OET (Occupational English Test)
Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment
Complete guide to passing the OET (Occupational English Test) exam on your first attempt.
AU$587 (US$455 for OET on Computer or OET@Home in the USA)
Not published
No expiry set by OET; regulators set their own limits
Global
Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment
GBP 32,073-56,515 (NHS Agenda for Change bands 5 to 7, 2026/27)
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Complete Overview
The Occupational English Test (OET) is an English language test built for healthcare professionals who need to register or work in an English-speaking health system, and it is owned and delivered by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment, a joint venture between Cambridge University Press and Assessment and Box Hill Institute. The full test costs AU$587 for the four sub-tests, or US$455 for OET on Computer at a venue and OET@Home taken in the United States. Candidates sit Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and OET tailors the Writing and Speaking sub-tests to 12 professions: medicine, nursing, dentistry, dietetics, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry, radiology, occupational therapy, veterinary science, optometry and speech pathology. Listening and Reading are common to every profession and use topics of general healthcare interest, because OET assesses language rather than clinical knowledge. Three delivery modes exist: OET Test on Paper at a test centre, OET Test on Computer at a venue, and OET@Home on your own computer with remote proctoring. Each sub-test is reported on a scale from 0 to 500 in ten-point increments, and each numerical score maps to a letter grade from A down to E. There is no single overall pass mark set by OET. Recognising organisations set their own thresholds: the General Medical Council requires Grade B in each testing area of OET Medicine, while the Nursing and Midwifery Council requires Grade B (350 or above) in reading, listening and speaking and Grade C+ (300 or above) in writing on OET Nursing. Listening contains 42 questions across three parts and runs about 40 minutes. Reading contains 42 questions across three parts in 60 minutes, with a strict 15 minute limit on Part A. Writing gives 45 minutes to produce one profession-specific letter from case notes, including 5 minutes of reading time. Speaking runs about 20 minutes and consists of two profession-specific role plays of roughly 5 minutes each with an interlocutor. Marking is a mix of objective and criterion-based judgement. Listening and Reading award one mark per correct answer out of 42, and OET states that candidates awarded Grade B, a scale score of 350, typically achieve at least 30 marks. Writing is judged by two assessors against six criteria, and Speaking by two assessors against four linguistic criteria plus five clinical communication categories. Turnaround differs sharply by mode. Results for OET on Computer and OET@Home can be available within 48 hours of completing all four sub-tests, and OET aims to release results within 6 calendar days in 95 percent of cases. OET on Paper results can be available 12 days after the test date, with faster local timelines of about 5 days in India and 6 days in the Philippines. Candidates can request a re-mark of one or more sub-tests within 72 hours of receiving results. OET is accepted by regulators including the GMC, the NMC, the Medical Council of Ireland, ECFMG in the United States, the Medical Board of Australia, the Medical Council of New Zealand and FMRAC in Canada.
Why Get OET (Occupational English Test) Certified?
Twelve profession-specific versions exist, so a nurse writes a discharge letter and a doctor writes a referral rather than an essay on an abstract topic.
Listening and Reading each contain exactly 42 questions, and at least 30 marks typically maps to Grade B, giving a concrete practice target.
Results for OET on Computer and OET@Home can be released within 48 hours of finishing all four sub-tests, against 12 days for OET on Paper.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council accepts Grade C+ (300 to 340) in writing while requiring Grade B in the other three skills, a lower writing bar than its IELTS Academic requirement.
The Writing task uses real case notes and a 180 to 200 word letter, which mirrors documents healthcare staff already produce at work.
OET is accepted by the GMC, NMC, ECFMG, the Medical Board of Australia, the Medical Council of New Zealand, the Medical Council of Ireland and FMRAC.
Special Testing Arrangements carry no additional fee under the OET Test Regulations, so approved adjustments do not raise the AU$587 cost.
Exam Format & Structure
Duration
About 145 minutes for Listening, Reading and Writing taken consecutively (Listening about 40 minutes, Reading 60 minutes, Writing 45 minutes), plus a separate Speaking sub-test of about 20 minutes
Questions
84 marked questions across Listening (42) and Reading (42), plus one letter in Writing and two role plays in Speaking
Passing Score
OET sets no single pass mark. Each sub-test is reported from 0 to 500 and mapped to grades A to E. The GMC requires Grade B in each testing area of OET Medicine. The NMC requires Grade B (350 or above) in reading, listening and speaking and Grade C+ (300 or above) in writing on OET Nursing.
