How to Manage Your Time Effectively in OET Speaking

Effective time management is crucial for success in the OET Speaking sub-test, where healthcare professionals engage in role-plays that mirror real-life clinical interactions.

Well, they say they do, but let's talk healthcare professionals to healthcare professionals. These roleplays are designed to extract as many linguistic and clinical communication skills as possible in a short period, almost like a fast-track consultation. Don't get caught up in the frustration of thinking that it is not how you would structure the conversation, ask those questions, or be that direct in such a short period of time. It is an English test...not a clinical test.

Each role-play lasts approximately five minutes and typically includes five to six tasks. Balancing the completion of these tasks within the allotted time while demonstrating strong clinical communication skills is essential.

Understanding the Role-Play Structure

Each role-play begins with a three-minute preparation period, during which candidates review the role-play card outlining the scenario and tasks. This preparation time is vital for planning how to address each task efficiently.

Strategies for Effective Time Management

1. Prioritize Tasks: Identify the most critical tasks that require in-depth discussion and those that can be addressed more succinctly. This prioritization ensures that essential information is communicated effectively within the time constraints.

2. Allocate Time per Task: Divide the five-minute role-play duration by the number of tasks to determine an approximate time allocation for each. For instance, with five tasks, aim to spend about one minute per task, adjusting as necessary based on complexity.

3. Use Clinical Communication Skills: Employing effective clinical communication techniques, such as open-ended questions, active listening, and empathetic responses, facilitates smoother interactions and helps manage time by keeping the conversation focused and patient-centered.

4. Practice Conciseness. Develop the ability to convey information clearly and succinctly. Avoid unnecessary elaboration, which can consume valuable time, and focus on effectively delivering key messages. For example, practice giving instructions in 30-60 seconds. I often get the candidates I work with to practice giving instructions for box breathing or how to use an asthma inhaler. Pick out the 3-4 most important points and practice speaking into a voice recorder. Listen back and keep repeating until you nail it.

5. Monitor Time During the Role-Play: While engaging in the role-play, remain conscious of the time without letting it distract you. Regular practice can help internalize pacing, allowing for a natural flow of conversation within the time limits.

6. Smooth Transitions: Practice transitioning between tasks seamlessly to maintain the flow of conversation. This is often referred to as signaling. Phrases like "Now that we've discussed [previous task], let's move on to [next task]..." can facilitate these transitions.

Incorporating Verbs to Indicate Tasks

Clearly signaling or labeling the actions you are performing can guide the interlocutor and demonstrate your organizational skills. For example:

• Explaining: "Let me explain how this medication works..."

• Advising: "I would advise you to consider..."

• Reassuring: "I understand your concerns, but I can reassure you that..."

• Asking: "Could you tell me more about..."

• Summarizing: "To summarize, we've discussed..."

Using such verbs not only clarifies your intentions but also helps in managing the conversation's direction and timing.

Important to Remember

You will not be penalized if you do not finish the roleplay within five minutes. You definitely want to be down near the bottom end of the roleplay because, remember, these roleplays are designed to elicit particular clinical communication skills. If you are still on task one, you have not been able to get past the appropriate initiation of a conversation and basic open and closed questions.

Conclusion

Mastering time management in the OET Speaking subtest requires deliberate practice and strategic planning. By prioritizing tasks, allocating time appropriately, utilizing clinical communication skills, and clearly indicating your actions, you can navigate the role-plays effectively and ensure comprehensive and patient-centered interactions within the given time frame.

Check out the store for my OET speaking package that will help you manage your three-minute prep time along with common phrases used for all the different types of verbs used in the roleplay.