OET (Occupational English Test) : OET Assessment

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Listening and Reading

There is no fixed score-to-grade link for these sub-tests. The grades are re-set for each administration. This is because different test materials are used at each administration and, as explained on the sub-test information page for Reading, one or more items may be deleted if found not to contribute to the overall reliability of the sub-test.

The Listening and Reading sub-test scores allow all candidates taking each sub-test at the same administration to be listed from strongest performance to weakest performance. The next step is to establish where the boundaries between the grades (A-E) are. This is done by taking the grades set for the Writing sub-test and the Speaking sub-test for the same administration of the OET. A mean average of the percentage in each grade for these two sub-tests is taken and applied to the spread of performances on the Listening and Reading sub-tests.

For example, if 8% of candidates have grade A for Writing and 10% have grade A for Speaking, the average is 9%. Then, the strongest 9% of candidates in the Listening and Reading sub-tests are also awarded a grade A for those sub-tests. This process is carried out for all five grades.

Assessment of the Reading sub-test

When candidates sit the reading test, they will get a raw score on Part A (between 25 and 35 depending on the number of items on that particular test) and a raw score on Part B (between 16 and 20 depending on the number of items on that particular test). Scores will then be converted to a total score for the reading test in which a candidate' score for Part A counts for 33.33% (one-third) of the total score, and the score for Part B counts for 66.66% (two-thirds) of the total score. A candidate's total score for the reading test will then be transformed into a grade (A – E).

Writing and Speaking

The 'fair score' generated by the statistical analysis of the two sets of scores from two independent assessors of each candidate's Writing script or Speaking recording becomes the final grade through a direct conversion following established practice.

Issuing of results

Test takers receive a band conversion of the fair-score via mail in the form of a ‘Statement of Results’. The Statement of Results shows the scores obtained at the most recent sitting (results for the four sub-tests that make up the OET are reported as one of five grades - A to E with A being the highest grade and E the lowest), as well as scores obtained on all sittings within the previous two years. Test takers are also able to access an overview of their latest test grades via their OET website online profile, 19 business days after each test day. Official, hard copy Statements of Results are mailed within five business days of the publication of results in online profiles.

Boards and councils can access results via the OET website. Registration authorities are encouraged to register for secure access to the site to check individual results; access to the online verification system is controlled by OET Centre management. In order to gain access, managers working for health profession Assessing/Registration Authorities can apply for individual staff members to have secure access to the relevant function of the OET website. At present a number of staff of the DIAC Skilled Processing Centre (Adelaide) and staff of 13 Australian & New Zealand Health Profession bodies are registered to do so.

How are OET results reported?

Candidates receive results for the four sub-tests that make up the OET as one of five grades – A to E.

A is the highest grade, E is the lowest.

There are descriptions for each grade on the printed Statement of Results candidates receive:

OET Grade	Description of ability
A	Very high level of performance
B	High level of performance; i.e., able to use English with fluency and accuracy adequate for professional needs
C	Good level of performance; however, not acceptable to a range of health and medical councils
D	Moderate level of performance; requires improvement
E	Low level of performance: requires considerable improvement

There is no overall grade; candidates receive a separate grade for each sub-test he/she takes.

Most boards and councils that recognize the OET require candidates to have at least a B grade in each of the four sub-tests. Candidates may receive different grades for your performances in different sub-tests. There are many aspects to being able to use and communicate in a language effectively and the OET tests many of these across the four sub-tests. Test design separates test materials into the four macro-skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) for practical reasons and to acknowledge that these involve different sub-skills and strategies.

OET results are valid usually for a period of two years, but candidates should check with the boards and councils that regulate his/her profession to confirm. Each sub-test has its own two-year validity. A set of results for the four sub-tests is valid for as long as the oldest satisfactory sub-test result remains valid.