Question Types
- Note completion from a recorded consultation (Listening Part A)
- Multiple choice on short workplace extracts (Listening Part B)
- Multiple choice on presentation and interview extracts (Listening Part C)
- Short answer matching and completion across four short texts (Reading Part A)
- Multiple choice on short workplace documents (Reading Part B)
- Multiple choice on two long healthcare texts (Reading Part C)
- One profession-specific letter of referral, transfer, discharge or advice written from case notes
- Two profession-specific speaking role plays with an interlocutor
Delivery Method
OET Test on Paper at a test centre, OET Test on Computer at a venue, or OET@Home with remote proctoring. The Speaking sub-test on computer is delivered with an interlocutor over Zoom.
- Listening and Reading are identical for all 12 professions. Writing and Speaking are profession-specific.
- Reading Part A is an expeditious reading task with a strict 15 minute limit, and materials are collected after 15 minutes.
- The Listening, Reading and Writing sub-tests run consecutively with no scheduled breaks, including no scheduled bathroom breaks.
- On paper, candidates get two minutes at the end of Listening to check answers across all three parts. On computer and at home there is a short pause after each question instead.
- Listening audio uses Australian, British and American accents, with New Zealand, Irish, Canadian and South African accents also appearing.
- You must take Listening, Reading and Writing together, and Speaking within the same test administration, usually 8 days before or after them. Miss the Speaking slot on paper and it scores 0.
- Bookings for each test administration close 7 calendar days before the scheduled start time, at 11:59pm UTC.
How scoring works
Score scale
0 to 500 per sub-test, reported in ten-point increments, mapped to letter grades A (highest) to E (lowest)
Score needed to pass
Set by the recognising organisation, not by OET. GMC requires Grade B in each testing area of OET Medicine. NMC requires Grade B (350 to 440) in reading, listening and speaking and Grade C+ (300 to 340) in writing on OET Nursing.
Roughly what that means raw
OET states that candidates awarded Grade B (350) typically achieve at least 30 of 42 marks in Listening and at least 30 of 42 marks in Reading. Grade boundaries move slightly between test versions.
When results arrive
Within 48 hours of completing all four sub-tests for OET on Computer and OET@Home; 12 days after the test date for OET on Paper, with about 5 days in India and 6 days in the Philippines. OET aims to release results within 6 calendar days of the final sub-test and reports meeting that in 95 percent of cases.
How the scale is built
Listening and Reading award one mark per correct answer out of 42, and the raw total is converted to the 500 scale. Writing is scored by two assessors across six criteria and Speaking by two assessors across four linguistic criteria marked out of 6 plus five clinical communication categories marked out of 3. Criterion scores are combined and converted to the same 500 scale.
- There is no aggregate pass mark. Each of the four sub-tests carries its own score and grade.
- A re-mark of one or more sub-tests can be requested within 72 hours of receiving results.
- The NMC publishes the grade ranges it uses: Grade B is 350 to 440, Grade C+ is 300 to 340 and Grade C is 250 to 290.
- Results are shared with recognising organisations digitally through your OET account rather than by posting a paper certificate.
Pacing and time budget
84 questions in 145 minutes gives you Listening runs about 40 minutes for 42 questions at recording pace. Reading gives 15 minutes for the 20 Part A items, about 45 seconds each, then 45 minutes for the 22 items in Parts B and C, about 2 minutes each. per question.
| At this point | You should have answered |
|---|---|
| 40 min | 42 |
| 55 min | 62 |
| 100 min | 84 |
| 145 min | 84 |
- The 145 minute figure covers the Listening, Reading and Writing sub-tests, which run consecutively with no scheduled breaks. Speaking is timed separately at about 20 minutes.
- Listening is paced by the audio, so the only pacing decision is whether to write during or after each utterance. Write during.
- Reading Part A ends hard at 15 minutes and the materials are collected, which is why checkpoint two sits at 62 answered.
- Parts B and C of Reading share 45 minutes for 22 questions, so budget roughly 12 minutes for the 6 Part B items and 33 minutes for the 16 Part C items.
- The final 45 minutes are Writing: 5 minutes of reading time then 40 minutes to produce and check a 180 to 200 word letter.
