10 Costly Mistakes You’re Making on the OET Examination (And How to Fix Them)

Even the most well-prepared candidates slip up on the OET exam, sometimes in ways that cost them crucial points. The truth? Success isn’t just about how much you’ve studied; it’s about avoiding the common traps that trip up test-takers.

In this guide, we’re breaking down the 10 most frequent mistakes in the OET examination, plus proven strategies to steer clear of them. Whether you’re a healthcare professional aiming for international opportunities or a student preparing to study/work abroad, these insights will help you maximize your score and walk into the exam with confidence. Let’s get started.

Mistake (#1) Misunderstanding the Task

This one’s a silent score killer. You could have solid grammar, vocabulary, and fluency, but if you misread the task, you’re already at a disadvantage.

It happens most often in Writing and Speaking

• In Writing, candidates misinterpret the case notes and end up writing the wrong type of letter or including irrelevant details. For example, instead of focusing on the urgent referral, they get sidetracked by the patient’s social history, wasting space on details that don’t matter.

• In Speaking, test-takers miss key role-play cues. A patient might need reassurance, but instead of addressing their anxiety, candidates default to medical jargon missing the mark on empathy and communication.

How to Fix It

• In Writing, Before you start, pinpoint the core purpose of the letter. Ask yourself: “What does the reader actually need to know?” If a detail doesn’t serve that purpose, cut it.

• In Speaking, Pay close attention to the role-play intro and the patient’s tone. If they’re worried, confused, or frustrated, acknowledge that early on before jumping into medical explanations.

A simple habit? Double-check your task instructions twice once at the start and once before you finish to catch any misalignment before it costs you marks.

Mistake (#2) Poor Time Management (The Silent Score Killer)

If you’ve ever run out of time mid-exam, you know the panic that follows. It’s one thing to know the answers, but if the clock beats you, your score suffers. This happens across all sub-tests, but Reading Part A and Writing are the biggest culprits.

• Reading Part A – Many test-takers are still stuck on unanswered questions when the 15-minute timer runs out.
• Writing – Some candidates rush the last paragraph or don’t finish their letter, leading to an incomplete response.
• Listening – Missing the first few seconds of a recording can completely throw you off, making it hard to catch up.

How to Fix It

For Reading Part A

• Train yourself to complete all 20 questions in 13–14 minutes so you have a buffer.
• If a question is taking too long, move on and return later don’t get stuck.

For Writing

• First 5 minutes? Planning. Outline your response so you can write continuously without stopping to rethink structure.
• By minute 35? Your letter should be drafted. Use the last 5 minutes to revise and polish.

For Listening

• Use the pauses wisely glance ahead at the next question so you’re ready when the audio starts.
• If you struggle with note-taking speed, use abbreviations and focus on keywords rather than full sentences.

Pro tip? Practice under strict time conditions until pacing becomes second nature. If you know a certain section slows you down (e.g., you always lag in Listening Part A), focus your training there small tweaks in approach can make a big difference.

Mistake (#3) Lack of Familiarity with the Test Format

Walking into the OET Examination without knowing the ins and outs of the test format? That’s a disaster waiting to happen. Yet, many candidates do exactly that showing up without having done a full-length mock test or fully understanding the rules.

Here’s what happens when you’re unprepared

• You don’t realize that Listening Part B audios are short and have only one question each, so you waste time overthinking.
• You assume you can return to Reading Part A later only to find out you can’t once the timer runs out.
• You fumble with the answer sheet format, losing precious seconds trying to figure out what goes where.

How to Fix It

• Take at least two full mock tests before exam day. Treat them like the real deal same timing, same pressure.
• Use official sample materials. Get familiar with how Listening instructions sound, where answers go, and how time is allocated.
• Watch OET’s official Test Day Overview video (it’s free!) so there are zero surprises on exam day.
• Consider an OET preparation course/webinar. A structured walkthrough ensures you know exactly what to expect in each section.

When you know the format inside out, your brain stays focused on answering the questions, not figuring out what to do next. And that’s how you maximize your score.

Mistake (#4) Poor Test-Day Preparedness (Don’t Let Logistics Wreck Your Score)

You’ve spent weeks maybe months preparing for the OET Examination. But on test day, simple mistakes like arriving late, forgetting your ID, or running on zero sleep can completely throw you off. The worst part? These have nothing to do with your actual ability yet they can tank your score.

Here’s what happens when test-day prep goes wrong

• You show up last minute, flustered, and anxious, making you misread the first few questions.
• You forgot your ID and now you’re scrambling (or worse, not allowed to sit the exam).
• You’re exhausted and hungry, which means your focus crashes halfway through the test.

