OET for Psychologists: HCPC & AHPRA Writing Pathway

The UK HCPC does not accept OET for psychologists. The HCPC accepts OET for only six professions, and psychologists are not among them, so check the HCPC's list of accepted tests before booking. OET remains relevant for the Psychology Board of Australia through AHPRA. The New Zealand Psychologists Board does not mention OET and names IELTS Academic 7.5 overall with no section below 7.0. For OET tests taken from 23 April 2026, AHPRA requires 350 in Listening and Writing and 360 in Reading and Speaking, and accepts results from two sittings within 12 months if no score is below 320 in Listening, 340 in Reading, 350 in Writing and 350 in Speaking. Check the Psychology Board of Australia's page for any Board-specific rules, and the New Zealand Psychologists Board's page for its English requirement.

Usually an assessment or referral letter, sent to a GP, psychiatrist, or multidisciplinary team. Case notes commonly include the presenting problem, a risk assessment, assessment or psychometric outcomes, a formulation, and an intervention plan.

Two patterns recur. First, test names and diagnostic terms used without context for a non-specialist reader, which costs Genre & Style. Second, narrating the whole formulation instead of selecting the findings and risks the reader needs, which costs Conciseness & Clarity.

Yes. Psychological assessment, formulation, and risk documentation follow conventions that generic medical case notes do not cover. Correction from someone who knows the psychology letter genre catches the errors that actually cost the grade.