Where the marks are
| Topic | Weight | Why it scores |
|---|---|---|
| Listening Part A consultation notes | 24 of 42 Listening marks | The single largest block of objective marks in the test. Every mark depends on writing the exact word or short phrase heard, so transcription accuracy and spelling convert directly into scale score. |
| Reading Part A expeditious reading | 20 of 42 Reading marks | Nearly half of Reading in 15 minutes. Candidates who never rehearse the hard stop routinely leave items blank, which is why timed Part A drills move the Reading grade faster than any other activity. |
| Reading Part C long texts | 16 of 42 Reading marks | Two long texts with eight questions each, testing attitude, opinion and vocabulary in context. These items reward tracing referencing words and locating the exact paragraph rather than reading everything closely. |
| Listening Part C presentations and interviews | 12 of 42 Listening marks | Six questions on each of two extended extracts, played once only. Reading the stem before the audio starts is what separates candidates who follow the argument from those who chase surface wording. |
| Writing criterion set: Purpose, Content, Conciseness and Clarity | 3 of the 6 Writing criteria | These three criteria all turn on the same skill of selecting relevant case notes for the named reader. Fixing selection improves half the Writing score in one move. |
| Speaking linguistic criteria | 4 criteria marked out of 6 each | Intelligibility, fluency, appropriateness of language and resources of grammar and expression carry the largest share of Speaking, and OET states that Grade B candidates predominantly score 5 out of 6 on each. |
| Speaking clinical communication criteria | 5 categories marked out of 3 each | Relationship building, understanding the patient's perspective, providing structure, information gathering and information giving are scored separately from language, so rehearsing consultation structure earns marks that vocabulary alone cannot. |
| Listening and Reading Part B workplace extracts | 6 marks in each sub-test | Twelve marks in total for short texts and short recordings that take little time. These are the cheapest marks in the test per minute spent, provided you read the stem first. |
The numbers
42
Questions in the Listening sub-test
Source: OET, Results and Scoring, oet.com
42
Questions in the Reading sub-test
Source: OET, Results and Scoring, oet.com
At least 30 of 42
Marks that typically map to Grade B (350)
Source: OET, Results and Scoring, oet.com
AU$587
Full test fee, rest of world
Source: OET, Group bookings and third party payments, oet.com
Within 48 hours of completing all four sub-tests
Result turnaround, OET on Computer and OET@Home
Source: OET, Results and Scoring, oet.com
12
Professions with a tailored Writing and Speaking version
Source: OET, OET Test page, oet.com
If you fail
Wait before retaking
OET publishes no mandatory waiting period between sittings. The practical limit is the published test calendar and booking closing dates for each administration.
Attempt limit
No published limit on the number of attempts. The Test Regulations do prohibit holding more than one booking per test administration across all delivery modes.
Retake fee
The full four sub-test fee of AU$587 applies to a fresh sitting, or US$455 for OET on Computer and OET@Home in the United States. Individual sub-test re-sits are available for OET on Paper and are priced separately at booking.
If you re-sit one or more sub-tests rather than all four, you are not required to book all four, but this applies to OET on Paper only and depends on your recognising organisation accepting a single sub-test re-sit. Whether scores from two dates can be combined is decided by that organisation. The NMC, for example, allows combining across two sittings with published minimum scores in every domain of both sittings. Candidates holding duplicate bookings in one administration may lose their entitlement to a full refund.
Exam Domains & Topics
Part A carries 24 of the 42 marks in the Listening sub-test. Candidates hear two recorded consultations between a health professional and a patient and complete notes as they listen. Answers must use the same word or short phrase heard in the recording, so paraphrasing, repeating words already printed in the notes, or adding extra information loses marks.
Key Topics to Master:
- Note completion from a live consultation
- Capturing symptom onset, duration and severity
- Medication names and dosages
- Family and social history details
- Avoiding paraphrase and self-contradiction
- Spelling of common medical terms such as diabetes and cholesterol
Part B carries 6 marks from short workplace extracts such as team briefings and handovers, each with one multiple choice question. Part C carries 12 marks from longer presentation and interview extracts on healthcare topics, with six questions per extract. Both parts test gist, speaker attitude, function and detail, and each recording is played once only.