How to Fix It

• Plan your route in advance know exactly where the venue is and aim to be there at least 30 minutes early.
• Lay everything out the night before ID, confirmation email, allowed stationery (if any). No last-minute scrambling.
• Get real sleep. No cramming the night before fatigue will hurt you more than an extra hour of study.
• Eat a solid breakfast. Hunger is the last thing you need as a distraction mid-exam.
• Bring a water bottle (if allowed) hydration helps with focus. Just check that the center allows it (some require a clear, label-free bottle).
• If you need special accommodations, arrange them with OET well in advance—don’t assume they’ll be sorted out last minute.

These might sound minor, but a calm, well-prepared test-taker will always outperform one who’s stressed and scrambling. Control what you can and set yourself up for success.

Mistake (#5) Overthinking and Second-Guessing

You’ve been there you pick an answer, then start overanalyzing.
“What if they meant this instead?”
“Maybe I missed something…”
And before you know it, you’ve talked yourself out of the correct answer.

This happens all the time in Listening and Reading, especially in multiple-choice questions (MCQs). You initially choose the right option, but then doubt creeps in, and you switch only to realize later that your first choice was correct.

How to Fix It

• Trust your preparation. Your first instinct is often right unless you have clear evidence you misunderstood something, stick with it.
• Be cautious when reviewing. If you finish Reading Part B/C early, only change an answer if you’re 100% sure you misread the question.
• Underline keywords in the question this keeps you focused on exactly what’s being asked so you don’t overcomplicate things.
• Use logic in Listening. If stuck, try eliminating illogical options the correct answer is often the one that fits the context naturally.
• Train yourself not to overthink. In mock tests, force yourself not to change any answers after selecting them. You’ll likely realize your first choices were mostly right, which builds confidence.

Overthinking is the enemy of speed and accuracy. Train your brain to trust what it knows and stop second-guessing your way out of a great score.

Mistake (#6) Not Taking Enough Mock Tests

Watching videos? Reading exam tips? Great. But if you’re not doing full-length mock tests, you’re setting yourself up for surprises on test day.

Here’s what happens when candidates skip real practice

• They underestimate the time pressure. Reading about exam strategy is one thing experiencing that 15-minute clock ticking down in Reading Part A is another.
• They hit a wall mid-exam. The OET is a mental marathon. If you haven’t built stamina, you’ll feel exhausted by the time you hit Speaking.
• They’re caught off guard by test-day conditions. No pauses, no rewinds, no second chances. If you haven’t practiced under strict conditions, you’re in for a shock.

How to Fix It

• Schedule full mock exams regularly. Not just sections the entire test, back to back.
• Simulate real conditions. Set a timer, sit in a quiet room, and follow test-day rules (no pausing, no distractions).
• For Speaking, practice out loud. If you don’t have a partner, record yourself or even speak to an empty chair. The key is verbalizing responses.

Analyze your mistakes. After each mock test, ask;

• Did I finish each part on time?
• Which question types keep tripping me up?
• Do I struggle more with certain accents in Listening?

Build endurance. The first time, you might feel drained by Speaking that’s normal. But by test day, the 3-hour stretch should feel familiar.

Many successful OET candidates say doing at least 3-4 full practice tests gave them a huge confidence boost and helped them spot small but costly mistakes before the real exam. Don’t let test day be your first full run.

Call Svarna and Book a Mock Test

Mistake (#7) Including Irrelevant Information in Writing

Here’s a common pitfall in the OET Writing sub-test: Some candidates dump everything from the case notes into their letter thinking more detail will impress the examiner. In reality? It hurts their score.

A referral letter isn’t a data dump. Including every past medication, a full social history, or unnecessary lab results doesn’t make your letter better, it makes it unfocused and harder to read. And that’s a problem.

Examiners are assessing your ability to filter what’s actually relevant. If your letter is too long, unfocused, or packed with unnecessary details, it shows you haven’t grasped this essential skill.

How to Fix It

• Use the first 5 minutes to prioritize. Before writing, mark only the case notes that directly support the purpose of the letter and ignore everything else.
• Stick to the word limit (180-200 words). If you’re going over 200 words, you’re probably including too much irrelevant detail.
• Self-edit for clarity. After drafting, remove 1-2 sentences that aren’t essential. You’ll often find your letter becomes clearer and stronger.
• Focus on quality, not quantity. The Conciseness & Clarity criterion is key your score improves when you deliver essential information efficiently.

Pro tip: Examiners prefer well-structured, to-the-point letters over ones that try to cover everything. The goal? Provide exactly what the reader needs nothing more, nothing less.

Mistake (#8) Grammar and Spelling Errors

The OET Examination isn’t a grammar test—but make too many mistakes, and your score takes a hit. Even simple errors like misusing verb tenses, missing articles, or misspelling medical terms can lower your clarity and accuracy, especially in Writing and Speaking.

