OET Speaking Mistakes Infographic – Chart showing top common OET speaking mistakes and their fixes.

OET Speaking Mistakes: Common Errors That Reduce Your Score

The OET Speaking sub-test is perhaps the most important part for healthcare workers who want to work overseas. Although you are familiar with the format and practice consistently, even minor OET speaking errors will significantly decrease your score. Examiners do not just check your fluency, but also OET communication abilities, sensitivity, as well as professionalism when it comes to role-plays. Knowing what to watch out for and how to steer clear of them will make your test-day performance come naturally and assuredly.

Pronunciation and Tone Problems

A most common OET speaking error is poor pronunciation or tone. OET doesn’t expect a “native accent,” but they do require that every word be heard clearly. Mumbled medical vocabulary, mispronounced words, or talking too rapidly can confuse the listener.

Your tone is also incredibly important. A gruff or robotic voice may come across as uncaring to a patient, while the softest tone can make your message indistinct. For instance, speaking “You should take your medication” too brusquely might be interpreted as a command rather than advice.

OET speaking tips:

Repeat medical terms out loud daily.
Record yourself and critique for mumbled or hurried words.
Keep a friendly, calm tone of voice during the role-play.
Employ subtle intonation variation to indicate empathy or reassurance.
Keep in mind: clarity and warmth are more important than perfect accent.

Lack of Empathy in Role-Plays

The OET is not an English test alone—it tests your ability to communicate with patients. The biggest OET speaking error candidates commit is overemphasising medical correctness and neglecting the emotional aspect of the conversation. Patients in role-playing are likely to be anxious, confused, or frustrated. Answering with facts only, but not empathetically, decreases your OET communication skills mark.

For instance, when a patient reports, “I’m afraid of my surgery,” responding with just “You’ll be okay, it’s a routine procedure” comes across as flippant. Rather, you could: “I can see why you might be worried; a lot of patients worry before an operation. Would you like me to tell you what’s involved in the procedure?”

OET speaking tips:

Listen carefully and respond to patient feelings.
Utilize empathetic statements such as “I understand how you feel,” “That must be worrying,” or “I’m here to help.”
Refrain from being robotic or too clinical.
The most effective way to impress examiners is by being both professional and compassionate.

Overusing Fillers and Repeating Phrases

Another insidious but hurtful OET speaking error is excessive use of fillers such as “um,” “you know,” “like,” or repetition of phrases. Although slight pauses are unavoidable, excessive fillers disrupt fluency and make you sound uncertain. Likewise, redundancy of identical phrases—e.g., “I understand your concern” after each patient reply—will make your conversation sound artificial.

Spontaneity is appreciated in the OET test, so rehearsed or repetitive speech reduces your scores under “fluency and coherence.”

OET speaking tips:

Practice speaking without fillers by recording short monologues.
Pause silently instead of saying “um” or “uh.”
Use a range of expressions for reassurance, such as “That’s a good question,” or “Let’s go through it together.”
By speaking calmly and varying your language, you’ll come across as more fluent and confident.

Not Responding Naturally to Patients

A major component of achieving high marks in OET speaking is answering naturally and appropriately. Too many candidates have the fallacy of staying too closely to rehearsed templates, which results in stilted or unconnected responses. The role-play is intended to assess your capability of dealing with real-life encounters, so active listening is crucial.

For example, if the patient complains, “I’ve been taking the wrong dose,” and you just go on explaining side effects instead of correcting the error, it indicates poor listening.

OET speaking tips:

Always respond to what the patient directly says.
Indicate you’re listening by means of brief acknowledgments such as “I see,” “Right,” or “That’s understandable.”
Paraphrase what the patient says to check for understanding, e.g., “So you’ve been taking two tablets instead of one?”
This natural flow shows true communication skills, which is precisely what examiners are hoping to see.

Practical Exercises

Boosting your OET speaking skills takes regular, concentrated practice. Below are easy but effective exercises to master frequent errors:

Shadowing Exercise:

Listen to podcast recordings or OET role-play materials on healthcare and repeat sentences after the speaker to enhance pronunciation, tone, and rhythm.

Empathy Practice:

Pair up with a friend or classmate and perform role-plays where one acts as a worried patient. Focus on emotional responses instead of medical explanations.

Filler-Free Practice:

Record yourself speaking for two minutes about a health topic. Listen carefully for fillers and aim to replace them with short pauses or connecting phrases.

Active Listening Drill:

Practice spontaneous reply to random patient utterances without recourse to prepared responses. This develops natural conversation rhythm.

Mirror Speaking:

Practice speaking in front of a mirror to see your gestures and facial expressions. Non-verbal communication adds strength to your OET communication skills.

With regular practice and feedback, you can overcome your weaknesses and present a confident, empathetic, and fluent performance.

Conclusion

The OET Speaking sub-test isn’t about a perfect accent or grammar—it’s about clear, empathetic communication in a healthcare context. By not making the usual OET speaking errors of unclear pronunciation, missing the mark on empathy, excessive use of fillers, and artificial answers, you will significantly enhance your performance. Keep your focus on patient-centered communication, use a natural tone, and practice authentic scenarios on a regular basis.

With the right preparation and mindset, you’ll not only impress the examiners but also develop the essential OET communication skills needed for real clinical interactions. Speak with clarity, listen actively, and let your professionalism shine through every role-play.