Disclaimer: This OET Listening score chart is an estimate for practice only. Official OET results are reported by OET on a 0-500 scale, so always rely on your official Statement of Results and your regulator's score requirements.
If you have completed an OET Listening practice test and need to find out what your score out of 42 means is, then use this estimated chart to read your result, then check it with the OET score calculator.
Table of Contents
- Quick answer: is 30 out of 42 enough for OET Listening?
- Estimated OET Listening score chart out of 42
- What common OET Listening marks usually tell you
- Diagnose your Listening score by test part
- How to use the score calculator as a performance indicator
- Part A: where many Listening marks disappear
- Part B and Part C: why multiple choice is not always easier
- If you are stuck at 26-29 out of 42
- Important: official results and score requirements
- FAQs
OET Listening can be frustrating because you may understand the conversation, but still lose marks for a spelling error, a missed plural, a tempting distractor or one sentence you did not catch and lost a series of questions. That is why a raw score out of 42 needs more explanation than a simple pass-or-fail label. This guide gives you an estimated Listening score chart and shows how to use your result with the OET score calculator.
Use the chart as a preparation guide only. OET reports official results as a score from 0 to 500 for each sub-test. Your official Statement of Results and your regulator's requirement are what matter for applications.
Quick answer: is 30 out of 42 enough for OET Listening?
For practice tests, about 30 correct answers out of 42 is a useful point to watch because it is often around the B, or 350, target zone. It is not an official guarantee. It is a signal that your Listening is becoming competitive.
The bigger question is whether the score is repeatable. One 30/42 with several lucky guesses is weaker than three tests in the 30-34 range where you can explain most of your mistakes.
Estimated OET Listening score chart out of 42
Use this table after you check a full Listening practice test. The ranges are estimates because OET official reporting is based on the 0-500 score scale, not a public fixed raw-mark table for every paper.
Source checked: Official OET Results and Scoring page. Raw marks out of 42 are estimates for practice-test planning only.
| Raw Listening marks out of 42 | Estimated grade | Estimated OET score band | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37-42 | A | 450-500 | You have a very good understanding of all Listening Part A, B & C. Keep exposure varied so unfamiliar voices do not surprise you in the real OET exam. |
| 30-36 | B | 350-440 | A practical target zone for many candidates. Check the exact grade score required by your regulator. |
| 26-29 | C+ | 300-340 | Usually close to target but still requires additional practice. The problem is often a small cluster of repeat errors, not the whole test. |
| 16-25 | C | 200-290 | You may follow the general topic, but too many details, distractors or answer forms are being missed. |
| 8-15 | D | 100-190 | Full timed tests may feel frustrating here. Build accuracy with shorter audio and transcript review first. |
| 0-7 | E | 0-90 | Start with core listening, spelling, numbers, medical vocabulary and short note-completion drills. |
Check your estimated grade: Use the OET score calculator after checking your Listening practice test.
What common OET Listening marks usually tell you
Two candidates can get the same score for very different reasons. A 28/42 caused by Part A spelling errors needs a different fix from a 28/42 caused by Part C inference questions. Use the examples below as a starting point, then review your actual paper.
| Practice mark | Estimated meaning | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| 24/42 | Likely C range | Do not just repeat another paper. Check whether Part A spelling and note completion are costing quick marks. |
| 28/42 | Likely C+ range | This is the danger zone: close enough to feel ready, but still vulnerable to distractors and rushed guesses. |
| 30/42 | Likely B range | A useful benchmark, but it should be repeatable across more than one practice test. |
| 34/42 | Likely B range | A stronger position. Now practise with less familiar topics, voices and pacing. |
| 38/42 | Likely A range | Very strong. Your job is maintenance: varied audio, careful review and test-day focus. |
Diagnose your Listening score by test part
Before you decide that you are bad at Listening, separate the score by test part. OET Listening does not test only one skill. It tests note completion, workplace purpose, detail, opinion, implication and your ability to keep up while the audio continues.
