Welcome to the ultimate guide for your OET@Home®. All the work you’ve put into developing your English language and communication skills has prepared you for this important day.
To make sure the assessment runs smoothly, it’s essential to understand what you need to do before and on the day of the OET Test.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- checking your details and test start times before the day;
- meeting system requirements
- choosing and organising your testing environment;
- what to bring with you; and
- what to expect on the day of your OET Test.
For more details about test day requirements and information, download the OET@Home® user guide before your OET Test.
In this part, you'll learn everything you need to know about what to do before the OET Test. The second part of this guide walks you through what to do on the day of the OET Test.
Before the OET Test
Check your personal details in your OET account
Checking your details helps ensure you can check in smoothly on test day. Before your OET Test, be sure to log into your OET account to check your details.
Compare your details with the ID you used for your booking and ensure they match. Look at details like your name, date of birth and ID number/expiry.
We know that IDs can expire or be used to apply for a visa. If you no longer have the original ID you used for your OET Test booking with you for the OET Test, you can use a different acceptable ID. Simply ensure you update your ID listed in your OET account with the details from your new ID and have it with you on the day of the OET Test.
You can update most of your details in your OET account yourself. But if you spot a mistake in your name or date of birth, get in touch with our Customer Care team at: oet.com/contact-us
Learn your test start times
Get to know your test schedule—including the start times—before test day. This will help you ensure you’re at your workspace at least 30 minutes before the start times.
Your test schedule can be found in your OET account, booking emails and reminder emails. Be familiar with both your Listening, Reading and Writing start time and your Speaking start time.
Remember, the Speaking sub-test occurs before or after the Listening, Reading and Writing sub-tests, and is conducted at home via Zoom.
Do you need any special testing arrangements?
We know that some of our candidates may have unique needs, due to disabilities or medical conditions. We aim to provide appropriate accommodations on test day through special testing arrangements.
If you require special testing arrangements, you can make your request at the time you book your OET Test. But you can make a request up until the day bookings close (7 calendar days before the test day) for your selected test date. Submit your request early for the best chance of your needs being accommodated. Otherwise, your OET Test may be rescheduled.
If you requested special testing arrangements, your arrangements and instructions will be emailed to you closer to test day. Check your inbox and junk folder for these details.
To learn about special testing arrangements, visit: oet.com/test/book-a-test/special-testing-arrangements
Have your documents and allowed items with you
On test day, make sure you have these items with you:
- Your original acceptable ID used for the OET Test booking. For most test takers, this is a valid passport.
- Prometric confirmation number (found in your test booking confirmation email or your OET account)
- Proof of residency
- A clear, plastic bottle of water (without a label)
- Wired (plug-in) headset/earphones for the Listening sub-test.
Acceptable IDs
We verify the identities of all OET Test candidates, so be sure to have your original identification document (ID) with you – copies won’t be accepted.
Your ID should be one of the acceptable, valid IDs listed below. It should not be expired, cancelled, or invalid. Your ID should have your full name, date of birth, photograph and expiry date (for passports). A driver’s licence is not an acceptable form of ID for the OET Test.
You can use one of the following original, valid identification documents for the OET Test:
- Passport
- National government-issued ID; which are issued by the national government in the country where you're sitting the OET Test. Examples of what your ID can be based on your testing location include:
- An Indian Aadhar card for the OET Test in India.
- A Philippines Professional ID for the OET Test in the Philippines.
- An EU Blue Card for the OET Test in a country that is an EU member state.
- US state-issued or US government-issued ID (for test-takers in the United States only)
For detailed information about IDs for the OET Test, see our ID guidelines.
Proof of residency for OET@Home®
You must provide proof of residency to demonstrate your physical presence in the country where you are sitting for the test. For instance, if you hold a Chinese passport but are sitting for the OET Test in India, you must provide proof that you are physically in India on the day of the test. Acceptable forms of proof of residency may include:
- A residency permit
- A valid visa for the country where you are sitting the OET Test
- Confirmation of hotel reservations
- A duly signed rental agreement for an apartment or home
The test date of your OET Test should fall within the range of the dates specified on your proof of residency (e.g., your hotel reservation).