Key Topics to Master:
- Identifying the main point of a short workplace exchange
- Speaker purpose and attitude
- Handover and team briefing language
- Following an extended argument in a presentation
- Reading the question stem before the recording starts
- Distractor language and paraphrase in options
Part A carries 20 of the 42 marks in Reading and is limited to a strict 15 minutes, after which the materials are collected. Candidates skim four short texts on one clinical topic and answer matching, short answer and sentence completion items. Answers must use exactly the same form of the word or short phrase as printed, abbreviations are rejected unless they appear in the texts, and misspellings score zero.
Key Topics to Master:
- Skimming four linked texts under time pressure
- Matching questions to the correct source text
- Exact word transfer with no paraphrase
- Correct spelling, with British and American variants both accepted
- Handling tables, guidelines and dosage charts
- Leaving no blanks before the 15 minute collection
Part B carries 6 marks from short workplace texts such as policy extracts, memos and manual excerpts, each with one three-option multiple choice question. Part C carries 16 marks from two longer texts, with eight questions each, testing attitude, opinion, detail and the meaning of specific words and phrases in context. Parts B and C share the remaining 45 minutes of the sub-test.
Key Topics to Master:
- Locating the purpose of a policy or memo extract
- Vocabulary in context questions
- Writer attitude and stance
- Referencing words and what they point back to
- Scanning long texts for the paragraph that holds the answer
- Shading answer lozenges correctly on the answer sheet
Candidates get 45 minutes, of which the first 5 minutes are reading time, to write one letter of referral, transfer, discharge or advice from a set of case notes. The task expects 180 to 200 words. Two OET assessors score six criteria: Purpose, Content, Conciseness and Clarity, Genre and Style, Organisation and Layout, and Language.
Key Topics to Master:
- Selecting only case note information relevant to the named reader
- Stating the purpose of the letter in the opening paragraph
- Summarising rather than copying case notes
- Register and tone for a professional reader
- Paragraphing and logical order
- Grammar, punctuation and spelling under the Language criterion
The Speaking sub-test runs about 20 minutes and contains two role plays of roughly 5 minutes each with an interlocutor who plays the patient, carer or relative. The audio is recorded and scored by two assessors using four linguistic criteria marked out of 6 and five clinical communication categories marked out of 3. Candidates may write on the role play cards and refer to them throughout.
Key Topics to Master:
- Initiating the interaction and building rapport
- Gathering information with open and closed questions
- Explaining diagnoses and treatment in plain language
- Managing anxious, angry or confused patients
- Intelligibility, fluency, appropriateness and resources of grammar and expression
- Using the 3 minutes of preparation time before each role play to plan the harder elements on the card
Recommended Study Plan
- 1Confirm with your regulator which sub-test grades it requires and whether it accepts combined sittings
- 2Confirm which of the 12 profession versions your regulator names, since GMC accepts Medicine and NMC accepts Nursing
- 3Sit one full official sample test from oet.com/ready under timed conditions
- 4Score Listening and Reading out of 42 each and record how far you sit from 30 marks
- 5Read the six Writing criteria and the Speaking criteria PDFs on oet.com
- 6Decide between OET on Paper, OET on Computer and OET@Home based on how fast you need results
- 1Drill 6 Part A consultations, writing answers as you listen rather than after
- 2Mark yourself strictly, deducting for paraphrase, repeated prompt words and added information
- 3Build a spelling list of the medical terms you missed, starting with medication names
- 4Practise abbreviating while listening then expanding the note in the two minute check window
- 5Review why each wrong answer failed: heard wrong, spelled wrong, or wrong form
- 1Complete 5 Part A sets with a hard 15 minute stop and no extra time
- 2Practise matching the question to the correct one of the four texts before reading closely
- 3Copy answers letter for letter and check the form of the word against the text
- 4Test yourself on which abbreviations are safe, meaning only those printed in the texts
- 5Aim to answer all 20 items rather than perfecting the first twelve
- 1Write 4 letters from official sample case notes in exactly 45 minutes each
- 2Use the first 5 minutes only to underline case notes relevant to the named reader
- 3Keep each letter between 180 and 200 words and count them
- 4Self-score against Purpose, Content, Conciseness and Clarity, Genre and Style, Organisation and Layout, and Language
- 5Rewrite one letter after feedback and compare the two versions line by line
- 1Record 6 role plays of 5 minutes each using official sample cards for your profession
- 2Practise the opening 30 seconds until introductions and rapport are automatic
- 3Work explicitly on explaining a diagnosis without jargon
