Can you use abbreviations and acronyms in Occupational English Test (OET)?

1. OET Reading Sub-test

Only use abbreviations, if they are used in the text. They may be used

• because the full term is long and complicated, e.g. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
• because the abbreviation or acronym is well-known and accepted, e.g. HIV 

2. Listening Sub-test

According to the OET website
‘Yes, you can use abbreviations that are commonly accepted in your profession and which are clear to other professionals, for example “BP” for blood pressure. Avoid abbreviations that are specific to a particular workplace or specialism, because these might not be commonly understood. OET Assessors are trained to accept a reasonable range of abbreviations, but OET does not refer to any specific dictionaries or lists.’

3. Writing Sub-test

According to the Official OET website Abbreviations that are commonly accepted in the candidate’s profession and clear to the Assessors may be used in the Writing sub-test, for example “BMI” for body mass index, or units of measurement such as “mg”.

Appropriacy of language is one of the five assessment criteria for the Writing sub-test and you can find detailed information about these in the OET Preparation Support Pack.

You should also consider who the intended reader is. If your target reader is a health professional, a number of commonly used abbreviations are likely to be acceptable. However, if you are writing to somebody from a non-health professional background, full word-forms may be preferable. OET Assessors do not refer to any specific lists of abbreviations and OET does not recommend any dictionary or handbook of abbreviations.’

As mentioned, the OET does not recommend any particular list of abbreviations. Take care, when researching lists of abbreviations and pay attention to the date of release of the abbreviations. These days, abbreviations are relatively standard across English-speaking countries, however, there are slight differences between, say Australia and the UK. And, abbreviations are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that their meaning is clear.

For example, years ago, it was possible to write ‘units of insulin’ as ‘u’. For instance, 18u of insulin. If written quickly or with poor handwriting, ‘u’ can be unclear, so it is now compulsory to write the whole word, i.e. 18 units of insulin.

The acronyms IDDM (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) and NIDDM (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) have been replaced by Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. 

Most Common Medical abbreviation in OET exam

· 2/24 => 2 Hours (Day: 24 hours)
· 2/7 => 2 days (Week: 7 days)
· 5/52 =>5 weeks (Year: 52 weeks)
· 4/12 =>4 months (Year: 12 months)
· PRN =>As required
· OD =>Once a day
· BIBA =>Brought in by ambulance
· BD =>Twice a day
· TDS =>Thrice a day
· QDS/QID =>Four times a day
· ADM =>Admission/Admitted
· ASAP =>As soon as possible
· LAMA =>Left against medical advice
· A and W =>Alive and well
· BMI =>Body mass index
· C =>Celsius
· F =>Fahrenheit
· C/O =>Complaining of
· HOPC =>History of presenting complaint
· D/C =>Discontinue/Discharge
· DO =>Disorder
· DOA =>Date of admission/Date of arrival
· EDC =>Estimated date of confinement
· EDD =>Estimated date of discharge
· ETA =>Estimated time of arrival
· PA/PT =>Patient
· Sx =>Symptoms
· Vs =>Vital signs
· VSS =>Vital signs stable
· A & O =>Alert and orientation
· AOB =>Alcohol on breath
· BM =>Blood sugar/ Bowel movement
· BP =>Blood pressure
· C/F =>Chills/Fever
· CP =>Chest pain
· Dx =>Diagnosis
· EBL =>Estimated blood loss
· GSW =>Gun shot wound
· HA =>Headache
· Hb =>Haemoglobin
· HR =>Heart rate
· LBP =>Lower back pain
· L/S BP =>Lying/Standing BP
· SOB =>Shortness of breath
· TBI =>Traumatic brain injury
· U/O =>Urine output
· ROSC =>Return of spontaneous circulation
· CPR =>Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
· ADHD =>Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
· AIDS =>Acquired immune deficiency disorder
· CA =>Cancer
· CAD =>Coronary artery disease
· CF =>Cystic fibrosis
· CV / CVS =>Cardiovascular
· GI =>Gastrointestinal
· HCV =>Hepatitis C virus
· HAV =>Hepatitis A virus
· HTN =>Hypertension
· TB =>Tuberculosis
· UTI =>Urinary tract infection
· MI =>Myocardial infarction
· STEMI ST =>elevation MI
· ACS =>Acute coronary syndrome
· HD =>Haemodialysis
· RA =>Rheumatoid arthritis
· BAL =>Blood alcohol level
· BC =>Birth control/ Biochemistry
· OCP =>Oral contraceptive pills
· CxR =>Chest X Ray
· ECG =>Electrocardiogram
· FB =>Foreign body
· I/D =>Incision and drainage
· I/O =>Intake/ Output
· IV =>Intravenous
· IA =>Intra arterial
· ABG =>Arterial blood gas
· VBG =>Venous blood gas
· UA =>Urinalysis
· US/USG =>Ultrasound
· ADR =>Adverse drug reaction
· ADL =>Activities of daily living
· ASA =>Aspirin
· SOBOE =>Shortness of breath on exertion
· SNT =>Soft, Non tender
· NAD =>Not associated with disease
· WNL =>Within normal limits
· NSR =>Normal Sinus Rhythm
· EKG =>Electrocardiogram
· EEG =>Electroencephalogram
· PE =>Pulmonary embolism
· CDU =>Clinical Decisions Unit
· AMU =>Acute Medical Unit
· OT =>Occupational Therapy
· PT =>Physiotherapy
· SW =>Social Worker
· OA =>Osteoarthritis
· EOL =>End of Life
· UCC =>Urgent Care Centre
· CAP =>Community Acquired Pneumonia
· HAP =>Hospital Acquired Pneumonia
· LOC =>Loss of consciousness
· TLOC =>Transient Loss of consciousness
· NOF =>Neck of Femur
· TIA =>Transient Ischaemic Attack
· DCCV =>Direct Current Cardioversion
· PPM =>Permanent Pacemaker
· CCF =>Congestive cardiac failure
· HFpEF =>Heart Failure with preserved ejection fraction
· HFrEF =>Heart Failure with reduced ejection fraction

Approved abbreviation list from NHS 3rd version

https://englishey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/approved-abbreviations-guidance.pdf

See also: OET writing sample for Nurses pdf 2021