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10 Sep 2018
The Occupational English Test (OET) will be publishing test results in an updated format soon.
All National Boards have a registration standard for English language skills which require applicants for initial registration to demonstrate English language skills to be suitable for registration. The OET is one of the English language skills tests accepted by most National Boards.
OET scores will continue to be reported using the current letter grade scale (A – E); however, in addition to this, a new numerical scale (0 – 500) will be used alongside the letter grade when reporting candidate scores. The new numerical scale takes effect for tests taken from 9 September 2018 onwards. Results showing the new numerical grades together with OET letter grades will be released from 2 October onwards.
The English language level being tested by OET remains the same. Test takers are not being measured differently, with the only change being the way the OET scores are described. As such, the National Boards’ English language skills registration standards referring to OET have not changed. Rather, updates have been made to internal systems and relevant application forms to accommodate and reflect the new numerical scale.
National Boards’ registration standards require a minimum OET score of B to demonstrate the English language skills suitable for registration. As of 9 September, AHPRA will continue to accept a minimum score of B, or a minimum score of 350 (the equivalent of a B) on the new numerical scale in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking) to meet the standards.
Most applicants who need to take an English language test to demonstrate they meet the standard can choose to sit either the OET, IELTS, TOEFL iBT or Pearson tests. The NZREX and PLAB tests are for medical applicants only.
National Boards and AHPRA encourage applicants to review the standard that applies to their profession, which sets out the ways applicants can demonstrate that their competency in speaking and communicating in English is sufficient to practise.