OET Writing

OET letter writing cosists of several types but the main ones are based on referral, urgent, discharge, transfer or update scenario types. A great way to learn is to read OET writing samples and taking sample tests for nurses or doctors based on your occupation. It's a good approach to practice OET listening samples and take sample test medicine for oet on computer.

In order to pass the OET writing subset, you are required to write between 180 and 200 words in 40 minutes. A sample OET letter will follow the right structure starting with introduction, followed by past medical history, hospitalisation (if any), current condition and ongoing care required. The order may vary but information is broadly the same. It goes without saying that the fewer the mistakes in the letter, the higher the OET marks. Therefore, make sure your grammar skills are good. Word choice is equally important in OET exam sample letter. Poor choice of words may change the meaning of the sentence causing loss of marks.

1. Introduction to OET Writing

The OET Writing subtest is usually conducted after listening and reading subsets  and requires full focus. You are required  to write a formal letter of approximately 180-200 words using the given case notes in 45 minutes. It is important to be well-prepared for this subtest and practice extensively writing OET letters beforehand. This subtest is profession-specific, meaning you will receive a case notes scenario  relevant to your specialized field. For instance, if you are a doctor, you will be required to write a letter relevant to medicine, such as a referral, discharge  or transfer letter. Therefore, it is essential to prepare and practice scenarios relevant to your specialization to save time and effort during your preparation. Understanding the OET Writing Sub-Test Structure is important. We have listed a set of example scenarios, categorized by profession and letter type, as outlined in the table below:

OET Letter Types & Examples

The main objective of the OET Writing subtest is to assess healthcare professionals' clinical communication skills in English. It evaluates how effectively candidates can convey essential medical information in writing, such as referral letters, transfer letters, and discharge summaries. The subtest also examines the ability to use appropriate language, tone, and structure to ensure clarity and professionalism in communication with colleagues and other healthcare providers. By assessing these skills, the OET Writing subtest ensures that healthcare professionals can accurately and efficiently communicate in clinical settings, which is critical for effective patient care.

2. Understanding the Marking Criteria

Any test becomes easier once you understand the marking criteria. Have you ever considered What OET Examiners Are Looking For in Your Writing? The OET Writing subtest is graded based on six key elements: Purpose, Content, Clarity, Conciseness, Language, and Organization. A detailed breakdown of the weightage and description for each criterion is provided in the table below. Familiarizing yourself with these criteria will help you tailor your writing to meet the expectations and improve your performance.

OET Writing Criteria

*These scores' weightage are given by OET Assessment Criteria , and converted into marks out of 500.

You can get detailed information on New OET Writing Assessment Criteria and OET Letter Purpose. You must read these articles thoroughly to achieve good scores in the OET writing subtest. Using Benchmark OET Writing Correction service is a great way to master OET letter writing.

3. Grammar & Tenses For Writing

Language accuracy, including grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and subject-verb agreement, is essential for writing a well-organized, coherent, and error-free formal OET letter. You should focus on revising the following grammar topics and take quizzes at the end to test your understanding:

4. Layout of an OET Letter

A standard structure of a formal letter in OET starts with address, salutation, and followed by body paragraphs,and closing. The best strategy to achieve a high grade in the OET writing subtest is reading more sample letters and practising more letters. You should understand the format for Recipient Address, Date Format,  Reference Line, Salutations to write clear and accurate formatted OET letters.

5. Selection and Organization of Case Notes

Undoubtedly, case notes are something you are very familiar with, as they are part of your daily practice as a healthcare professional. However, when it comes to writing an OET letter from case notes, it can be tricky and challenging to determine which information is relevant and which should be omitted, as both aspects carry marks. Failing to omit unnecessary details or include essential information may result in a lower score. You need to visualize the scenario, understand the requirements of the letter, and select the information from the case notes that is both relevant and logically organized. Additionally, balancing conciseness and clarity is another challenging task. To help you with this, you can read the following articles to understand how to select the relevant information and organize it effectively:

