OET Listening
OET Listening Part A: Note-Completion Strategies That Work
July 22, 2026 · 9 min read
Listening Part A is worth 24 of the 42 Listening marks — more than Parts B and C combined. It is also the part candidates find most stressful: two fast consultations, 12 gaps each, audio played once. The good news is that Part A rewards technique more than any other part of the exam. These are the strategies that consistently move scores.
Table of Contents
The Part A Format
You hear two recorded health professional–patient consultations, about five minutes each. For each one you complete a set of notes with 12 gaps (questions 1–12 and 13–24). Before each extract you get 30 seconds to study the notes.
Three facts shape every strategy below:
- The answers come in order — the notes follow the conversation chronologically.
- The answers are words actually spoken in the audio — you transcribe, you don't paraphrase.
- Most answers are 1–3 words: symptoms, durations, medications, doses, body parts, test names.
Use the 30 Seconds Like a Professional
The 30 seconds before each extract is where Part A is won. Don't read passively — interrogate the notes:
- Read the headings first. The section headings (Presenting complaint, Medication, Family history…) are your map of the conversation. When you hear the speaker move to a new topic, move your eyes to the next heading.
- Predict the answer type for each gap. "Pain worse when ______" expects an activity. "Takes ______ for hypertension" expects a drug name. Knowing the category halves your reaction time.
- Note the words around each gap. The surrounding words rarely appear verbatim in the audio — they're paraphrases. If the note says "employment", the audio may say "I work as…".
While the Audio Plays
- Write as you hear, not after. There is no time to hold answers in memory. Scribble immediately; tidy spelling later if needed.
- Track position with headings. If you get lost, listen for topic changes ("Now, about your medication…") and jump to the matching section. Losing one gap is recoverable; losing your place is not.
- Never chase a missed gap. If a gap goes by, abandon it instantly. The most expensive mistake in Part A is missing three answers while replaying one in your head.
- Beware corrections. Patients correct themselves ("about two weeks — no, actually nearly a month"). The corrected version is the answer.
- Numbers and units. Write doses and durations exactly as spoken: "50mg twice daily", "three days". Both the number and its unit can be required.
Spelling, Abbreviations and What Gets Accepted
Part A is marked for meaning. Assessors accept minor misspellings that do not obscure the word ("diarhea" for diarrhoea) and standard clinical abbreviations (BP, GP, OA). They will not accept a different word, a paraphrase, or a misspelling that turns the answer into something else.
- Learn the spelling of high-frequency exam vocabulary: symptoms (dizziness, palpitations, numbness), specialties, common drug classes.
- Both UK and US spellings are accepted.
- If you're unsure of a spelling, write it phonetically and move on — a recognisable attempt scores; a blank never does.
The Classic Distractor Traps
| Trap | How it sounds | Defence |
|---|---|---|
| Self-correction | "Twice a day — sorry, three times a day." | Always take the last version stated. |
| Negation | "I thought it was migraine, but it isn't." | Confirm the speaker actually asserts the item, not denies it. |
| Multiple candidates | Several symptoms listed; the gap needs the one matching its heading. | Use the note's wording to filter — only one fits the gap's context. |
| Paraphrased cue | Note says "occupation"; audio says "I'm a warehouse supervisor". | Expect paraphrase around the gap; the answer itself is verbatim. |
A Two-Week Part A Practice Plan
Part A improves fast with deliberate repetition:
- Days 1–3: One extract per day, exam conditions. Review every gap: heard it / missed it / misspelled it.
- Days 4–7: One full Part A (two extracts) daily. After scoring, re-listen with the transcript-style answer key and shadow the phrases that carried answers.
- Week 2: Part A inside full Listening tests, so your concentration is calibrated to the real 40-minute session.
Every practice test on this site includes real-style Part A note completion with automatic scoring — start with the free Test 1 and track your Part A accuracy separately from Parts B and C.
Put it into practice
Take a full-length OET practice test with real exam timing and automatic scoring — Test 1 is completely free, no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many words can I write in each Part A gap?
There is no printed word limit, but answers are typically one to three words taken directly from the audio. Long answers suggest you are paraphrasing, which is not what the task rewards.
Do spelling mistakes lose marks in Listening Part A?
Minor misspellings are accepted as long as the intended word is clear and not confusable with another word. A completely wrong or unrecognisable word scores zero for that gap.
Is the audio in Part A played twice?
No — once only, like the entire Listening sub-test. Build your technique around writing while listening.
Are the answers in the same order as the conversation?
Yes. The notes follow the consultation chronologically, which is why tracking your position by section heading is so effective.
Can I use abbreviations in my answers?
Common clinical abbreviations (BP, GP, OA) are accepted. If in doubt, write the full word as spoken in the audio.
Why is Part A considered the hardest Listening part?
It combines speed (12 gaps in ~5 minutes of audio), production (writing, not selecting) and no second chance. But because it is technique-driven, it also improves faster with practice than Parts B and C.