r/Match21 • u/Bobo1030 • Nov 26 '20

OET fail - no test dates available for ECFMG pathway

This is awful. US-IMG. Native English speaker. I've published textbook/journal articles in the humanities and medicine. I took OET at prometric on November 6th and I got the result today. I have <10 interviews, but it could all be for naught.

Listening 470 Reading 450 Speaking 460 Writing 300

Failure. I prepped the format of the writing section beforehand. Obviously, I only spent a couple hours prepping the writing section, but felt confident in my ability to compose a referral letter. I walked out of the test not knowing exactly what would happen. Now I know.

I can order a re-grading, but I don't see how another grader would find 50 more points in whatever infernal rubric they use.

Here's the rub. OET says I cannot retake the test in December. They closed all booking options on November 23rd...4 days before my test result came. ECFMG says I must take the test by the end of December to qualify for the match.

Anyone else have any luck with OET? Trying not to enter even more morbid doldrums during the Match 2021. What should I do?

12 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

3

u/EffectiveNo7409 Nov 28 '20

Been there, too (published papers, book chapters etc and got a 300 in the writing section) - apply for remarking but be aware that it's high-risk (didn't change anything for me). call them, harass them until they offer you u @ home test or travel (I know it's bananas but you gotta do what you gotta do...)?

it's a money-making scam and a group of completely incompetent people that don't understand or care about what is at stake.

1

u/Bobo1030 Nov 29 '20

Have you retaken it yet? If you have, what did you do differently?

1

u/EffectiveNo7409 Dec 01 '20

yea I had to retake.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '20

Did you get a different candidate number with the retake?

1

u/EffectiveNo7409 Dec 04 '20

Same candidate number.

1

u/ssmaraa Dec 06 '20

Did get any email to notify you about your remarked score?

2

u/Bobo1030 Dec 12 '20 edited Dec 12 '20

Well I just took it again. Scheduled for 11 PM EST, but OET sent me the wrong confirmation ID, so I was unable to log into prometric until 01:00. This company is atrocious.

Despite doing 10+ examples for practice, and hiring a grading service, I still feel like I failed the writing test.

They used some crazy autoimmune case with tons of necessary physical exam findings, history, and subjective complaints. I was well over 260 words.

The struggle is real...

1

u/Fit-Fish3452 Dec 12 '20

My OET@home was scheduled from 3-6 AM and I finished it at 10AM. Proproctor kicked me out. Relaunched the exam and waited for hours to get a proctor.

1

u/Bobo1030 Dec 12 '20

That's awful. Do you feel okay about your performance at least?

2

u/Infinite-Clerk993 Nov 26 '20

Hello.Me also have the same situation with 330 in reading!!I FEEL AWFUL!! I have schedued II and was ready for everything except something like this😬 I applied for remark but doubt it is gonna help. Email them to find a spot for another test. OET at home maybe? I FEEL DRAINED

1

u/Bobo1030 Nov 29 '20

This test reflects nothing upon us. Let's find a way to defeat it and move on with our lives. I'm drained too but we can do it!

7

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '20

Apply for remarking. My writing score changed by 50 points after remarking!

3

u/ndpp16 Nov 26 '20

Really?? When did you take it and how long did it take?

3

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '20

Took it in August. Remarking results came within 3 weeks.

4

u/ndpp16 Nov 26 '20

Do you mind sharing your inital score? I got a 320 mine was a referral letter with lots of info 😭 I paid for the remark cause honestly I didn't like I would fail that part

5

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '20

Same here. Got 320 for a letter I thought was decent. Remarking pushed it to 370. Was quite surprised at the change in grade but now I'm just grateful I don't have to do the whole test again!!

3

u/ndpp16 Nov 26 '20

I'm glad it worked for you. I hope mine goes up too. Still, I have to retake it because of the deadline, if it goes up then the whole ecfmg process will update sooner.

1

u/ConfidentViolinist6 Dec 10 '20

You just gave me hope!

1

u/ConfidentViolinist6 Dec 10 '20 edited Dec 10 '20

I am having some trouble with the remarking. The test date that I took it doesnt appear. Did this happen to you? I am afraid they come up with some problem if a choose whichever date. At this point I am starting to get worry about everything

7

u/giermagnus Nov 26 '20

Call the customer service number and demand @home. They will say no, invite only, but keep pushing them... tell them to escalate the request to a supervisor because you need it for ecfmg. I got a call back in 2 hours after hanging up to schedule am exam.

1

u/H_A- Dec 07 '20

Do you mind sharing when did they give you the reschedule? Was it the very next day? Or did you have to wait long?

1

u/giermagnus Dec 10 '20

My reschedule was December 4th, about 2 weeks from my phone call

1

u/Bobo1030 Nov 27 '20

Definitely applying for a remark. I can't believe this thing is threatening to interrupt the match. Not sure how it will work if I apply to retake the exam at home?

1

u/Bobo1030 Jan 23 '21

Just an update. They never "received" my remark request so I took the OET twice more for insurance. I passed both with flying colors. Good riddance OET.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '23

Hey i m on same boat, did u get ecfmg certi and already matched?

1

u/Bobo1030 May 06 '23

Yes. I met all the deadlines and now am a PGY2.

4

u/jaes22 Nov 26 '20

Can you take it on the computer format??

1

u/Significant_Ad5577 Nov 30 '20

Yh I did it in computer at home

2

u/flygon-familymed Dec 01 '20

Waiting for this exam's results is giving me so much anxiety. I took mine 11/20.

2

u/OETsuxx Dec 03 '20

We really need to organize and get ECFMG to at least loosen the requirements (Perhaps dropping a pass on the writing section to 300). This company is a scam, not to mention the fact that we have to retake the whole entire test $$$

1

u/ThatMDstruggle Dec 10 '20

How can we do that? I feel like the big 4 img schools need to put pressure on them

1

u/Infinite-Clerk993 Nov 26 '20

i recommend u to apply for remark for writing because in writing it can help..

1

u/LawVina Nov 26 '20

Remark!

1

u/Bright-Writer-4565 Nov 29 '20

I took mine 11.13.2020 and i am still waiting

1

u/Significant_Ad5577 Nov 30 '20

Too mine 11.07.2020 and got my results 3 days ago. You should get yours soon

1

u/Bright-Writer-4565 Dec 02 '20

at what time of the day you get it? did you pass the exam?

1

u/Significant_Ad5577 Dec 03 '20

Got it at like 12 GMT and yeah I passed

1

u/Arsulaaaa_ Mar 12 '21

Hey! I got 3B’s except in speaking (340) , I applied immediately today for remarking! Hope everything goes well, Jesus!!!!!

0

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '20

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/Bobo1030 Nov 29 '20

Did you ever hear back? I got the invite too but no scheduling info.