6. Writing Referral Letters

Referral letters are the most common type of scenario in OET.  In the case of a referral letter for the OET, accurate structure and tone are crucial. The letter must be written in formal language, with appropriate content and a professional tone. It should include all relevant case notes about the patient’s history and treatment plans. First, carefully read the task, and then skim through the case notes to highlight (annotate) the key details. Next, consider the logical organization of the content, ensuring the information flows in a clear and coherent order. Here is a list of highly useful articles for writing OET letters, offering detailed information and sample letters:

7. Avoiding Common Errors in OET Writing

There are common mistakes that OET test takers might make and misconceptions they may have heard. Sometimes, candidates start counting words randomly, which only wastes significant time. Stop Counting Your Words in Your OET Referral Letter and start writing smartly and efficiently. You should, however, spend your time on proofreading, as misspelled words will cost you marks. Read OET Spelling: Writing to recall some important OET words that may confuse you for spelling. Additionally, you should use abbreviations when they are standardized terms, but avoid them when the term is too specific for any specialist professional or patient. Read When to Avoid Abbreviations in OET Writing to avoid such mistakes.

8. OET Letter Samples

A very old adage, but one that always holds true: Practice makes perfect! You must practice sufficiently, but first, you should read high-quality letters written according to the OET writing criteria. Analyze the choice of words used, the case notes included in the information provided, and review the examiners’ comments and feedback to understand how to score well in OET writing. Here are some samples for you:

Having recalled the adage of practice and reinforcing the importance of practicing, one must remember that you can proofread for your mistakes (i.e., identify the mistake), but cannot correct your errors (i.e., you may not know the grammatical/vocabulary mistakes). For that correction, you need feedback on your letter. Getting Feedback on OET Letters  will provide many benefits. You can understand a grammar rule you were breaking and correct yourself in the future. You can learn a new word that collocates best with another word in that context. You can also evaluate your performance and get an estimated score for the official OET test.

9. Improving Performance in OET Writing

You should use your time wisely! We have outlined an estimated time for approaching OET writing subtest in the table below:

Effective Time Management for Writing Letters

* This is only a suggested and estimated guideline advised for the practice stage.

10. Frequently Asked Question About OET Writing Subtest

How can I practice writing for OET?
Read sample Referral Letters for OET to understand the structure and format of the writing subtest. To score high scores, you should practice each type of letter that is specific to your profession.

How many types of letters are in OET writing?
There can be referral letters, update letters, inform letters, advice letters, discharge letters, etc. All are formal and profession specific.

How much time for OET writing?
You should complete your letter within 45 minutes including scanning case notes, writing, and proofreading. Technically you have 40 minutes to write your letter as the first 5 minutes are meant to read the case notes without any pen or pencil. You cannot annotate (underlining, circling, writing, etc.)  casenotes in the first 5 minutes.

How many paragraphs are in OET writing?
There is no fixed number of paragraphs; however, you should remember marking criteria of conciseness and clarity to write a good letter. A typical well written letter contains three to five paragraphs.

Should I be a shorthand typist for OET on computer tests?
You do not need to be a shorthand typist or do any such course. If you can type approximately 200 words in 35-40 minutes, you can take the OET on a computer test. Try typing a letter using stop watch and practicing as much as you can to evaluate your performance in the test.

Is OET on the computer easy as compared to OET on paper?
There is no difference in the difficulty level or marking criteria between the OET test on computer and the OET test on paper. If you produce a well-organized, error-free, accurately formatted letter in a professional tone, you are good to go.

Is there any specific word limit for my answer?
An estimated word count for the letter is 180–200 words, but you will not be penalized if you write slightly above or below this limit. Remember that the marking criteria include purpose, content, language, conciseness, clarity, genre, style, organization, and layout.

Are words in addresses and references counted and graded?
No, the body paragraphs will only be considered for word count and grading.

Can I write in bullet points?
No, you should never write a formal letter in bullet points or case notes form. Writing in logically organized paragraphs is the best approach.

Can I get extra time for writing?
You will not be given any extra time in either the computer-based or paper-based test.

Can I advise my own treatment plan which is not given in notes?
Always use the content from the case notes. If you add anything outside the given information, you will lose marks in the criteria of content for accuracy.