Not getting Grade B on your first attempt is frustrating but common. The question most candidates ask next is: how many times can I retake OET, and what are the rules? This guide covers everything about OET retakes — attempt limits, waiting periods, sub-test retakes, costs, and when it makes strategic sense to retake versus switching to a different test.
Is There a Limit on OET Attempts?
No. There is no limit on the number of times you can take the OET. You can sit the exam as many times as you need to achieve your target score. This applies to all professions — nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and others.
However, unlimited attempts does not mean unlimited time. Most regulators require your OET results to be less than two years old at the time of application. If you take too long between attempts, your earlier scores may expire before you complete the registration process.
Waiting Period Between Attempts
OET requires a minimum gap of two weeks between sittings. This means you cannot book back-to-back tests on consecutive weekends. The two-week gap applies whether you are retaking the full test or individual sub-tests.
In practice, most candidates benefit from waiting longer than two weeks. If you failed by a narrow margin, two to three weeks of targeted preparation on your weak sub-test may be enough. If you scored significantly below Grade B, four to six weeks of additional study is more realistic.
Can You Retake Individual Sub-Tests?
Yes — with conditions. OET allows individual sub-test retakes for the paper-based test (OET on Paper). If you achieved Grade B in three sub-tests but fell short in one, you can rebook only the sub-test you need to improve, rather than sitting all four again.
Important restrictions:
- You must have already completed a full OET test (all four sub-tests) before you can book individual sub-tests.
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- Individual sub-test retakes are available for OET on Paper only — not for OET on Computer or OET@Home in all locations. Check availability for your test centre.
- Your recognising organisation (NMC, AHPRA, GMC, etc.) must accept results from separate sittings. Some regulators require all four scores from a single sitting — notably the GMC for doctors.
- The cost for a single sub-test retake is lower than the full exam fee, though pricing varies by region.
Score Combining: Using Your Best Scores from Two Sittings
Several regulators allow you to combine your best sub-test scores from two separate OET sittings, removing the pressure to achieve all four scores in one go:
- NMC (UK nurses): Combine from two sittings within six months. Each sitting must have no sub-test below Grade C (200).
- AHPRA (Australia): Combine from two sittings within twelve months.
- GMC (UK doctors): No score combining allowed. All four sub-tests must meet Grade B in a single sitting.
- ECFMG (USA): No score combining. Single sitting required.
Score combining is a powerful strategy if you consistently score well on three sub-tests but cannot quite reach the threshold on one. It effectively gives you two chances to hit each target, at the cost of an additional exam fee.
Cost of Retaking OET
Each full OET sitting costs approximately USD 587. If you retake the full exam three times, that is nearly USD 1,800. Individual sub-test retakes cost less (approximately USD 215 to 250 per sub-test), but availability is limited to paper-based tests.
Before booking another full sitting, consider whether individual sub-test retakes or score combining could achieve the same result at lower cost. If you need to improve only one sub-test, a single sub-test retake plus score combining could save you USD 300 or more.
When to Retake vs When to Switch
Retake OET If:
- You missed Grade B by 10 to 20 points in one or two sub-tests. A focused two to four week study block on those areas is likely to close the gap.
- You scored Grade B in most sub-tests and your weak area is improvable with targeted practice (e.g., Writing structure or Listening Part A speed).
- Your target regulator allows score combining and you already have strong scores in some sub-tests from a previous sitting.
Consider Switching to IELTS or PTE If:
- You have taken OET three or more times without achieving Grade B, and your scores are not improving between attempts.
- Your weakest area is Listening or Reading — these sections are identical in OET regardless of profession, and some candidates simply perform better with general English content.
- You need a faster turnaround. OET results take 16 business days; IELTS results are available in 3 to 5 days.
- Budget is a concern. Three IELTS attempts cost roughly the same as two OET attempts.
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Strategic Approach to Retaking
- Analyse your score report. OET provides a breakdown by sub-test. Identify exactly where you lost marks — was it content selection in Writing, speed in Listening Part A, or comprehension in Reading Part C?
- Target your weakest sub-test with 80% of your preparation time. If you already scored Grade B in three sub-tests, spending equal time on all four is inefficient.
- Take a mock test before rebooking. Only book your retake when you are consistently scoring above your target in practice conditions. Paying for another sitting before you are ready wastes money.
- Check sub-test retake availability and score combining rules for your specific regulator before booking. This determines whether you need a full resit or can take a more targeted (and cheaper) approach.
Requesting a Remark
If you believe your score is incorrect — particularly for Writing or Speaking, which are human-marked — you can request a remark (re-evaluation) through the OET website. The fee is approximately AUD 120 per sub-test. Remarks can result in a score increase, decrease, or no change. Statistically, most remarks result in no change, but if you missed Grade B by 10 points in Writing, a remark is worth considering before paying for a full retake.
The bottom line: there is no penalty for retaking OET multiple times, and with the right strategy — targeted preparation, score combining where allowed, and individual sub-test retakes where available — most candidates achieve Grade B within two to three attempts.