For medical professionals hoping to work or study in English-speaking nations, the Occupational English Test (OET) is an important portal. Designed specifically for the health industry, the OET tests language communication skills in a healthcare environment, making it very suitable for nurses, physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. But more than test preparation, it’s important to know how the OET scoring system operates—because knowing what’s required can mean the difference between success and exasperation.

In this blog, we will take a close look at the OET scoring system: how the test is organized, what each grade represents, how scores are determined, and what you should target depending on your career aspirations.

Structure of the OET Exam

The OET consists of four sub-tests:

1. Listening (around 45 minutes)

2. Reading (60 minutes)

3. Writing (45 minutes)

4. Speaking (20 minutes)

Each of the sub-tests involves situations healthcare practitioners are most likely to face in actual practice settings. The Writing and Speaking sub-tests are professional-specific, while the Listening and Reading sections apply to all the healthcare professions.

How OET Is Scored

Each sub-test is marked separately. You will not have a single overall score; you will receive a grade for each of the four skills. These grades are from A (highest) to E (lowest), and they are matched to a numerical scale from 0 to 500.

 Here’s how marking is done:

Grade	Score Range	Proficiency Description
A	450–500	Very high level of performance
B	350–440	High level of performance; adequate for professional registration
C+	300–340	Adequate level of performance; may require improvement
C	200–290	Limited performance; not acceptable for many regulatory bodies
D	100–190	Very limited ability
E	0–90	Minimal ability

The majority of healthcare boards and councils demand a minimum of Grade B (350) in every sub-test. Some institutions or nations may accept a lower score in one, but it’s always preferable to aim for consistency in all four modules.

Detailed Overview of Each Sub-test’s Scoring

Listening and Reading

The Reading and Listening sections are tested through objective marking techniques. The sections contain multiple-choice questions, matching exercises, and fill-in-the-blanks based on written or taped material. The raw score (the number of correct answers) is equated to a numerical score out of 500, which is then mapped to the respective grade.

There is no negative marking, so you must always try to answer every question.

Writing

The Writing sub-test is writing a letter (often a referral, discharge, or transfer letter) from a case note.

It is marked by trained OET assessors using a set of precise criteria:

1. Purpose

2. Content

3. Conciseness & Clarity

4. Genre & Style

5. Organization & Layout

6. Language

Each of the criteria is marked separately and then combined to provide a final mark. Marking is not subjective; the assessors work to a rigid, standardized rubric to provide fairness.

Speaking

This sub-test consists of two role-plays with an interlocutor who acts as a patient or caregiver. 

Similar to Writing, it is graded by trained examiners based on:

1. Intelligibility

2. Fluency

3. Appropriateness of language

4. Relationship-building

5. Information-gathering

6. Information-giving

In both cases, the examiners use precise descriptors to award a score.

Score Validity and Re-sitting the Exam

The two-year validity applies to OET results. You can re-sit the whole test or, in some healthcare boards, you can re-sit only failed sections (modular re-sitting), given that the rest of the results are still within their validity periods.

Tips to Improve Your OET Score

1. Know the Assessment Criteria: Find out what the assessors look for in Writing and Speaking.

2. Practice with Official Materials: Practice with materials developed or approved by OET to get used to the structure and requirements.
3. Get Expert Feedback: Train with experienced trainers who can provide you with tailored feedback on areas for improvement.

4. Simulate Real Test Conditions: Practice under timed conditions and in environments that replicate the actual test to gain confidence.

5. Work on Weak Areas: Review your practice test results to pinpoint and focus on weaker areas.

Conclusion

Learning the OET scoring system is not only learning numbers—it’s learning how to match your preparation to the needs of regulatory authorities and creating realistic, strategic objectives. If you’re looking to work in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, or other countries, a good grasp of the OET framework can direct your study plan effectively and efficiently.

We, at Let’s Update, strive to make the dreams of healthcare professionals come true. Let’s Update is the top OET coaching center in Kerala that provides expert guidance on online OET coaching in Kerala and classroom courses in Kochi. As the best OET coaching center in Kochi, we deliver first-class training for healthcare professionals. We also provide the finest OET training in Ernakulam and best IELTS coaching in Kochi to facilitate students to achieve their dream score.