Find your level
Not everyone needs the same score. Start from where you are:
- Not sure of your target? See your target score for every test and level.
- New to OET? Read how OET works first, then try the free OET practice test.
- Already scoring around 300 to 340 (C+)? This page is for you: it shows how to move up to B.
How OET is scored
Each of the four sub-tests (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) gets its own score from 0 to 500, in steps of 10. There's no overall grade on the results.
| Grade | Score | What OET says it means |
|---|---|---|
| A | 450–500 | Very fluent and effective with patients and colleagues |
| B | 350–440 | Communicates effectively in healthcare settings, with occasional inaccuracies and hesitations |
| C+ | 300–340 | Keeps interactions going despite occasional errors and lapses |
| C | 200–290 | |
| D | 100–190 | Some interaction, but frequent errors strain communication |
| E | 0–90 | Simple interaction on familiar topics only |
OET has no pass score. The score you need depends on who you're applying to. Many boards ask for at least 350 in each sub-test, but always check the exact numbers.
Who needs which scores
Health practitioner registration (Ahpra). Ahpra's English language skills registration standard covers most National Boards, including medical, dental, pharmacy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, optometry, psychology and paramedicine.
| OET taken | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On or after 23 April 2026 | 350 | 360 | 350 | 360 |
| On or before 22 April 2026 | B | B | C+ | B |
- You can use results from one sitting, or from at most two sittings within 12 months. You must sit all four sub-tests each time.
- With two sittings (tests from 23 April 2026), no sub-test can be below listening 320, reading 340, writing 350 or speaking 350.
- Nurses and midwives have a separate standard from the Nursing and Midwifery Board. Check the Board's English language page for your numbers.
Always read the current Ahpra standard and your own Board's page before you book.
Visas (Home Affairs). For OET taken on or after 7 August 2025, Home Affairs lists these minimums (Listening / Reading / Writing / Speaking):
| English level | OET scores |
|---|---|
| Vocational | 220 / 240 / 200 / 270 |
| Competent | 290 / 310 / 290 / 330 |
| Proficient | 350 / 360 / 380 / 360 |
| Superior | 390 / 400 / 420 / 400 |
Functional English needs an overall score of 1020, which OET doesn't print on results, so you need to ask OET for it. OET@Home isn't accepted. Check the Home Affairs English language pages for the rules for your visa.
Is B the right target?
If you need B and you're scoring C+ (300–340), you're closer than it feels: a C+ means you can keep a conversation going, and B means you do it accurately and effectively, with only occasional slips. If you're below 300, build your general English first with our free English level test and the Complete English Course, then come back to OET practice.
Listening: catch the detail
- Predict before you listen. Read each question and guess the type of answer: a number, a symptom, a medication, an instruction.
- Write exactly what you hear in Part A, including small words like mild, left or twice daily. One wrong detail can cost the mark.
- Listen for the speaker's attitude in Parts B and C. Words like however, actually and I'd be cautious often signal the answer.
Reading: speed and inference
- Part A is a race. Skim the four texts first so you know where each kind of information is.
- In Parts B and C, the answer is often an inference. Ask "What does the writer mean?" not "Which words match?"
- Watch for distractors that use the same words as the text but change the meaning.
Writing: the referral letter
B-level letters select the right information for the reader and present it clearly.
- Know your reader and purpose before you write. What does this doctor or nurse need to know to act?
- Leave out case notes that don't help the reader. Selecting information is part of the score.
- Use a clear structure: the purpose in the first paragraph, then the relevant history, current situation and the request.
- Write in a professional register: I am writing to refer Mrs Lee, who… rather than notes or slang.
- Practise with our referral letter guide and writing practice.
Speaking: the role-plays
- Build the relationship. Greet the patient, use their name, and check how they feel.
- Explain in plain words. Swap medical terms for words the patient understands, then check they've understood.
- Show empathy when the patient is worried: I can see this is upsetting for you.
- Cover every task on the card, in a natural order.
- Practise with our speaking role-plays and speaking practice.
Common mistakes at C+
- Copying the case notes into the letter instead of selecting what matters.
- Medical jargon with patients in Speaking.
- Spelling errors in Listening Part A, especially drug names and numbers.
- Running out of time in Reading Part A.
- Practising without feedback. Record yourself and compare with model answers.
A 4 to 6 week plan
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Take a full practice test. Find your weakest sub-test. |
| 2–3 | Two referral letters a week and daily role-play practice. Timed Reading Part A every second day. |
| 4 | Listening Part A note-taking every day. Review every mistake. |
| 5–6 | Full timed practice, then rest the day before your test. |
Try questions at grade B level
Loading questions…
No website can promise you a grade. Use the official OET materials too, and check your target scores with the organisation you're applying to.
Answers, explanations and transcripts
Finish the test first, then open each section to check your answers. Every answer has an explanation.
Try 6 questions at grade B level
Answer key (6 answers)
| # | Question | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Which opening sentence is best for a referral letter to a physiotherapist? | I am writing to refer Mr Daniel Ortiz, a 52-year-old builder, for assessment and treatment of persistent lower back pain. | It states the purpose straight away, identifies the patient and gives the key reason for referral, in a professional register. |
| 2 | You're referring a patient to a dietitian for help managing type 2 diabetes. Which case note is LEAST relevant to include? | The patient broke a finger playing cricket 20 years ago | An old, healed finger injury doesn't help the dietitian. Selecting only relevant information is part of the writing score. |
| 3 | Which sentence is written in the most appropriate register for a letter to a colleague? | She has reported increasing fatigue over the past three months. | Professional, complete sentences with precise time references suit a referral letter. Slang and note form don't. |
| 4 | A patient is worried about starting a new medication. Which response shows empathy and invites them to talk? | I can see you're a bit worried about this. What concerns you most about starting it? | It acknowledges the feeling and asks an open question, which keeps the conversation patient-centred. |
| 5 | Which is the clearest way to explain 'hypertension' to a patient? | Your blood pressure is higher than it should be, which can strain your heart over time. | Plain words plus a short reason help the patient understand. Medical terms alone may confuse them. |
| 6 | A hospital guideline says: 'Staff should consider alternatives before using physical restraint, which is regarded as a last resort.' What does this suggest? | Other options should be tried first, and restraint used only when they aren't suitable. | 'A last resort' means it's used only after other options. It isn't banned (A), and nothing is said about seniority (D). |
Frequently asked questions
What score is OET grade B?
Grade B is a score of 350 to 440 in a sub-test. Each of the four sub-tests is scored from 0 to 500, in steps of 10, and there's no overall grade.
What OET scores does Ahpra ask for?
For tests taken on or after 23 April 2026, Ahpra's English language skills standard asks for listening 350, reading 360, writing 350 and speaking 360. Before that, it was B in listening, reading and speaking and C+ in writing. Nurses and midwives have their own standard, so check your National Board.
Can I combine OET results from two tests?
Ahpra accepts results from one sitting, or from at most two sittings within 12 months, with minimum scores in each sitting. Check the current standard on the Ahpra website before you book.
Is C+ a pass in OET?
OET has no pass score. C+ is 300 to 340. Whether it's enough depends on who you're applying to, so check their exact requirement.
How long does it take to go from C+ to B?
It depends on the sub-test and how much you practise. Many people need several weeks of focused practice in their weakest sub-test, usually writing or speaking.
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