Top 5 Mistakes Candidates Make in OET Listening (And How to Avoid Them!)

OET Listening might seem straightforward—just listen and write, right? Well, not quite. Many healthcare professionals walk into the test confidently but walk out confused. At Medcity International Academy, we’ve trained thousands of students and noticed a pattern: the same few mistakes keep getting repeated.

Whether you’re a nurse, doctor, or healthcare professional aiming to ace the OET, we have the game-changer for the test day. Let’s break down the top 5 common mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Writing Too Much or the Wrong Thing

In OET Listening, less is more, but accuracy is everything. You’re asked not to overload the gap with unnecessary info. Instead, focus on the specific detail being asked, and write exactly what you hear.

And don’t forget: spelling counts, especially with common medical terms!

✅ Pro Tip: Keep it simple, correct, and specific. Your goal is to capture the precise word or phrase, not to impress with language expertise.

2. Guessing Instead of Predicting

Here’s the golden rule: Don’t go in blind. Look at the questions and try to predict what kind of answer is expected before the audio starts. Is it a number? A medical term? A place?

This simple habit helps your brain stay alert and ready to catch the right words when they come.

🎯 Pro Tip: Predict first, then listen carefully for that specific detail. It’ll help you fill gaps quickly and accurately.

3. Writing Synonyms in Part A (Big No-No!)

We get it, you want to impress. But OET Listening is not the place to show off your vocabulary. Especially in Part A, synonyms are NOT accepted. You must write the exact word or phrase you hear.

🛑 Wrong: Writing “fever” instead of “high temperature.”
✅ Right: Write exactly what the speaker says, no paraphrasing.

Even if the meaning is the same, you'll lose the score if it’s not the exact word.

4. Letting One Mistake Throw You Off

Missed one answer? Let it go. Overthinking a missed word leads to a spiral: panic, missed focus, and more wrong answers.

⚠️ Pro Tip: Don’t let one mistake break your whole section. Keep listening, stay in the present, and avoid wasting time trying to go back.

5. Practicing Without Exam Conditions

Practicing in a cozy room with coffee and music in the background? That’s nice, but it’s not helping.
To truly succeed, you must train your brain under exam-like conditions.

🎧 Practice with:

• Proper headphones
• Timed tasks
• Full concentration—no distractions

This is how you build stamina and focus for the actual exam.

Bonus Mistakes to Watch Out For:

• Failing to focus—diverting your mind for even a few seconds can cost you big.
• Misinterpreting questions—read them carefully before the audio begins.
• Wasting time on corrections—mark it and come back later if unsure.
• Ignoring structural language—words like however, so, but can clue you into what’s coming.
• Spelling errors, especially medical terms—these make you lose marks unnecessarily.
• Using outdated or unreliable materials—free prep PDFs online are often wrong or outdated.
• Skipping professional training—Don’t DIY your prep. Get expert coaching from an OET-focused institute like Medcity.

🎓 Why Medcity International Academy?

At Medcity, we don’t just prepare you for the test—we transform your approach. Our expert trainers, up-to-date resources, and exam simulation strategies ensure you walk in with confidence and walk out with results.

📌 Listen to answer, not just to match words.
📌 Manage your time wisely—prioritize quality over quantity.
📌 And most importantly, don’t rely on memory. Focus on listening to understand, not just memorizing.

📱 Contact Medcity at +91 90480 59999 for complete support and booking your OET classes!