- 4Rehearse handling an angry or anxious patient without losing structure
- 5Listen back and mark yourself on intelligibility, fluency, appropriateness and grammar
- 1Drill 10 Part B extracts, reading the stem before the audio begins
- 2Complete 4 Part C sets and analyse every distractor you chose
- 3Practise identifying speaker attitude rather than surface content
- 4Train on unfamiliar accents by using recordings with New Zealand, Irish and South African speakers
- 5Time yourself using the gap length you will get in your chosen delivery mode
- 1Complete 12 Part B items and log why each wrong option was attractive
- 2Work through 4 Part C texts within the 45 minutes that remain after Part A
- 3Build a list of vocabulary in context items you got wrong and the surrounding sentence
- 4Practise tracing referencing words back to their antecedent
- 5Sit one full 60 minute Reading sub-test end to end
- 1Sit Listening, Reading and Writing consecutively with no break, as the Test Regulations require
- 2Score Listening and Reading out of 42 and compare against the 30 mark Grade B benchmark
- 3Have a teacher or study partner score the letter against the six criteria
- 4Do two Speaking role plays the same day to simulate fatigue
- 5Rank your four sub-tests by distance from your regulator's required grade
- 1Spend at least 60 percent of study time on the sub-test furthest from your target grade
- 2If Writing is weakest, produce five more letters and rewrite each once
- 3If Speaking is weakest, record ten role plays and review each against the criteria
- 4If Reading is weakest, run Part A daily under 15 minutes
- 5Keep the other three sub-tests warm with one short session each
- 1Drill the grammar points your Writing feedback flagged most often
- 2Build and test a 150 word spelling list of common medications and conditions
- 3Practise conciseness by cutting a 240 word draft to 195 words without losing content
- 4Rehearse connective phrases for referral, transfer and discharge letters
- 5Run one Listening Part A set focused purely on spelling accuracy
- 1Book a quiet room, remove all prohibited items, and sit the full LRW block
- 2If you plan OET@Home, run the system and room checks in advance
- 3Complete both role plays with a partner acting as interlocutor
- 4Compare mark totals against week 8 and confirm the gap has closed
- 5Rehearse the 15 minute Part A collection point so it feels routine
- 1Check that the ID you uploaded at booking is the ID you will carry on test day
- 2Confirm your test venue, start time and delivery mode on your OET account
- 3Review your top 30 recurring errors across all four sub-tests
- 4Write two final letters and record two final role plays
- 5Taper study in the last 48 hours and confirm you hold only one booking for the administration
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Best Study Resources
OET official sample tests
Practice testsFree profession-specific sample material for all four sub-tests, with separate sets for OET Test on Paper and the computer-delivered formats.
Free
OET Writing assessment criteria
Official documentThe six criteria assessors apply to the letter: Purpose, Content, Conciseness and Clarity, Genre and Style, Organisation and Layout, and Language.
Free
OET Speaking criteria guides, parts 1 and 2
Official guideTwo downloadable guides covering the linguistic criteria and the clinical communication criteria, with real candidate role play samples and assessor comments.
Free
OET Preparation Courses (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
Online courseOfficial self-study courses that include new sample tasks and exemplar letters with assessor comments, sold separately for each sub-test.
Paid, priced per sub-test on the OET site
OET Pulse
Placement testOET's own placement test, designed to estimate your current level before you commit to a test date and to point at which sub-test needs work.
Paid
OET Test Regulations
Official policyThe binding rules on ID, prohibited items, Special Testing Arrangements, booking limits and conduct that you accept when you book.
Free
OET Results and Scoring page
Official referenceSets out the 0 to 500 scale in ten-point increments, the 42 question counts for Listening and Reading, the 30 mark Grade B benchmark and result timelines by mode.
Free
NMC accepted English language tests: OET
Regulator guidanceThe Nursing and Midwifery Council page listing required grades, accepted delivery modes and the exact rules for combining scores across two sittings.
Free
GMC evidence of your knowledge of English
Regulator guidanceThe General Medical Council guide confirming that the certificate must show the medicine version and at least Grade B in each testing area.
Free
OET YouTube channel
VideoOfficial masterclasses and sub-test walkthroughs produced by OET, including recorded Writing and Speaking sessions with assessor commentary.
Free
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Booking the wrong profession version, for example sitting OET Medicine when applying to the NMC.
Check the regulator page before you pay. The NMC tells applicants to choose the Nursing version, and the GMC will only accept a certificate showing the medicine version.
Paraphrasing in Listening Part A instead of writing the words heard.
