OET Fees: What the Test Costs in India and Abroad

The full OET test costs AU$587 for all four sub-tests (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking), and candidates in the United States pay US$455 for OET on Computer at a venue or OET@Home. You pay when you book, and extra fees apply if you reschedule, cancel, ask for a re-mark or miss your Speaking test, so the real cost depends on how carefully you plan.

This guide explains every OET fee in one place: the main test fee, what it costs to book only some sub-tests on paper, rescheduling and deferral charges, cancellation and refund rules, re-marking and appeal fees, and the costs that have no charge at all. It also explains how to pay in India, how to avoid losing money, and what free official preparation you can use. All amounts come from the official OET website and policies, and fees can change, so always check the price shown in your booking before you pay.

How much does the OET test cost?

OET's own website states that the full OET test costs AU$587. This fee covers the four sub-tests that make up one test administration: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Listening, Reading and Writing are called "LRW" in OET's rules, and Speaking has some rules of its own.

The official article that compares OET and IELTS for doctors also lists a separate price for the United States: US$455 for OET on Computer at a test venue and for OET@Home. US-dollar prices on OET's booking pages apply only to people who take their test in America.

Who sets the fee?

OET is owned by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment (CBLA). The OET Test Regulations say that all test dates, booking schedules, booking closing dates and fees "are predetermined by us", meaning CBLA. If you want to know more about who runs the test, read our guide to who runs OET and which sources to trust.

When do you pay?

The Test Regulations say booking fees are paid at the time of booking. There is no "pay later" option on a standard booking: your seat is confirmed only after payment goes through.

OET fees in India: paying in Australian dollars

OET publishes its fees in Australian dollars (and US dollars for America). It does not publish a separate price list in Indian rupees. When you book from India, your card is charged in Australian dollars and your bank changes the amount into rupees.

This means the amount you see on your bank statement depends on three things:

• The exchange rate on the day the payment is processed.
• Your bank's foreign transaction charge, if your card has one. Some cards add a fee for payments in a foreign currency.
• Tax on the foreign transaction charge, which your bank may add.

Because the rupee price moves every day, any blog post that gives you an exact rupee figure is only an estimate on the day it was written. A simple way to plan is to check today's AUD to INR rate, multiply it by 587, and then keep a small extra amount for bank charges. Ask your bank in advance whether your card works for international online payments, so the payment does not fail on the day you want to book.

The same fee for every profession

OET's published fee is a single price for the full test. Its official pages do not list different prices for nurses, doctors, pharmacists or the other professions. You choose your profession when you book, and the test fee stays the same. If you are not sure which version to choose, see our guide to the 12 OET professions.

Does the fee change with the test type?

OET is offered in three ways: OET on Paper at a test venue, OET on Computer at a test venue, and OET@Home, which you take at home on your own computer. OET's article lists AU$587 as the price of the full test. The main differences between the three options are not in the price but in booking deadlines and results times.

Test type	Full test fee	Booking closes
OET on Paper (venue)	AU$587	24 days before the test (subject to change)
OET on Computer (venue)	AU$587 (US$455 in the USA)	7 days before the test, 11:59 PM UTC
OET@Home	AU$587 (US$455 in the USA)	7 days before the test, 11:59 PM UTC

For OET on Paper, the official booking page says candidates in India can receive results in as little as 5 days. For computer and OET@Home tests, it says results come within 6 days of completing all four sub-tests. If you are still choosing a format, our guide on OET on paper, computer or OET@Home compares them in detail.

Booking only some sub-tests on paper

If you have already taken the full OET test and need a better grade in only one or two sub-tests, OET on Paper lets some candidates book fewer sub-tests. IDP, which runs OET test venues in several countries, lists these prices for OET on Paper at a venue:

Number of sub-tests (OET on Paper)	Fee
1 sub-test	AU$315
2 sub-tests	AU$415
3 sub-tests	AU$515
4 sub-tests (full test)	AU$587

IDP says this option is only available if you have taken the full OET test before. It lists no single sub-test prices for OET on Computer.

