Can You Combine OET Results From Two Sittings? Rules by Regulator (2026)

Sources: the official Ahpra, NMC, NMBI and ECFMG pages and the GMC’s published English language guidance. Rules change — confirm with your regulator before you book a second sitting.

Combining does not mean re-sitting a single sub-test. Each sitting is a full OET with all four sub-tests, and the regulator takes the qualifying score for each sub-test from either sitting. Two conditions usually apply:

• A time window. Both sittings must fall within a set period — 12 months for Ahpra and the NMC.
• Floor scores. No score in either sitting may drop below a minimum. A sitting where you had an off day in one sub-test can disqualify that whole sitting from being combined, even if you don’t need that score.

Worked example (NMC). Sitting 1: Listening 370, Reading 360, Writing 280, Speaking 340. Sitting 2: Listening 330, Reading 350, Writing 310, Speaking 360. Across the two you have a B in Listening (370), Reading (360 or 350) and Speaking (360), and C+ in Writing (310). Every score in both sittings is at least 300 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and at least 250 in Writing — so the combination is valid for the NMC.

The same scores under Ahpra’s 2026 rules would not work: the minimum is 360 for Reading and Speaking and 350 for Writing, and Ahpra’s floors (320 / 340 / 350 / 350) rule out a sitting with a 280 or 310 in Writing.

For tests taken on or after 23 April 2026 Ahpra requires 350 Listening, 360 Reading, 350 Writing and 360 Speaking. You may use results from up to two sittings within 12 months, but no score in either sitting can be below 320 in Listening, 340 in Reading, 350 in Writing or 350 in Speaking. Note that the Writing floor equals the Writing minimum — in practice, both sittings need a Writing score of at least 350.

Tests taken on or before 22 April 2026 are assessed against the previous standard: B in Listening, Reading and Speaking and C+ in Writing, with no score in either sitting below C+. Ahpra accepts OET on Paper or on Computer at a test centre; OET@Home is not accepted. See our full Ahpra OET guide.

The NMC requires B (350) in Listening, Reading and Speaking and C+ (300) in Writing. You can combine two sittings taken within 12 months of each other, as long as every score across both sittings is at least C+ (300) in Listening, Reading and Speaking and at least C (250) in Writing. Both tests must be completed within two years of the NMC assessing your application. The NMC accepts OET on Paper, on Computer and OET@Home — and you can combine an OET@Home result with a paper or computer one. More in our NMC OET guide.

• GMC (UK doctors): Grade B (350) in all four sub-tests of OET Medicine, achieved in the same test.
• NMBI (Ireland): B in Listening, Reading and Speaking and C+ in Writing on OET Nursing, from one test result — NMBI states it does not accept combined results, and does not accept OET@Home.
• ECFMG (2027 Pathways): 350 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 300 in Writing on OET Medicine, all in one test administration taken on or after 1 January 2025. See our ECFMG guide for the January 2027 deadline.

If you are applying to one of these, a near miss means sitting the whole test again and reaching every minimum on the same day — so plan your preparation around your weakest sub-test, not your average.

• Check the floor scores before you rebook. If your first sitting has a score under the floor, it can’t be combined — your second sitting will need to meet every minimum on its own.
• Don’t neglect your strong sub-tests. Floors apply to the second sitting too. A rushed Listening on the second attempt can invalidate the combination.
• Watch the window. Book the second sitting so that it — and the results release — fall inside the 12 months.
• Close to the line? If you missed by 10–20 points in Writing or Speaking, read should you request a re-mark or retake first — the re-mark window closes 72 hours after results come out.

Use the OET score calculator to check your scores against each regulator’s minimums in seconds.