OET Requirements
OET Re-mark or Retake? How to Decide When You Just Missed Your Score
October 5, 2026 · 8 min read
Missing your target by 10 points is one of the most frustrating results in OET — and it forces a decision under time pressure, because the window to request a re-mark is short. This guide explains how re-marking works, what it costs, what can go wrong, and how to decide whether to request one, book a retake, or both.
Table of Contents
How OET Re-marking Works
According to OET’s published re-marking policy at the time of writing:
- Deadline: you must request a re-mark within 72 hours of your results being released. Late requests are not accepted.
- Fee: AU$120 per sub-test (US$95 in the United States).
- Refund: the fee is refunded if your grade changes as a result of the re-mark; if it doesn’t, the fee is kept.
- Outcome: your score can go up, stay the same, or go down — and the re-mark result replaces the original.
- Timing: outcomes typically take three to six weeks.
Fees and procedures are set by OET and can change, so check the current OET re-marking policy before you pay.
When a Re-mark Can Make Sense
A re-mark is a request for a second judgement, not a second chance to perform. It is most worth considering when all of the following are true:
- You are very close to the line — typically within 10–20 points of the score you need.
- The sub-test involves examiner judgement. Writing and Speaking are assessed against criteria by trained assessors, so there is room for a different reading of your performance. Listening and Reading are largely objectively marked, so there is usually less scope for change.
- Your performance on the day matched your practice. If you consistently score B-level letters in practice and came out at 340, a second look is more plausible than if 340 is your best-ever score.
- Only one sub-test is short. If you need two or three sub-tests to move, the odds of a re-mark fixing everything are low and a retake is usually the realistic plan.
When a Retake Is the Better Bet
- You are more than about 20 points short, or short in more than one sub-test.
- Your regulator needs a single sitting (GMC, NMBI, ECFMG) and you are short in a sub-test where you know your preparation was thin.
- A lower score would hurt you. If you plan to combine two sittings, a re-mark that lowers a score below the regulator’s floor can make that sitting unusable for combining.
- You have a hard deadline. A re-mark can take up to six weeks. If you are working to a cut-off such as ECFMG’s 31 January 2027 deadline, book your next sitting in parallel rather than waiting for the outcome.
Weighing the Cost
A re-mark of one sub-test costs a fraction of a new sitting — and most regulators need a full sitting with all four sub-tests, not a single sub-test re-sit. That makes a re-mark the cheaper option if it is likely to succeed. But the fee is only refunded when your grade changes, so a re-mark on a sub-test where you were far from the line is mostly money spent on hope.
| Situation | Usual best move |
|---|---|
| One productive sub-test (Writing or Speaking) 10–20 points short, consistent with practice | Consider a re-mark within 72 hours; book a retake in parallel if you have a deadline |
| Listening or Reading a few points short | Usually a retake — less room for a different judgement |
| Two or more sub-tests short | Retake, with a plan targeting the weakest sub-tests |
| More than ~20 points short anywhere | Retake after focused preparation |
Check Your Scores Against Your Regulator
Before you decide anything, confirm exactly how far you are from your regulator’s minimum — they differ more than many candidates realise. A 350 in Reading is a B, but since 23 April 2026 it is 10 points short for Ahpra, which requires 360. The OET score calculator checks your four scores against Ahpra, NMC, GMC, NMBI and ECFMG minimums.
If Writing is the sub-test holding you back, read why OET Writing gets stuck at 340 and practise with criterion-level AI feedback before your next sitting.
Put it into practice
Take a full-length OET practice test with real exam timing and automatic scoring — Test 1 is completely free, no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to request an OET re-mark?
72 hours from the release of your results, according to OET’s re-marking policy at the time of writing. Late requests are not accepted.
How much does an OET re-mark cost?
AU$120 per sub-test (US$95 in the United States) at the time of writing. The fee is refunded if your grade changes as a result of the re-mark.
Can my OET score go down after a re-mark?
Yes. A re-mark can increase, decrease or confirm your original score, and the re-mark result is the one that stands.
Is it worth re-marking OET Listening or Reading?
Usually less so than Writing or Speaking. Listening and Reading are largely objectively marked, so there is less room for a different judgement. Re-marks are most often considered for Writing or Speaking scores just below the required level.
Can I book a retake while my re-mark is pending?
Re-mark outcomes can take three to six weeks, so many candidates with a deadline book their next sitting in parallel. Check OET’s current policies when you book.