Test day information
Everything you need to know to sit the OET Test
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With three options for how to sit the OET Test, it’s important to know what to do on and before test day.
Note: These guides are for the online Speaking sub-test (for OET@Home® and the OET Test on Computer).
Test day
Here's what test day looks like
- You will receive your OET timetable no later than 72 hours before your test day.
- You must arrive at the venue in accordance with the timetable specified by your test venue. The venue will inform you of test times via a timetable that will be emailed to you.
- It is important that you take note of the date, time, and place of your test. If you are not in the test room prior to the start of the test you will not be allowed to take the test.
To learn more about what to expect before the test, read our test regulations.
- You are responsible for knowing the date, time and place of your test, which will be communicated to you after your booking is finalised.
- You are required to arrive at least 30 minutes before your Listening, Reading and Writing scheduled sub-test start time.
- Your Speaking sub-test is completed at your home in a private designated area. You are required to download Zoom and log on to the Zoom link for your Speaking Sub-test at least 10 minutes before the test start time and wait for it to start. Find more information in our Speaking User guide.
You are responsible for bringing the ID document/s you used to book your test to the test venue on test day. Unfortunately we cannot accept incorrect or alternative ID documents. Without the correct ID documentation, you will not be able to take the test and you may not be entitled to a transfer or refund.
Here's how you'll check in on test day:
- Present the original copy of the ID document/s you used when you booked the OET for verification against the details provided during the booking process.
- Have your photo taken.
- Place personal and unauthorised items in the cloakroom.
- For the purpose of photo verification, you will not be asked to remove any religious headwear. Head coverings should be plain coloured and must be worn in such a way as to show the face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, and with the edges of the face visible.
- ID checks before and during sub-tests:
- You must make sure that the photograph, name and candidate number printed on your test paper are accurate.
- Invigilators or Proctors will check that your details in myOET or, that the OET Account matches your ID document when you arrive at the Venue. Invigilators or Proctors will check your ID documentation throughout the test day.
- Always ensure you have your original ID with you, and you don’t leave it anywhere in the Venue.
- Identification document discrepancy:
- Invigilators and Proctors have the discretion to decide what will happen in the case of ID discrepancies.
- If there are discrepancies you may be allowed to take the test, however you will need to provide supplemental ID documentation that has your full name, photo and date of birth. See section 4.6 Acceptable Candidate Identification in test regulations to learn what is accepted as supplemental ID documentation.
- You may not be entitled to a transfer or refund if there is a discrepancy in your ID documentation.
- You may be asked to show your ID documentation throughout the test day and sign one or more identity declarations.
Note:
- We reserve the right to withhold and/or cancel test results in the event that ID documentation requirements are not met, until the ID used on the test day is verified.
- You have 30 calendar days from your test day to provide these documents to OET for the release of your OET results.
- Bring an original copy of the approved ID document (passport, national ID card or Authorisation Letter).
- Switch off your mobile phone or other electronic items and store them in the cloakroom.
- Headphones cannot be worn during the Online Speaking test.
- You may only bring the following items into a test room:
- Non-mechanical pens, pencils, erasers, a pencil sharpener, a small bottle of water in a clear plastic bottle (OET on Paper only), and your identification document; and
- Medication and snacks if approved prior to test day.
- You must not bring into the test room any bags, notes, study materials, dictionary, electronic items such as mobile phones, digital sound recorders, MP3 players, cameras, smartwatches, highlighters, mechanical pens, mechanical pencils, scrap paper, correction fluid or tape.
- Make sure your name and candidate number are correct. Invigilators/Proctors will check that the name on your answer sheet/screen matches your ID either before or within the first 15 minutes of each sub-test.
- Make sure your name and candidate number are on each book/sheet you have used.
- Tell the invigilator/Proctor at once if:
- your personal details are wrong;
- you have been given the wrong question paper (this applies to OET on Paper only); or
- the question paper is incomplete or badly printed.