For more details, visit: support.oet.com/s/
Items you can’t have with you
Items that you cannot have with you can include:
- Bags
- Mobile phones
- Watches
- Cameras
- Pens
The ProProctor™ application and system requirements
We’ve listed details below and in the OET@Home® user guide, which you can download at oet.com.
Meeting the ProProctor system requirements
To sit the OET@Home®, be sure your computer meets the system requirements to run Prometric’s ProProctor™ application before the OET Test. These requirements are important for smoothly running the Listening, Reading and Writing sub-tests.
For a list of system requirements, visit: "What system requirements do I need for OET@Home?"
For most Windows and Mac devices, here’s a checklist you can follow:
- Device and webcam: Use a Mac or Windows laptop or desktop PC with webcam. Disconnect any extra monitors. Note: be sure to use a plugged-in or built-in webcam that can be moved).
- Device power source: Plug your device directly into a power source
- Headset/headphones: Have wired (plug-in) headset/earphones for the Listening sub-test.
- Device screen resolution and scale:
- Windows: Set your screen resolution to 1920 x 1080 and your screen scaling to 100%. If your device uses touchscreen, set it to “Laptop mode”.
- Mac: Default settings. Note: 2014 and newer computers should exceed the recommended resolution.
- Device operating system:
- Windows: Windows 8.1 or higher.
- Mac: MacOS 10.13 or higher (except for 13.0 through to 13.2.1)
- Web browser: Google Chrome (latest version)
- Internet connection: Use broadband or wireless (Wi-Fi). For a stable connection on test day, here are our recommendations:
- Broadband: Connect an Ethernet/LAN cable directly to the router using a long cable (to allow for the 360-degree environment check); OR
- Wi-Fi: Position your device where you can receive the strongest Wi-Fi signal.
- Internet connection speed: Make sure your internet download speed reaches 5.0 Mbps or greater and your internet upload speed reaches 1.0 Mbps or greater. Tip: Use any online ‘Internet Speed Test’ to test your connection.
For detailed system requirements for the ProProctor application, download the OET@Home® User Guide.
Downloading the ProProctor™ application
Once you’re confident your system can run the ProProctor™ application, you should download the latest version of the application one day before your OET Test.
You can download the latest version of ProProctor at: rpcandidate.prometric.com.
For help with the ProProctor application, get in touch with ProProctor Support at: ehelp.prometric.com/proproctor/s/
Troubleshooting steps for ProProctor™
If you’re having trouble downloading or running the ProProctor™ application or can’t launch your OET Test:
- Set your screen resolution to 1920 x 1080 and 100% scale (for Windows PCs)
- Keep the ProProctor application open and avoid switching applications or screens
- Disconnect any extra monitors
- Disable/remove any Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Virtual Machines running on your device
- Disable/remove Bluetooth-connected devices
- Uninstall and reinstall the latest version of ProProctor if needed
- Limit others from using the same internet connection during your OET Test
For more information about technical requirements, download the OET@Home® user guide prior to your OET Test.
Choose and organise your testing environment
A comfortable testing environment that meets our requirements is important, so before test day, choose where to sit the OET@Home®. It should:
- Be in a walled, indoor, well-lit space
- Be quiet and without distractions
- Include a clear, clean desk and chair (no clutter around or underneath your workspace)
- Be free from unauthorised items (e.g., notes, mugs, books, tissues, etc.)
- Have your device set up with your power source and equipment as needed (remove any other plugs)
Ensure your room is private and no one else is around for the test. If you have other screens in your surroundings (like a TV), it should be unplugged and covered or removed from the area.
Now that you know what to do before the OET Test, read the second part here!