If Stuck: Guess and move on—unanswered questions hurt more. Flag for review if time allows.

• Leverage Expertise: Your healthcare background helps contextualize texts, making inferences intuitive.

Example: A pharmacist excelled in Part C by relating texts to her hospital experience, identifying familiar patterns in policy discussions.

2025 Updates to OET Reading Part C

• Text Topics: Increased focus on current issues like AI in healthcare, sustainability, and patient-centred care.

• Question Style: More emphasis on inference and tone over factual recall, aligning with real-world reading demands.

• Scoring: No changes; B grade (350-450 points) remains the target for most regulators.

• Practice Resources: oetpro.com has updated its bank with 2025-relevant texts, such as telehealth ethics, to reflect these shifts.

OET Reading Part C tests your ability to navigate complex texts under pressure. Still, with the right strategies—such as time management, skimming, vocabulary building, and inference skills—you’ll turn challenges into strengths. 

Practice daily, lean on platforms like oetpro.com for realistic drills, and trust your healthcare knowledge. Like my colleague Raj, who went from C to A by mastering distractors, you can hit that B (or higher) and unlock your global career. Keep at it—you’ve got this!