OET Scoring Criteria Explained: What Examiners Are Looking For

Levi Cheptora

Sun, 08 Jun 2025

Preparing for the Occupational English Test (OET) can be daunting, especially when it comes to understanding how your performance will be evaluated. The OET's scoring criteria are tailored to assess your English proficiency in a healthcare setting, which is crucial for effective communication in medical environments. This blog post provides an in-depth look at the OET’s scoring criteria, what examiners are looking for, and invaluable strategies to help you meet and exceed those expectations.

A Quick Overview of the OET Test Structure

The OET assesses four language skills, each tailored to the healthcare context:

1. Listening: Understanding spoken English in medical scenarios.
2. Reading: Comprehending healthcare-related texts.
3. Writing: Crafting a letter, usually a referral, discharge, or transfer letter.
4. Speaking: Conducting role-play conversations in medical scenarios.

Each of these sections is evaluated against specific criteria, and your goal is to meet or exceed these standards to demonstrate your proficiency. Let’s delve into each of these in detail.

Understanding the Scoring Criteria for Each OET Subtest

1. OET Listening and Reading Scoring Criteria

The Listening and Reading subtests are scored based on the number of correct answers, with no partial credit for incomplete or partially correct responses. The scores are reported on a scale from 0 to 500 in 10-point increments. Here’s what examiners are looking for:

• Listening: Your ability to understand spoken language in healthcare settings. It includes comprehension of consultations, lectures, and workplace conversations. You’ll be scored on:
  • Understanding specific details
  • Recognizing opinions or attitudes
  • Summarizing key points
• Reading: This assesses your ability to read and understand texts commonly found in healthcare environments, such as patient information, research articles, and treatment protocols. You'll need to demonstrate:
  • Understanding main ideas
  • Inferring meaning from context
  • Summarizing complex information

Tips for Success:

• Active listening: Practice by listening to healthcare podcasts and interviews.
• Speed reading: Focus on improving your reading speed without sacrificing comprehension. Tools like ReadTheory offer useful reading exercises.

2. OET Writing Scoring Criteria

The Writing subtest is one of the most challenging components. In this section, you are required to write a letter, usually a referral or discharge letter, based on a case note. This letter must be clear, accurate, and relevant to the recipient’s needs.

OET examiners assess your writing based on six criteria:

1. Purpose: The clarity and immediacy of the purpose of the letter.
2. Content: The relevance and accuracy of the information selected from the case notes.
3. Conciseness & Clarity: Avoiding unnecessary information and maintaining clarity throughout.
4. Genre & Style: Adherence to the appropriate style and tone for the letter type.
5. Organisation & Layout: Proper structuring of the letter, with logical progression of ideas.
6. Language: Grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and use of language appropriate to the professional context.

Common Pitfalls:

• Including irrelevant information or omitting key details.
• Using informal or overly technical language that doesn’t suit the recipient’s level of expertise.

Invaluable Tips:

• Plan your letter: Before you start writing, carefully analyze the case notes and decide which information is most important.
• Practice with case notes: Use websites like OET Writing Practice to access sample case notes and practice your skills.
• Feedback matters: Have peers or mentors review your writing to catch grammar errors or missed opportunities for clarity.

3. OET Speaking Scoring Criteria

The Speaking subtest is a role-play exercise where you’ll assume the role of a healthcare professional and interact with a patient or caregiver. Examiners assess your ability to engage effectively in medical consultations. They look for:

• Intelligibility: How clearly you pronounce words and how easy it is to understand your speech.
• Fluency: The flow of your speech, including the use of natural pauses and maintaining a conversational pace.
• Appropriateness of Language: Use of language suited to the patient’s level of understanding.
• Resources of Grammar and Expression: Demonstration of a wide range of grammatical structures and vocabulary.
• Relationship-Building: Your ability to establish rapport with the patient and handle sensitive issues with empathy.

Common Pitfalls:

• Over-complicating your language, which can make your speech less clear.
• Failing to engage with the patient, leading to a more robotic, less empathetic interaction.

Invaluable Tips:

• Simulate role-plays: Practice with a study partner, taking turns playing the healthcare provider and the patient.
• Use OET practice tools: Websites like OET Speaking offer role-play cards and scenarios.
• Focus on empathy: Remember, the examiners are looking for how well you can communicate with patients—not just your language skills but also your ability to build trust and offer reassurance.

Understanding OET’s Grade Scale

OET results are reported as grades ranging from A to E:

• Grade A (450-500): Indicates advanced proficiency, with the ability to communicate with ease in complex medical situations.
• Grade B (350-440): Represents competent proficiency, able to use English effectively in most healthcare scenarios.
• Grade C+ (300-340): Shows moderate proficiency, though further improvement is needed for certain tasks.
• Grade C (200-290): Suggests a limited ability to communicate effectively in healthcare contexts.
• Grade D and E (<200): Signifies inadequate language skills for professional settings.

Resources for OET Preparation and Practice

1. OET Official Website: The go-to source for official guidelines and practice materials. OET Official
2. OET Practice Tests: OET Practice Tests offers numerous practice tests for all subtests.
3. Occupational English Test Practice Materials: A hub for various study guides and resources. OET Practice Materials
4. Test Prep for Success: A tailored program offering strategies and tips for achieving high scores. Test Prep for Success
5. OET Preparation Books: Books like “OET Preparation Book” by Cambridge University Press provide comprehensive strategies.

Conclusion

Understanding OET’s scoring criteria is the key to success. By knowing what examiners are looking for in each section and focusing on specific strategies, you can significantly improve your chances of achieving a high score. Regular practice, utilizing the right resources, and familiarizing yourself with each subtest’s requirements will help you feel more confident and prepared on exam day.

Additional Resources

• OET Facebook Group: Join the OET Community on Facebook for support and tips from fellow test-takers.
• OET Speaking Practice: A free tool for practicing speaking role-plays. OET Speaking Practice
• OET Writing Guides: OET Writing Guide offers comprehensive writing tips and practice exercises.

By mastering these scoring criteria, you will not only pass the OET but also enhance your communication skills in a healthcare setting, improving both your professional practice and patient outcomes.