Part A requires the same word or short phrase from the recording. Practise transcribing under pressure and accept that a shorter exact answer beats a longer accurate summary.
Running Reading Part A over the 15 minute limit and expecting to finish later.
Part A materials are collected after 15 minutes and never returned. Rehearse Part A as a standalone 15 minute drill until you routinely fill all 20 answers.
Misspelling answers in Reading and assuming the meaning will still earn the mark.
OET states that responses spelled incorrectly receive no marks in Reading. Copy answers letter for letter from the text and check them once before moving on.
Using abbreviations in Reading answers that do not appear in the source texts.
Abbreviations score only if they appear in the texts. Write the full form unless you can see the abbreviation printed on the page in front of you.
Copying whole blocks of case notes into the Writing letter to look thorough.
Content and Conciseness and Clarity are separate scored criteria. Use the 5 minutes of reading time to select only what the named reader needs, then summarise it.
Writing far more than 200 words on the assumption that longer is safer.
There is no automatic penalty for length, but OET says overlong letters usually contain irrelevant material or poor organisation, which the six criteria then penalise. Draft to 180 to 200 words.
Treating the Speaking role play as a race to cover every bullet on the card.
There is no penalty for not completing every element. Use the preparation time to identify which elements need explanation or clarification, and cover those properly.
Ignoring the clinical communication criteria and focusing only on grammar in Speaking.
Two separate criteria sets apply: four linguistic criteria marked out of 6 and five clinical communication categories marked out of 3. Practise rapport, shared decision making and checking understanding as deliberately as you practise vocabulary.
Holding more than one booking in a single test administration to keep options open.
The Test Regulations prohibit multiple bookings per administration across all delivery modes, and you may lose your right to a full refund. Book once and reschedule instead.
Turning up with a different ID from the one entered at booking.
The same ID presented at booking must be presented on test day and must pass identity verification. Check the passport or national ID number in your OET account well before test day.
Exam Day Tips
- 1
Bring the exact identification you registered with, because the ID on the day must match the booking and pass verification before you are admitted.
- 2
Plan for no breaks: Listening, Reading and Writing run consecutively with no scheduled pauses, including no scheduled bathroom breaks.
- 3
Leave prohibited items outside the room, including mobile phones, smartwatches, highlighters, mechanical pens and pencils, correction fluid and scrap paper.
- 4
Write your name and candidate number on every booklet and answer sheet, since invigilators check the name against your ID within the first 15 minutes of each sub-test.
- 5
In Listening Part A write as you listen, because each recording is played once only and you cannot go back.
- 6
On paper, use the two minutes at the end of Listening to fix spelling and grammar across all three parts rather than to guess new answers.
- 7
Start Reading Part A the moment it begins and keep one eye on the clock, since the materials leave the desk at 15 minutes.
- 8
Shade the answer lozenges cleanly in Reading Parts B and C, because answers written elsewhere in the booklet are not marked.
- 9
Spend the Writing reading time selecting case notes rather than drafting sentences, then use the remaining 40 minutes to write and check.
- 10
For OET@Home, sit in a quiet room with no background image on the Speaking platform and no interruptions, and put all personal items away before the session starts.
Career Paths & Salary Ranges
Registered nurse, NHS Band 5
The entry route for internationally educated nurses joining the NMC register, which requires OET Nursing at Grade B in reading, listening and speaking and Grade C+ in writing. Figures are the 2026/27 Agenda for Change annual pay scale.
GBP 32,073 to GBP 39,043
Specialist nurse or midwife, NHS Band 6
Post-registration roles in areas such as critical care, theatres and community midwifery, usually reached after NMC registration and UK experience. Figures are the 2026/27 Agenda for Change annual pay scale.
GBP 39,959 to GBP 48,117
Advanced clinical practitioner or specialist allied health professional, NHS Band 7
Senior physiotherapy, radiography, pharmacy and advanced nursing roles that require both professional registration and demonstrated English proficiency. Figures are the 2026/27 Agenda for Change annual pay scale.
GBP 49,387 to GBP 56,515
Consultant practitioner or clinical service lead, NHS Band 8a
Leadership and consultant-level allied health and nursing posts carrying service responsibility. Figures are the 2026/27 Agenda for Change annual pay scale.