Check your regulator before you book fewer sub-tests

Saving money by re-sitting one sub-test only helps if your regulator accepts results from more than one sitting. Some regulators want all the grades you need from one test administration; others accept results combined from two sittings within a set time. Check your regulator's rules first, and read our guide on how long OET results stay valid, because an old result may not count by the time you combine it with a new one.

Also note the OET Test Regulations: on paper, you cannot cancel only part of a booking. If you booked two sub-tests, you must cancel both.

Rescheduling and deferral fees

Life changes, and OET lets you move your test for a fee. OET's "Manage your booking" page uses two terms. A reschedule moves your test to another date. A deferral moves your whole application to another date, venue or test type.

Rescheduling fees (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)

When you reschedule	Fee (outside the USA)	Fee (USA only)
Up to 7 days before the test	AU$120	US$95
Less than 7 days before the test	AU$200	US$155
Speaking only, up to 7 days before	AU$30	US$25

Important rules from the same page:

• You must reschedule up to two days before the start of your first sub-test.
• If you reschedule Listening, Reading and Writing, you must also reschedule Speaking.
• If you have already taken one sub-test, you cannot reschedule the remaining ones.
• To move a booking to a different country, you must contact OET customer service.

Deferral fees (whole application)

• Up to the booking closing date: AU$120.
• After the booking closing date: AU$200.

A deferral can be made at any time, even on test day, if you have not yet gone through test day registration. A test day deferral needs approval and the online Test Day Deferral form, sent on the day of the test. You must defer the whole application, and a deferral cannot be reversed.

Discounted bookings cannot be moved

The Test Regulations say that bookings made with a discount code or bought at a discounted price cannot be rescheduled. If you use a discount, be sure of your date first.

Cancellation and refund rules

If you cannot take the test at all, you can cancel, but OET keeps part of your fee. The rules depend on the test type.

OET on Computer and OET@Home

• Cancel before your LRW booking closing date: a cancellation fee of AU$120 is kept.
• Cancel after the booking closing date and up to 48 hours before the test start time: a cancellation fee of AU$200 is kept.
• You cannot ask for a refund after your test.

OET on Paper

• You can cancel up to one week before the test day, subject to conditions and fees.
• You cannot cancel only part of a booking.
• If your test is on a Friday, no refund is given for a cancellation made after 11:59 PM (local time) on the Saturday before the test.

Rules for every test type

• You cannot cancel once you have completed one of the sub-tests of that test administration.
• You will not be allowed to cancel or defer after you have started the test.
• Your refund may arrive after the booking closing date, so do not expect the money back immediately.
• For discounted bookings and country changes, a cancellation fee is deducted from your refund.
• If you change your delivery mode, you receive a partial refund to the card used for the first payment.

What happens if you miss your test?

Missing your test is the most expensive mistake you can make. The Test Regulations say that unless you can show that extenuating circumstances stopped you from attending, you will not get a refund.

If something serious happened, you have five business days to contact OET Support and send evidence of your situation. OET looks at each claim on its own, and you may not get a full refund if you hold more than one booking.

Missing the Speaking sub-test

Speaking has its own rule. If you do not attend your Speaking test, the Test Regulations say a fee of AU$100 applies, and if you do not pay it, your results may be withheld until payment is received.

When OET cancels or delays

Sometimes a test cannot go ahead for reasons outside CBLA's control. In that case the Test Regulations say you can re-book or reschedule to another test date at no extra cost, and if there are no suitable dates, you get a full refund. However, CBLA will not pay for travel or accommodation costs. If your results are delayed by circumstances outside CBLA's control, you can choose a future scheduled test date with no test administration fee or application fee.

Re-marking and appeal fees

If your grade is just below what you need, you can ask OET to re-mark one or more sub-tests. This is also called a results enquiry. OET's Re-marking Policy sets these fees:

• AU$120 per sub-test everywhere except the USA.
• US$95 per sub-test in the USA.

Deadlines and timing

• Apply within 72 hours of your results being released. Late requests are not accepted.
• A request is only assessed once the fee has been paid.
• Re-marking outcomes usually take three to six weeks from the confirmation of your request.
• For OET on Paper, log in to myOET and click "Request Re-marking" for the sub-test. For OET on Computer or OET@Home, complete the online form.

