Capital Letters in OET: Guidelines and Considerations

In English, writing in all capital letters is generally discouraged as it is akin to shouting. However, some prefer this style and question its acceptability in capital letters in OET. Normally, English conventions dictate the use of lower case letters with capitals reserved for the beginning of sentences and proper nouns. Deviation from these rules can appear unprofessional and draw negative attention.

Interestingly, the OET permits the use of all capital letters in specific sections: Reading Part A and Listening Part A. This practice, common in many English exams, reduces ambiguity, aiding examiners in assessing the correctness of answers.

Surprisingly, this allowance extends to the OET writing sub-test. Candidates can opt to write entirely in capital letters or adhere to traditional capitalization rules, provided they maintain consistency. While using all capitals might enhance clarity and prevent misunderstandings due to poor handwriting, it could also be time-consuming.

Ultimately, the choice of writing style in the OET is up to the candidate. Awareness of the guidelines allows for an informed decision on whether to use all capital letters or follow conventional capitalization, balancing clarity with efficiency.

For more info: https://edubenchmark.com/blog/using-capital-letters-in-oet-is-it-allowed/