OET Grade B for Doctors: What a 350 Means and Which Regulators Ask for It
How OET scoring works (0 to 500 per sub-test), what grade B means, how many Listening and Reading answers you need, and how regulators in the UK and Australia use it.
Almost every doctor who takes the OET is aiming for one thing: grade B in each sub-test. Here is what that means in practice, how the scoring works and how to set a realistic target for your practice.
How OET scoring works
Each of the four sub-tests (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) is scored separately on a scale of 0 to 500, and each score maps to a grade. There is no single overall pass mark; regulators and employers set their own requirement for each sub-test.
| Grade | Score range |
|---|---|
| A | 450 to 500 |
| B | 350 to 440 |
| C+ | 300 to 340 |
| C | 200 to 290 |
| D | 100 to 190 |
| E | 0 to 90 |
What a 350 means for Listening and Reading
In Listening and Reading, your number of correct answers out of 42 is converted to the 0 to 500 scale, and 30 out of 42 corresponds to 350, the bottom of grade B. That is about 71 per cent, which is a practical target for your practice tests: if you are scoring 30 or more out of 42 consistently, you are working at grade B level in those sub-tests.
Writing and Speaking are judged by criteria
Writing and Speaking are not counted answers. Trained assessors score them against published criteria, such as how well the letter covers the relevant information and how clearly and appropriately you communicate. This is why practice with model answers matters more than a score. Our guides to the OET referral letter and speaking role-plays show what assessors look for.
Which regulators ask for grade B?
Many regulators for doctors, including the UK General Medical Council and the Medical Board of Australia, have asked for grade B in each of the four sub-tests. Some add rules about whether the grades must come from one sitting or within a time window, and how long a result remains valid. These rules are updated from time to time, so confirm the current wording on your regulator's website before you book. Our booking guide covers what to check.
How to use your practice results
- Take one full test in each skill under timed conditions to find your weakest sub-test.
- Aim for 30 or more correct out of 42 in Listening and Reading before booking.
- For Writing and Speaking, compare your work with model answers and rehearse the weak points.
- Track your scores over several tests, not just one.
On HighYield, Listening Test 1 is free and your results page shows your scores and what to practise next. The complete OET guide for doctors explains every sub-test.
This article is general information, not advice about your registration. Check the official OET website and your regulator for the current requirements.
More OET guides for doctors
- Free OET Listening Test Online for Doctors: Try a Practice Test
- OET Exam Fee and Booking from Pakistan: What to Check Before You Pay
- OET for Doctors: A Complete Guide to the Test, Scores and Preparation
- OET Listening Tips for Doctors: How to Score Higher in Each Part
- OET Reading Strategy: How to Tackle Parts A, B and C
- OET Writing for Doctors: How to Write a Referral Letter That Scores Well
- OET Speaking for Doctors: How to Handle the Role-Plays
- OET vs IELTS for Doctors: Which English Test Should You Take?
- An 8-Week OET Study Plan for Busy Doctors
Practise for the OET on HighYield
Put this into practice with HighYield OET Practice for doctors, a full practice area built around the real exam. Start with the free listening test, then work through every sub-test:
- OET Listening practice tests: Parts A, B and C with audio
- OET Reading practice tests: Parts A, B and C with answers and evidence
- OET Writing tasks: referral letters with model answers and scoring
- OET Speaking role-plays: doctor role-plays to rehearse out loud
Ready to practise for the OET?
Listening, reading, writing and speaking practice for doctors, with a free listening test to start.
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