Welcome to the ultimate guide for your OET Test on Paper. All the work you’ve put into developing your English language and communication skills have prepared you for this important day.
To make sure the OET Test runs as smoothly as possible, 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 times before the day
- what to bring with you
- what to expect on the day of 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 test and 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. This includes reviewing your test booking details – like test profession and date – and your personal details.
You should compare your personal details in your OET account with the identification document (ID) you used for your booking and ensure they match. Look at your name, date of birth and ID number/expiry. Take this time to check that you already have a suitable photo of you in your OET account.
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. 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 times sent by your test venue
Getting familiar with your test schedule—including the time to be at the venue to register and the location of your test venue—before test day will help ensure you arrive on time and better plan your travel. And remember, you’ll stay at the test venue until all the written sub-tests have finished.
You’ll be emailed your final test schedule from your test venue approximately one week before the day of your OET Test. It has your test venue’s address, the time you’ll need to arrive for the OET Test, test times, and other details.
If you have any questions about your test times, you’re welcome to get in touch with your test venue directly.
Do you need any special testing arrangements?
We know that some of our candidates may face unique challenges, like a disability or a condition. We aim to accommodate these needs 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 submit a request up until the day bookings close (24 calendar days before the test day) for your selected test date.
If you requested special testing arrangements, your arrangements and instructions are emailed to you around test day. Check your inbox and junk/spam folder for these details.
To learn about special testing arrangements, visit: oet.com/test/book-a-test/special-testing-arrangements
Have your document(s) and allowed items with you
Before the OET Test, be sure to prepare these items to have with you:
- Your original acceptable ID used for the OET Test booking. For most test takers, this is a valid passport.
- Stationery which you can put in a clear stationery holder (like a pencil case, a carry bag or a zip-lock bag)
- Clear, plastic bottle of water (without a label)
You can bring a bag with you for your phone and items to store in the cloakroom at the test venue.
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. For an ID to be valid, it should not be expired, cancelled, or invalid. Your ID should have your full name, date of birth, photograph, and expiry date (for passports). Remember, 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.
Stationery
You can also bring stationery into the test room. These are:
- Non-mechanical pens and 2B pencils
- Erasers
- Pencil sharpener
Items you can’t have with you
Items that you cannot have in your test room can include:
- Mechanical pens and pencils
- Highlighters
- Correction fluid or tape
- Bags, notes or study materials
- Dictionaries or thesauruses
- Electronic items such as phones, MP3 players, cameras, watches.
Now that you know what to do before the OET Test, read the second part here!