OET (Occupational English Test) for nurses · Learn · 2 November 2026 · 5 min read
OET scores and grade B explained: the 0-500 scale and 30 of 42
How OET scoring works: the 0 to 500 scale, grades A to E, grade B at 350, the at-least-30-of-42 guide for Listening and Reading, results and re-marks.
OET reports each of its four sub-tests on a 0 to 500 scale in steps of ten, and each scale score maps to a letter grade from A (highest) to E (lowest). Grade B is a scale score of 350. For Listening and Reading, which each have 42 one-mark questions, OET says that candidates awarded grade B typically achieve at least 30 marks, and that the number varies slightly between test versions. So 30 out of 42 is a useful guide, not a fixed raw pass mark.
This guide explains the scale, what the 30-mark guide really means, how results are released and how to use practice scores.
The scale at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sub-tests | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking, each reported separately |
| Scale | 0 to 500, in steps of 10 |
| Grades | A (highest) to E (lowest) |
| Grade B | Scale score 350 |
| Listening and Reading marks | 42 each, 1 mark per question, converted to the 500 scale |
| The 30-mark guide | Grade B candidates typically achieve at least 30 of 42 |
How Listening and Reading are scored
Both sub-tests have 42 questions, and each correct answer earns one mark:
- Listening: Part A 24, Part B 6, Part C 12.
- Reading: Part A 20, Part B 6, Part C 16.
Your total out of 42 is converted to a scale score out of 500. OET writes new tests for each session, so the conversion is not identical every time. That is why OET describes the grade B figure as what grade B candidates typically achieve, and says it varies slightly by test version.
What "at least 30" really means
- It is a guide. On one version, 30 marks may be enough for 350; on another, you might need a mark more or a mark less.
- It leaves little room. Thirty out of 42 means you can drop about 12 marks. In Listening Part A and Reading Part A, a few spelling or word-form slips can use up that margin quickly.
- Aim higher in practice. If your practice scores sit at exactly 30, a slightly harder version or a few nerves on the day could take you below grade B. A margin of three or four marks gives you a safer buffer.
Writing and Speaking
Writing and Speaking are reported on the same 0 to 500 scale with the same letter grades. They are not made up of one-mark questions, so OET publishes no "number correct" guide for them. Writing is one task in 45 minutes (5 minutes reading time and 40 minutes writing); Speaking is about 20 minutes with two role plays. Unlike Listening and Reading, both are set in your own profession.
Which grade do you need?
The grade you need is set by the organisation that asks for your result, such as a regulator or an employer. Check their current requirement directly, including whether they need a grade in each sub-test and whether they accept results from more than one sitting. Do not rely on a figure from a forum or an old guide.
OET lists several regulators that accept OET on Computer, including AHPRA, the GMC, the NMC, the HCPC and NMBI. Note that OET@Home is not accepted by all regulators, so check before you book that mode.
Results and re-marks
- OET on Computer and OET@Home: results in as little as 48 hours, with 95% released within 6 calendar days.
- OET on Paper: results in about 12 to 13 days (as little as 5 days in India and 6 in the Philippines).
- Re-marks: you can request a re-mark within 72 hours of receiving your results.
How to use practice scores
Our OET practice tests give you a number correct out of 42. They use 30 as a rough grade B guide, because that is the figure OET publishes, but they cannot give you an official scale score.
- Track your raw score over time. One test tells you little; a steady trend across several tells you a lot.
- Look at where marks go. If most lost marks are in Part A, work on exact words and spelling. If they are in Part C, work on opinion and attitude questions.
- Set a target above 30. Aim for 33 or more on practice tests before you book.
- Practise both sub-tests. Listening and Reading are reported separately, so a strong Reading score does not make up for a weak Listening score.
Start with OET Listening practice test 1 or OET Reading practice test 7. For strategy, read OET Listening for nurses and OET Reading Part A in 15 minutes. Everything is on the OET hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is 30 out of 42 an official pass mark?
No. OET publishes it as what grade B candidates typically achieve, and says the number varies slightly between test versions. Use it as a guide.
Are Writing and Speaking scored out of 42?
No. They are reported on the same 0 to 500 scale and A to E grades, but they are not made up of one-mark questions.
Key points
- Each sub-test: 0 to 500 in steps of ten, grades A to E.
- Grade B = 350.
- Listening and Reading: grade B candidates typically achieve at least 30 of 42; the figure varies slightly by version.
- Check the grade you need with your regulator or other organisation.
Official sources: oet.com "Results and scoring" page, Listening and Reading pages, test mode pages and the OET Test Handbook 2026 (format tables), read on 1 November 2026.