OET Reading Part A Practice Set 1 ( 20 minutes)
Texts A–D: Caring for Patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia
Text A: Patient Leaflet – Iron Supplement Usage
Iron tablets are commonly prescribed to treat iron deficiency anemia. They are best absorbed on an empty stomach but can cause stomach upset. To minimize side effects such as nausea or constipation, patients may take them with food. Avoid taking them with milk, caffeine, or antacids, as these reduce absorption. Vitamin C enhances absorption. Usual dosage: 100–200 mg elemental iron per day, divided into 2 or 3 doses. Continue therapy for at least 3 months after hemoglobin returns to normal.
Text B: Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Symptom Frequency
Fatigue Very Common
Pale skin Common
Shortness of breath Common
Brittle nails Occasional
Sore or swollen tongue Rare
Cravings for non-food items (pica) Rare
Clinical signs include pallor, tachycardia, and in severe cases, systolic murmurs. Iron studies (serum ferritin, TIBC) are used to confirm diagnosis.
Text C: Dosage Comparison – Oral vs. IV Iron Therapies
Treatment Dosage Notes
Ferrous sulfate 325 mg (65 mg elemental iron) 2–3x daily Oral, cost-effective, risk of GI upset
Ferrous gluconate 325 mg (36 mg elemental iron) Better tolerated, lower elemental iron
IV Iron sucrose 200 mg IV x 5 doses Used when oral therapy fails or is not tolerated
Ferric carboxymaltose Single 1000 mg dose over 15 mins More convenient but more costly
Text D: Flowchart – Iron Deficiency Management Pathway
[Low Hb on CBC]
?
[Check serum ferritin]
?
[Low ferritin confirmed?] — No ? [Look for other causes]
? Yes
[Start oral iron therapy]
?
[Recheck Hb in 4 weeks]
?
[Improved?] — Yes ? [Continue for 3 months post-normal Hb]
? No
[Consider IV iron or GI referral]
Questions
Questions 1–7: Matching
Match the question with the relevant text: A, B, C, or D.
1. Where would you find side effects of taking iron supplements?
2. Which text outlines what to do if oral iron therapy does not work?
3. Where is the comparison between different forms of iron provided?
4. Which text includes symptoms that are less common in patients?
5. Where would you look for information about the standard patient dosage?
6. Which text provides a summary of the clinical decision-making process?
7. Where can you find details about how iron interacts with food or drinks?
Questions 8–14: Short Answer Questions
Answer using no more than three words or a number.
8. What is the maximum number of doses of oral iron a patient may take per day?
9. Which symptom occurs very frequently in iron deficiency anemia?
10. What laboratory test is first used to check for iron deficiency?
11. What iron formulation offers the highest elemental iron in one dose?
12. What should be avoided when taking iron supplements?
13. Which iron treatment is considered more convenient but expensive?
14. After how many weeks should Hb be rechecked following therapy initiation?
Questions 15–20: Sentence Completion
Complete each sentence using words from the texts. Use no more than three words.
15. Iron supplements may cause __________ if taken on an empty stomach.
16. Vitamin C is known to __________ of iron tablets.
17. Brittle nails are an __________ symptom of iron deficiency anemia.
18. IV iron is recommended when __________ fails.
19. If hemoglobin improves, oral therapy should continue for __________.
20. A patient with low hemoglobin and low ferritin should begin __________.