When you get the money back

• If your grade changes, the re-marking fee is refunded.
• If your grade does not change, the fee is not refunded.
• If you ask for the wrong sub-test and re-marking has already started, there is no refund.
• If you take another OET test while waiting, OET will not refund the cost of that test, even if the re-mark raises your grade.

Appeals

After re-marking is complete, you can appeal. OET's Appeal Policy charges AU$120 (US$95 in the USA) for each stage, Stage 1 and Stage 2. Appeal fees are refunded in full if the appeal is upheld, and re-marking charges are refunded in full if your sub-test grade changes because of the appeal. To understand grades before you pay for a re-mark, read our OET scoring system guide.

Things that cost nothing

Some important services have no fee at all. Knowing these can stop you paying a third party for something OET gives free.

• Special Testing Arrangements. The Test Regulations say Special Testing Arrangements "do not incur an additional fee".
• A free new date if OET cannot run your test, or a full refund if there is no suitable date.
• Official free preparation. OET offers a free "Intro to OET" online course, a free OET Study Guide to download, free fortnightly live Q&A sessions on Facebook or YouTube, free on-demand video lessons on the OET YouTube channel, and free sample tests in paper and computer versions.

OET also recommends that recognising organisations accept only the Statement of Results shared directly from your online profile, not a PDF or paper copy, so keep your myOET details correct.

The other costs of taking OET

The test fee is only part of what you spend. When you build your budget, think about these costs too. They are different for every candidate, so we do not give figures:

1. Travel and stay. If there is no venue in your city, you may need to travel and stay overnight for a paper or computer test.
2. Equipment for OET@Home. You take this test on your own computer, so check OET's technical requirements before you book and budget for anything you need to buy.
3. Preparation. Books, courses and practice tests. Use the free official resources first, then pay only for what you still need.
4. Bank charges on international card payments.
5. A second sitting. If you do not reach the grade your regulator asks for, you pay again. Good preparation is the best way to keep this cost down.

Our 4-week and 8-week OET study plans help you prepare so that one sitting is enough.

How to keep your OET costs down

Most extra fees come from changing plans late. These steps help you pay only the test fee:

1. Choose your date carefully. Book a date when you know you are free and ready. The cheapest reschedule is the one you never make.
2. Know your deadlines. Paper bookings close 24 days before the test; computer and OET@Home bookings close 7 days before. Fees rise after these points.
3. Change early if you must. Rescheduling up to 7 days before costs AU$120; later it costs AU$200.
4. Never miss Speaking. A missed Speaking test brings an AU$100 fee.
5. Be sure before using a discount. Discounted bookings cannot be rescheduled.
6. Think before a re-mark. AU$120 per sub-test is refunded only if your grade changes.
7. Practise under real timing. Try a free OET practice test on OETPRO to see where you stand before you pay for the real thing.

Common questions

Is the OET fee different in India?

OET publishes its fee in Australian dollars: AU$587 for the full test. Indian candidates pay in Australian dollars, so the rupee amount depends on the exchange rate and your bank's charges on the day you pay.

Can I get a full refund if I cancel?

Not usually. For OET on Computer and OET@Home, OET keeps AU$120 if you cancel before the booking closing date and AU$200 if you cancel later, up to 48 hours before the test. A full refund is given only in special cases, such as when OET cannot run your test and there is no suitable new date.

How much does it cost to re-sit just one sub-test?

IDP lists AU$315 for one sub-test on OET on Paper, but this option is only for people who have already taken the full test. Check that your regulator accepts results from more than one sitting before you choose this.

Do special arrangements cost extra?

No. The OET Test Regulations say Special Testing Arrangements do not incur an additional fee.

Can I pay for my test later?

No. The Test Regulations say booking fees are paid at the time of booking. Create a free OETPRO account to practise while you save for the test, and read our complete guide to OET to plan the rest of your journey.

Sources

• OET: OET Medicine vs IELTS Academic (full test fee)
• OET: Manage your booking (rescheduling and deferral fees)
• OET: Book a test (booking deadlines and results)
• OET Test Regulations (payment, cancellation, refunds, missed tests)
• OET Re-marking Policy
• OET Appeal Policy
• OET: Results and scoring
• OET: Free study resources for OET preparation
• IDP: OET exam fees (paper sub-test prices)