The rule for pharmacists in Australia
For Australian pharmacists, the Pharmacy Board uses the Ahpra English standard rather than the GPhC’s British rule. Both Listening and Writing currently require 350, but the Australian Reading and Speaking thresholds are 360 for tests from 23 April 2026. The British four-B profile is therefore an incomplete guide for an Australian application. Ahpra allows results from up to two complete sittings within twelve months under its component-floor conditions; maintaining Writing at 350 in each sitting is part of that calculation.
| Requirement | Pharmacy Board of Australia / Ahpra |
|---|---|
| Listening | 350 (B) |
| Reading | 360 (B) |
| Writing | 350 (B) |
| Speaking | 360 (B) |
| One sitting / combining | Up to two sittings within 12 months can be combined. You must sit all four sub-tests each time, and neither sitting can go below Listening 320, Reading 340, Writing 350 or Speaking 350. Results from a different English test can't be mixed in. |
| Validity | 2 years. If you combine two sittings, the 2 years run from the earlier one. |
| OET@Home accepted? | Not accepted. Paper-based tests and computer tests at a test venue are accepted; the boards have accepted the remotely delivered Speaking part of a venue computer test. |
| Profession version | Ahpra accepts any profession-specific OET test; these practice links use pharmacy. |
Last checked 21 Oct 2026. Official rule ↗
What to aim for in practice
A medicine-counselling explanation can sound fluent while missing the patient’s actual difficulty. Record a Pharmacy role-play, listen for whether you asked how the medicine is being taken, and check whether the agreed action responds to the answer. In the written task, bring the medicine-review request to the front and support it with the relevant adherence or interaction details. Track Reading progress separately so that familiar medicine vocabulary does not conceal errors in locating the required fact.
| Skill | Official component target / floor | OETAce conservative practice guide |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 350 (B) | 32/42 gives an estimated 350–370 |
| Reading | 360 (B) | 33/42 gives an estimated 360–380 |
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 Pharmacy practice
Pharmacy guide and sample tasks · Pharmacists role-play cards · Sample letter task
Speaking cards
- Codeine cough syrup request for a toddler Community pharmacy
- Stopping metformin because of stomach upset Community pharmacy
- Warfarin patient wanting ibuprofen for back pain Community pharmacy
Writing case notes
- Poor preventer adherence in an asthmatic patient update letter
- Frequent NSAID purchases in a patient with kidney disease update letter
- School principal asking about a student's adrenaline autoinjector response letter
Free full Listening test · Free Reading Part A · Practice plans and prices
Questions candidates ask
What OET score do pharmacists need in Australia?
Australia Pharmacy Board of Australia / Ahpra: pharmacists need Listening 350 (B), Reading 360 (B), Writing 350 (B) and Speaking 360 (B) for tests from 23 April 2026; OET@Home is not accepted.
Can pharmacists combine OET sittings for Australia?
Up to two sittings within 12 months can be combined. You must sit all four sub-tests each time, and neither sitting can go below Listening 320, Reading 340, Writing 350 or Speaking 350. Results from a different English test can't be mixed in.
How long are OET results valid for pharmacists in Australia?
2 years. If you combine two sittings, the 2 years run from the earlier one.
Other destinations for pharmacists: UK.
Sources
Last checked 21 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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