OET Band Scores Explained

How OET grading works, and the score most nursing regulators ask for.

By SpeakOET Team · July 4, 2026

Grades and numeric scores

Each of the four OET sub-tests — Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking — is graded separately, both as a letter grade (A being the highest, E the lowest) and as a numeric score out of 500, in steps of 10. There is no single "overall" score that averages the four together — regulators look at your result on each sub-test individually.

As a rough guide, an OET Grade B roughly corresponds to the middle-to-upper band of the 500-point scale, and is the level most healthcare regulators ask for. Exact grade boundaries are set and occasionally adjusted by OET, so treat any specific numbers you see (including here) as a general guide rather than the final word.

What score do you actually need?

Requirements are set by the regulator you're registering with — not by OET itself — and they do change over time. As a starting point:

• UK (NMC) — typically Grade B or higher in each sub-test.
• Australia (Ahpra / NMBA) — typically Grade B or higher in each sub-test.
• New Zealand (Nursing Council) — typically Grade B or higher in each sub-test.

Because these requirements are set by each regulator and can change, always confirm the current pass mark on your target regulator's official website before you sit the test — don't rely solely on this page or on forum posts.

Why Speaking is often the hardest sub-test

Many candidates comfortably clear Grade B on Reading and Listening but stall on Speaking, because it's scored on live, unscripted performance rather than a written answer you can prepare in advance. The fix is the same as for any performance skill: repeated, realistic practice with feedback — not just reading about the exam.