Free OET guide · Scores and grades
OET score chart: every grade and what it means
Each OET sub-test is scored from 0 to 500, in steps of ten, and given a grade from A to E. There is no overall score: you get four results, one each for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
In short
- Grade B is 350 to 440. Most regulators ask for B in each sub-test.
- In Reading and Listening, B usually takes about 30 of the 42 marks.
- The NMC accepts C+ (300) in Writing; the GMC asks for B in all four.
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OET grades and scores
| Grade | Score | In short |
|---|---|---|
| A | 450 to 500 | Very fluent and accurate. Communicates effectively with patients and colleagues. |
| B | 350 to 440 | Communicates effectively, with only occasional mistakes or hesitation. The grade most regulators ask for. |
| C+ | 300 to 340 | Keeps the conversation going in a healthcare setting, despite occasional errors and lapses. |
| C | 200 to 290 | Can handle some straightforward communication, with clear limits. |
| D | 100 to 190 | Frequent errors make communication hard work. |
| E | 0 to 90 | Very limited English for healthcare work. |
“In short” is our plain summary of OET's grade descriptions. OET publishes the full wording on its own website.
Reading and Listening: marks out of 42 for each grade
| Grade | Marks out of 42 (estimate) |
|---|---|
| A | 38 to 42 |
| B | 30 to 37 |
| C+ | 26 to 29 |
| C | 18 to 25 |
| D | 9 to 17 |
| E | 0 to 8 |
An estimate: OET doesn't publish its conversion and moves the boundaries slightly for each test version. It says Grade B usually needs about 30 of 42. Type your own marks into the OET score calculator to see the score.
A real-format Reading test with no account, marked straight away. A free practice day on everything else, no card needed.
What grade do I need?
- NMC (nurses and midwives, UK): at least B (350) in Reading, Listening and Speaking, and at least C+ (300) in Writing.
- GMC (doctors, UK): at least B (350) in all four sub-tests.
- Other regulators and employers: each sets its own grades, usually B in every sub-test. Look on their website.
The NMC can also accept grades from two sittings put together, if both results meet its conditions, including a lowest score allowed in each sub-test. Our guide to combining two OET results for the NMC goes through them with the NMC's own examples.
Rules change: check nmc.org.uk or gmc-uk.org before you book.
How Writing and Speaking get their score
They aren't marked out of 42. Trained assessors grade your letter on six criteria and your two role-plays on nine (four for language, five for clinical communication), and the result goes on the same 0 to 500 scale. To see where you stand, have a letter or a role-play marked on the same criteria.
OET score questions
What is the OET pass mark?
OET has no single pass mark. Each sub-test gets its own score from 0 to 500 and a grade from A to E, and the organisation you apply to sets the grade you need. For most regulators that is Grade B (350) in each sub-test, though some accept C+ (300) in Writing.
Is 340 a pass in OET?
340 is Grade C+, ten points below Grade B. Whether it is enough depends on who you apply to and which sub-test it is. The NMC, for example, accepts C+ in Writing but asks for B in Reading, Listening and Speaking.
Does OET give an overall score?
No. OET never adds up or averages the four sub-tests. You get four separate scores and grades, and each one has to meet the grade asked for on its own.
How many marks do I need for Grade B in Reading or Listening?
OET says Grade B usually needs about 30 of the 42 marks. The exact boundary moves a little between test versions, so aim for a few more than 30 to be safe.
How long is an OET result valid?
The organisation you apply to decides how old a result can be, often two years. The NMC and GMC set their own limits, so check their websites.
Clodia's practice scores are estimates. Only OET issues official results, on your Statement of Results.