The rule for nurses in UK
UK nursing applicants should use the NMC Nursing rule, rather than the GMC Medicine rule. The NMC permits C+ in Writing while retaining B in the other three skills. Its combining policy is a separate eligibility test: two results with complementary strengths are not automatically usable if a component falls below the permitted minimum. The Nursing version also covers applicants to the midwifery register because there is no separate OET Midwifery examination. Preserve both Statements of Results if you plan to use two sittings.
| Requirement | NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) |
|---|---|
| Listening | 350 (B) |
| Reading | 350 (B) |
| Writing | 300 (C+) |
| Speaking | 350 (B) |
| One sitting / combining | Two sittings no more than 12 months apart can be combined, and both must be within 2 years when your application is assessed. You sit all four sub-tests each time. Neither sitting can go below C+ (300) in Listening, Reading or Speaking, or below 250 in Writing. |
| Validity | 2 years. |
| OET@Home accepted? | Accepted, and an OET@Home result can be combined with a paper or computer result. The Speaking test must be with a live interlocutor. |
| Profession version | Take the Nursing version. OET has no separate midwifery version, so midwives sit Nursing too. |
Last checked 24 Oct 2026. Official rule ↗
What to aim for in practice
A Writing estimate around 300 may be close to the NMC threshold while a Listening estimate at the same level is still well short. Work through the free consultation notes without pausing, then classify lost marks as a missed correction, a spelling error or a detail attached to the wrong person. For nursing role-plays, practise a patient explanation and a safety-net check, using the original cards linked below.
| 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 |
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 UK?
The NMC needs OET grade B (350 or more) in Listening, Reading and Speaking and C+ (300 or more) in Writing, and it accepts paper, computer and OET@Home results.
Can nurses combine OET sittings for UK?
Two sittings no more than 12 months apart can be combined, and both must be within 2 years when your application is assessed. You sit all four sub-tests each time. Neither sitting can go below C+ (300) in Listening, Reading or Speaking, or below 250 in Writing.
How long are OET results valid for nurses in UK?
2 years.
Other destinations for nurses: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, US, Canada, UAE, Malta.
Sources
Last checked 24 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.