The rule for nurses in Ireland
NMBI’s flexibility is about which skill can be at C+, not about combining different examination dates. Irish nursing applicants can have 300 in any one component if the other three are at least 350 in the same sitting. For example, Listening 350, Reading 300, Writing 350 and Speaking 350 fits that pattern; Reading 300 and Writing 300 together does not. Do not copy an NMC checklist that reserves the lower score for Writing. NMBI does not accept OET@Home.
| Requirement | NMBI (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) |
|---|---|
| Listening | 350 (B) |
| Reading | 350 (B) |
| Writing | 300 (C+) |
| Speaking | 350 (B) |
| Flexible score profile | B (350) in three sub-tests and C+ (300) is accepted in any one sub-test. |
| One sitting / combining | Not allowed. NMBI accepts results from one sitting only. |
| Validity | 2 years. |
| OET@Home accepted? | Not accepted. |
| Profession version | Take the Nursing version. OET has no separate midwifery version, so midwives sit Nursing too. |
Last checked 21 Oct 2026. Official rule ↗
What to aim for in practice
Use a complete practice profile to identify your one weaker component. If both Reading and Writing are near 300, improving just one of them to B can change the profile considerably, but the official result still has to satisfy the single-sitting rule. In Nursing Writing, practise discharge information for a community nurse: distinguish care that continues at home from treatment already completed in hospital.
| Skill | Official component target / floor | OETAce conservative practice guide |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 350 (B) | 32/42 gives an estimated 350–370 |
| Reading | 350 (B) | 32/42 gives an estimated 350–370 |
The table uses a B target as a planning reference. Apply the flexible profile above to the complete result; it is not four unconditional B cut-offs.
These raw-mark ranges use the same estimate as our test marker. They are a study aid, not an official OET conversion or registration decision. Part A alone cannot predict a score for a full 42-question test. Review Writing and Speaking feedback separately.
Matching Nursing practice
Nursing guide and sample tasks · Nurses role-play cards · Sample letter task
Speaking cards
- Post-operative pain management Surgical ward
- Community visit: patient removing compression bandages Patient's home (community nursing visit)
- Bronchiolitis: father wants antibiotics and to take his baby home Paediatric ward
Writing case notes
- Discharge to the community nursing service: new insulin and diabetic foot ulcer discharge letter
- Transfer to residential aged care after a stroke: dysphagia and pressure injury transfer letter
- Referral to pulmonary rehabilitation after a COPD admission referral letter
Free full Listening test · Free Reading Part A · Practice plans and prices
Questions candidates ask
What OET score do nurses need in Ireland?
NMBI needs OET grade B (350 or more) in three sub-tests and at least C+ (300) in the fourth, all from a single sitting; OET@Home isn't accepted.
Can nurses combine OET sittings for Ireland?
Not allowed. NMBI accepts results from one sitting only.
How long are OET results valid for nurses in Ireland?
2 years.
Other destinations for nurses: Australia, UK, New Zealand, US, Canada, UAE, Malta.
Sources
Last checked 21 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
OETAce is an independent practice site. OET is a registered trademark of Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment (CBLA); we are not affiliated with or endorsed by CBLA. All practice material here is original.