Here’s where candidates slip up

• Grammar mistakes that change meaning → Saying “Patient has fever” instead of “The patient has a fever” makes your writing sound unnatural.
• Spelling errors in medical terms → Writing “diabetis” instead of “diabetes” or “hypertenstion” instead of “hypertension” can cost marks, especially in Writing and Listening.
• Preposition mix-ups → It’s “admitted to the hospital on 5th May”, not “in 5th May”.

How to Fix It

• Brush up on common grammar mistakes. If you often forget articles or mix up verb tenses, train yourself to spot and correct them in practice.
• Leave 1-2 minutes for proofreading. Before submitting your Writing task, scan for missing words, wrong prepositions, or awkward phrasing.
• Create a personal spelling list. Identify words you often misspell and practice them repeatedly, use mnemonics or write them out multiple times.
• Practice under time pressure. In Listening Part A, misspellings cost you marks. Train your speed and accuracy when writing down medical terms.
• Read more medical articles. Seeing correct spelling and grammar in real-world contexts (journals, case studies) will naturally improve your accuracy.

Pro tip: On the computer-based OET, there’s no spell-check tool so whether on paper or screen, you must self-correct. Get in the habit of double-checking your work before submitting. Small corrections can make a big difference in your final score.

Mistake (#9) Not Following Instructions

You could know all the right answers but if you don’t follow instructions, you risk losing easy marks. And nothing stings more than losing points for avoidable mistakes like

• Writing answers in the wrong place → (e.g., marking Listening answers in the question booklet instead of the answer sheet).
• Ignoring word limits → If the question says “Write no more than 3 words”, and you write a full sentence, you get it wrong.
• Overstepping your role in Speaking → This isn’t a casual chat. If you start offering personal opinions instead of sticking to your professional role, you weaken your response.

How to Fix It

• Read and listen carefully. Pay extra attention to written and spoken instructions don’t assume you know what’s required.
• Follow word limits exactly. If the question says “1-2 words”, don’t write three. Stick to the limit, or your answer may be invalid.
• Fill answers in the right place. Double-check that you’re writing in the correct section especially in paper-based tests.
• Clarify before the test starts. If you’re unsure about exam procedures, ask the invigilator before the test begins (once it starts, they can’t explain task-related questions).
• Stay professional in Speaking. Follow the role-play prompts you’re a healthcare professional, not a friend or advisor. Keep responses focused and relevant.

Bottom line? Do exactly what’s asked, nothing more, nothing less. Sticking to instructions eliminates careless mistakes and ensures you don’t lose points for reasons that have nothing to do with your English skills.

Mistake (#10) Panic and Losing Composure

Sometimes, the biggest threat to your OET score isn’t your English skills, it’s your mindset.

Here’s how it happens

• You struggle with Listening Part A, and instead of resetting, you carry that panic into Reading, making careless mistakes.
• You freeze up when you realize you have 5 unanswered questions with 2 minutes left instead of focusing, you spiral.
• By the time you get to Speaking, you’re so stressed from past mistakes that you underperform on the one section you could’ve nailed.

A bad moment can turn into a bad test if you let it.

How to Fix It

• Compartmentalize each section. If one part goes poorly, reset mentally before the next one starts. The sub-tests are scored separately, so a slip-up in one doesn’t ruin your overall result.
• Use deep-breathing techniques. If panic rises, inhale deeply for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and remind yourself: “I can do this.”
• Prioritize under pressure. If you’re short on time, guess intelligently rather than leaving answers blank you might still pick up points.
• Take control of your nerves between sections. The one-minute breaks between parts are your chance to shake off stress and refocus.
• Remind yourself – You can always retake the test. Ironically, knowing you have another shot reduces pressure and can actually help you perform better in the moment.

The takeaway? A tough question (or even an entire section) doesn’t define your score. The ability to stay calm and move forward is what separates high performers from those who let panic take over.

Final Thoughts, Minimize Mistakes, Maximize Your Score

Success in the OET Examination isn’t about being perfect it’s about being strategic. Even top scorers make mistakes but what sets them apart is how they recover and stay composed under pressure.

One of the best things you can do in your practice sessions? Intentionally simulate recoveries.

• Blanked out during Speaking? Instead of freezing, ask the interlocutor a clarifying question to regain momentum.
• Misread a Listening question after the audio played? Use what you recall to infer the most logical answer.

The ability to bounce back is just as important as knowing the material.

Remember, You don’t need perfection to achieve a Grade B or even A. You just need to minimize errors by being prepared, attentive, and calm. Every mistake you eliminate from your habits puts you one step closer to your target score.

Train smart. Stay focused. Own your test day.