GBP 57,528 to GBP 64,750
International medical graduate seeking GMC registration
Doctors use OET Medicine at Grade B in each testing area as evidence of English before or alongside the PLAB route or a recognised postgraduate qualification. Pay depends on grade and contract rather than the Agenda for Change bands.
Not published as a single figure; doctors are paid on separate medical and dental pay scales rather than Agenda for Change
Prerequisites & Requirements
- No formal qualification is required to book, but OET advises that it may not suit candidates who are not health professionals working toward registration in an English-speaking context.
- A valid passport or valid national ID must be supplied at booking and presented on test day.
- A current personal email address, not a university or workplace address. ECFMG applicants must use the same email as their ECFMG record.
- A photo meeting OET's requirements for OET on Paper, or an uploaded image of your ID for OET on Computer and OET@Home.
- Acceptance of the OET Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Collection Notice and Test Regulations at registration.
- For OET@Home, your own computer, a quiet uninterrupted room and a setup that passes the system check.
- Confirmation from your recognising organisation of the minimum grades it accepts, the delivery modes it accepts and whether all four sub-tests must come from one sitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What score do I need to pass OET?
OET does not set a pass mark; the recognising organisation does. The GMC requires Grade B in each testing area of OET Medicine. The NMC requires Grade B (350 or above) in reading, listening and speaking and Grade C+ (300 or above) in writing on OET Nursing. Each sub-test is reported on a 0 to 500 scale in ten-point increments and mapped to a letter grade from A to E, so you should check your own regulator's page before booking rather than aiming at a generic target.
How many marks do I need in Listening and Reading for Grade B?
OET states that candidates awarded Grade B, a scale score of 350, typically achieve at least 30 of the 42 available marks in each of Listening and Reading. OET also notes that new tests are written for each session, so grade boundaries are adjusted slightly for each version to account for differences in item difficulty. The exact number of marks needed for Grade B therefore varies between sittings, and 30 out of 42 is a working target rather than a fixed cut score.
How much does OET cost, and does the fee change by region?
The full OET Test of four sub-tests costs AU$587 for candidates in the rest of the world, covering OET on Paper, OET on Computer at a venue and OET@Home. In the United States, OET on Paper costs AU$587 while OET on Computer at a venue and OET@Home cost US$455. Fees are paid at the time of booking. Special Testing Arrangements do not incur an additional fee under the OET Test Regulations.
How soon do I get my results?
Results for OET Test on Computer and OET@Home can be made available within 48 hours of completing all four sub-tests. Results for OET Test on Paper can be made available 12 days after the test date, with faster local timelines of as little as 5 days in India and 6 days in the Philippines. OET aims to release results within 6 calendar days of the final sub-test and says this happens in 95 percent of cases. Timing varies around public holidays and by region.
What happens if I fail one sub-test?
There is no failing grade that blocks you from testing again, and OET does not impose a waiting period between sittings. If you take OET on Paper you can re-sit one or more individual sub-tests without booking all four, provided your recognising organisation accepts a single sub-test re-sit. Whether you can combine scores from different dates is decided by the recognising organisation, so confirm their clubbing rules before you pay for a partial re-sit.
Can I combine scores from two different OET sittings?
Only if your recognising organisation permits it. The NMC does allow combining across two OET sittings: you need one reading, one listening and one speaking score at Grade B (350 to 440) and one writing score at Grade C+ (300 to 340) across the two sittings, and every score in both sittings must be at least Grade C+ in listening, reading and speaking and at least Grade C (250 to 290) in writing. OET itself calls this clubbing and directs candidates to check with the organisation.
How long are OET results valid?
OET does not set an expiry date. The length of time results are treated as current is decided by the authority that recognises them, such as a regulator, council or government department. OET advises checking that authority's website for the exact window it applies.
Can I ask for a re-mark?
Yes. You may request a re-mark of one or more sub-tests within 72 hours of receiving your results, under OET's published re-marking policy. The request is made through your OET account, and the re-marking policy is published on oet.com. Note that bookings for each test administration close 7 calendar days before the scheduled start time, so a re-mark decision and a fresh booking can collide if you wait.
What identification do I need?
For OET on Paper you must book using a valid passport or a valid national ID issued by the national government of the country where you are testing. You are responsible for the accuracy of the ID details entered at booking. The same ID must be presented on test day and must pass identity verification for you to sit the test. For OET on Computer and OET@Home you upload an image of your identification at booking.
How does online proctoring work for OET@Home?
