OET score chart: what 350, grade B and C+ really mean before you send your result
Published 6 min read
You open your OET results and see four numbers and four letters. If you read them the wrong way, you could book a retake you did not need, or send a result to a regulator or visa office that falls one step short in a single sub-test. That can mean lost test fees and weeks of delay for your registration or visa.
This guide explains the OET score chart in plain words: how the 0-500 scale works, which scores sit in grades A and B, where C+ starts, and how to compare your own result with the numbers a regulator or visa office asks for.
How the OET score chart works
OET tests four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Listening and Reading are the same for every candidate, while Writing and Speaking are written for your profession, such as nursing or medicine. The official OET pages describe both parts.
Each of the four sub-tests gets its own result. The official OET results and scoring page explains that every sub-test is reported on a scale from 0 to 500 in ten-point steps, and each score is matched to a letter grade from A, the highest, to E, the lowest.
Why there are two ways to read one result
The number and the letter tell you the same thing at two levels of detail. The letter grade is the band your score falls in. The number is the exact point on the scale. Most regulators and visa offices now write their requirements as numbers, so the number on your report is the one to check first.
Each sub-test stands on its own
When an organisation sets a minimum for each skill, a high score in one sub-test does not make up for a low score in another. A nurse with 420 in Reading and 340 in Speaking has not met a minimum of 350 for each skill, even though one of the scores is well above it.
The grades in numbers: A, B and C+
The OET Test Handbook, published on the official OET website, sets out the score range for each grade. These are the ranges most healthcare candidates need to know.
| Grade | Score on the 0-500 scale | What it usually means for you |
|---|---|---|
| A | 450 to 500 | The top band of the scale |
| B | 350 to 440 | The grade many healthcare regulators ask for in most skills |
| C+ | From 300 | Accepted for Writing by some regulators, alongside B in the other skills |
| C, D and E | Below C+ | Lower grades; E is the lowest on the scale |
Two details catch people out. First, grade B is a wide band: 350 and 440 are both a B, but they are far apart if a visa level asks for a number near the top. Second, C+ is not the same as C. When a regulator asks for C+ in Writing, it means a score of at least 300.
What "OET 350" means
A score of 350 is the lowest score inside grade B. If a requirement says "grade B" or "350 or above", then 350 is enough and 340 is not. Nothing is rounded up, so a result one step below the line does not count.
Reading your result against real requirements
The score you need depends on who will read your result. Here are the official numbers for some common destinations. Requirements change, so open the linked page before you book or apply.
Nurses in the UK
The Nursing and Midwifery Council accepts OET (Nursing) with at least grade B, 350 or above, in Reading, Listening and Speaking, and at least grade C+, 300 or above, in Writing. OET@Home is included.
Nurses and doctors in New Zealand
The Nursing Council of New Zealand needs OET 350 or more for Reading, Listening and Speaking and 300 for Writing. If your scores come from more than one sitting, they must be achieved within 12 months of your first sitting. The Medical Council of New Zealand accepts OET (Medical) with at least 350 in Speaking, Listening and Reading and 300 in Writing.
Australian visas
For Australian visas, Home Affairs sets different OET minimums for each English level and each skill, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. This is where reading the number, not just the letter, matters most.
| English level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competent English | 290 | 310 | 290 | 330 |
| Proficient English | 350 | 360 | 380 | 360 |
| Superior English | 390 | 400 | 420 | 400 |
Look at Proficient English: a grade B result of 350 for each skill would meet the Listening minimum but fall short in Reading, Writing and Speaking. The earlier article on why grade B may be too low for Proficient English explains this gap in more detail.
How long an OET result counts
The OET Test Handbook says there is no single validity period for OET results. Each organisation that accepts OET decides how long it will accept a result. Before you sit the test, check two things on the organisation's own page: the minimum score for each skill, and how old a result may be on the day you apply. If you need several sittings, check whether the organisation accepts scores from different sittings and within what time, as the Nursing Council of New Zealand rule above shows.
Turning your score report into a study plan
Your result tells you where to put your effort next. Work through these steps the day you get your scores.
- Write down the requirement for each skill from the official page of the regulator or visa office you are applying to.
- Put your four numbers next to it and mark each skill as met or not met. Ignore the letter grade at this stage.
- Find the gap in points for every skill that is not met. A gap of one or two steps needs a different plan from a gap of several.
- Read the criteria for the weak skill. OET Writing is assessed on purpose, content, conciseness and clarity, genre and style, organisation and layout, and language, so a low Writing score often comes from one or two of these, not all of them.
- Practise that skill under test timing and review every answer, then check your progress again before you book.
For Listening and Reading, PractiseNow checks your answers instantly with a question-by-question review, free on every plan. For OET Writing and Speaking, PractiseNow has clinical letters and role-plays for nursing and medicine, with AI feedback that gives an estimated score and line-by-line corrections. Every score on PractiseNow is a practice estimate, not an official OET result, and it may differ from one. If you are focusing on the letter, the guide to writing an OET letter for a C+ walks through each part.
When you are ready to see where you stand in each sub-test, you can start practising free. If you need more letters or role-plays marked, you can compare passes.
If you are also building a CV for a healthcare job abroad, Build AI CV shows how to place your OET result and registration near the top.
Frequently asked questions
Is 350 a pass in OET?
A score of 350 is the start of grade B, which many regulators ask for. Whether it is enough depends on the organisation reading your result and the skill it is for.
What score is a C+ in OET?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council describes C+ as 300 or above. Some regulators accept C+ in Writing alongside grade B in the other skills.
Can a high score in one sub-test make up for a low one?
Not when the requirement sets a minimum for each skill. Each sub-test is checked on its own against its minimum.
How long is my OET result valid?
There is no global validity period. Each organisation that accepts OET decides how long a result counts, so check its official page before you apply.
Last checked: 4 November 2026 against the official pages linked above.