| Listening part | What it tests | Common reason marks are lost |
|---|---|---|
| Part A | Consultation note completion | Spelling, singular/plural forms, numbers, abbreviations and missing the next answer while writing. |
| Part B | Short workplace extracts | Choosing an option that contains words from the audio but misses the speaker's purpose or main point. |
| Part C | Longer talks or interviews | Losing the speaker's attitude, implication or change of direction across a longer answer. |
How to use the score calculator as a performance indicator
Enter your Listening result into the OET score calculator, but do not stop at the estimated grade. Write down how many marks you lost in Part A, Part B and Part C. That tells you what to practise next.
If your score is below target, avoid doing another full test immediately. First, listen again to the sections where you lost marks. The point is not to memorise that audio; it is to find the habit that caused the loss.
- If Part A is weak, practise spelling, note completion and writing while listening.
- If Part B is weak, practise identifying the speaker's purpose, not only matching keywords.
- If Part C is weak, practise following opinion, contrast and changes in direction.
Part A: where many Listening marks disappear
Part A can feel easier because the answers are usually concrete: symptoms, time periods, medication names, dates, quantities or patient details. But it is also where candidates lose marks through answer-form errors. You may hear the answer but write it in a way that does not get the mark.
After each practice test, check every Part A error against the transcript. Was the problem hearing, spelling, grammar, plural form, abbreviation, or writing too slowly and missing the next answer?
Part B and Part C: why multiple choice is not always easier
Part B and Part C are multiple choice, but that does not make them easy. Wrong options often sound attractive because they repeat a word from the audio or match an early idea before the speaker changes direction.
For Part B, ask: what is the speaker trying to do? For Part C, track opinion and attitude across the whole answer. If you choose too early, you may miss the contrast that actually gives the answer.
- Underline the phrase in the transcript that proves the correct answer.
- Write why each wrong option is wrong, especially when it used familiar words.
- Practise with different speakers so you do not depend on one accent or rhythm.
- Do short review sessions; long passive listening rarely fixes test mistakes.
If you are stuck at 26-29 out of 42
A score in the high 20s is not a disaster. It usually means you are close enough that targeted work can move the score. The mistake is doing five more full tests without changing how you review.
For one week, use targeted OET Listening practice tests and keep a small mistake log. Group every lost mark under spelling/form, missed detail, distractor, purpose, opinion or timing. By the end of the week, the pattern is usually obvious.
Important: official results and score requirements
OET official results are released by OET, and your Statement of Results is the document that matters for applications. If you are preparing for registration, migration or employment, check the exact score required by your recognising organisation. You can also review Benchmark OET results FAQs for result-related questions.
If you are comparing scores across sub-tests, you may also find the OET Reading score chart useful. The same rule applies there too: raw-mark charts are for practice planning, not proof of an official result.
OET Listening Score Chart FAQs
How many marks do I need in OET Listening for a B grade?
For practice tests, around 30 correct answers out of 42 is a useful B-grade target. Treat it as a guide, not a promise, because official OET results are reported by OET and the final score is not a simple public raw-mark conversion.
Is the OET Listening score chart official?
No. It is an estimated chart for candidates checking practice tests. For registration, migration or employment, use your official OET Statement of Results and check the score required by your regulator or recognising organisation.
What does 28 out of 42 mean in OET Listening?
A practice score of 28 out of 42 is usually around the C+ range. It is close to a common B target, but it is not a comfortable score unless you can repeat it and identify exactly where the lost marks are coming from.
Why do I understand the audio but still lose marks?
Many Listening marks are lost because of answer form, spelling, distractors or missed purpose, not because the candidate understood nothing. This is why reviewing the transcript and wrong options matters.
Can I use this chart to know if I passed OET Listening?
You can use it to estimate your practice level, but not to confirm an official pass. OET score requirements vary by profession, country and recognising organisation.
Where can I check my estimated OET Listening grade?
You can use the EduBenchmark OET score calculator at to estimate your Listening grade and compare scores across OET sub-tests.