OET@Home is taken on your own computer with a remote proctor. You must be in a quiet area with no interruptions for the whole test, and background images are not permitted on the OET Speaking platform. All personal belongings must be put away, and an interlocutor checks your ID before the Speaking sub-test begins. Tests may be monitored by video and audio recording.
What materials can I bring into the test room?
Very few. Unauthorised personal items may not be brought into the test room, including bags, notes, study materials, dictionaries, mobile phones, digital sound recorders, MP3 players, cameras, smartwatches, highlighters, mechanical pens, mechanical pencils, scrap paper, and correction fluid or tape. Weapons are prohibited in any test venue. Personal belongings are left in the cloakroom, and the test administrator can dismiss you for breaching these rules.
Are accommodations available for a disability or medical condition?
Yes. OET calls them Special Testing Arrangements for OET on Paper and Testing Accommodations for OET on Computer and OET@Home, and treats both under the same rules. Requests are made at booking, must be properly documented, and are decided case by case after review of the documentation. Special Testing Arrangements do not incur an additional fee, but submitting a request does not guarantee approval, and OET does not guarantee every requested arrangement can be fulfilled.
Is there a break between sub-tests?
No. The Listening, Reading and Writing sub-tests are conducted consecutively with no scheduled breaks between them, including no scheduled bathroom breaks. If you have a condition that means you need to use the bathroom frequently, for example if you are pregnant, you can request Testing Arrangements when you book. If you feel unwell during the test you must raise your hand and tell the invigilator, and you cannot cancel or defer once the test has started.
How is the Writing sub-test marked?
Two OET assessors apply the official Writing criteria and score six areas: Purpose, Content, Conciseness and Clarity, Genre and Style, Organisation and Layout, and Language. Scores for each criterion are combined and converted to the 0 to 500 scale. OET states that candidates securing Grade B typically achieve 2 out of 3 for Purpose and 5 out of 7 on the remaining criteria. Spelling, punctuation and grammar all count under the Language criterion.
How is the Speaking sub-test marked?
The Speaking sub-test is recorded and assessed by two OET assessors using two criteria sets. The Linguistic Criteria contain four criteria marked out of 6, and the Clinical Communication Criteria contain five categories, each with three to five sub-indicators, marked out of 3. Scores are combined and converted to the 0 to 500 scale. OET states that candidates securing Grade B predominantly score 5 out of 6 on each linguistic criterion and 2 out of 3 on the clinical communication criteria.
Why are Listening and Reading not profession-specific?
OET designs the test to assess English language ability rather than medical knowledge, and its developers minimise areas where a candidate could answer from prior clinical knowledge instead of language skill. Listening and Reading are therefore common to all 12 professions and use topics of general medical and health interest. Writing and Speaking are profession-specific because those skills let candidates draw on professional experience to demonstrate workplace communication.
Should I take OET or IELTS Academic?
OET tests healthcare language: patient consultations, workplace briefings, case notes and referral letters. IELTS Academic tests general academic language across subjects such as sociology, environment and technology, and its writing tasks include describing graphs and arguing an essay position. Both are accepted by the GMC and the NMC. The NMC requires IELTS Academic scores of 7 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing, against OET Grade B and Grade C+ respectively. Choose based on which content you can prepare for faster and which your regulator accepts.
Which delivery mode should I choose?
Choose OET on Computer or OET@Home if speed matters, since results can be released within 48 hours against 12 days for OET on Paper, and both offer more flexible dates. Choose OET on Paper if you prefer writing by hand, if you may want to re-sit individual sub-tests later, or if computer venues are not available where you live. The NMC accepts all three modes and allows OET@Home to be combined with either of the other two.
How many questions are in each sub-test?
Listening contains 42 questions across three parts, with Part A worth 24 marks, Part B worth 6 marks and Part C worth 12 marks. Reading also contains 42 questions across three parts, with Part A worth 20 marks, Part B worth 6 marks and Part C worth 16 marks. Writing consists of one letter task, and Speaking consists of two role plays of roughly 5 minutes each. Every correct Listening and Reading answer is worth one mark.
Do accents in the Listening audio vary?
Yes. OET uses a range of accents across all three Listening parts to reflect the global healthcare workforce. The main accents are Australian, British and American, and other accents including New Zealand, Irish, Canadian and South African also appear. Each recording is played once only, so exposure to varied accents during preparation matters more than it would on a test with repeated playback.
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