Letter Writing Guide for OET Candidate: Format, Types, and Samples

Introduction to OET Letter Writing

In the OET letter writing, you have to write a formal letter like a referral, discharge, or transfer letter based on the case notes provided in the test in under 45 minutes, where 5 minutes is for understanding and reading the case notes.

This is an important task that will evaluate your written ability to effectively communicate in a professional real-life setting. Other specific details for OET writing include:

1. The word limit of OET letter is between 180-200 words.
2. Its main purpose is to convey specific information about a patient and their condition to another healthcare professional effectively.
3. Your letter will be assessed based on six main OET writing criteria: Purpose, Content, Conciseness & Clarity, Genre & Style, Organization & Layout, and Language.
4. Lastly, the OET letter writing is tailored for each healthcare profession, like nursing, medicine, dentistry, and physiotherapy, differently.

OET Letter Writing Format

There is a standard OET letter format that you need to strictly follow to score 350+ or get a Grade B in the OET exam. Below is a breakdown of the format you need to follow:

1. Date: Similar to the basic letter writing format, start your OET letter with the date at the top. You can either follow the "Month Day, Year" pattern or the "Day Month Year" pattern.
2. Address of the Recipient: Next, write the address of the healthcare professional you are writing to. Make sure to include their full name, title, and the name and location of their organization as well.
3. Greeting: Once you are done with the basic information, start your letter with a formal greeting like "Dear Dr. [Surname]" or "Dear [Title] [Surname]".
4. (Re) Or Reference Line: Now state the purpose of the letter. Depending on the type of letter you are writing, you can write something like “Referral for [Patient's Name]" or "Discharge Summary for [Patient's Name]".
5. Introduction: The next part of the OET letter format is to write the introduction. Start by introducing the name of the patient, what their medical issues are, and what your purpose is in writing this letter.
6. Body Paragraph: Divide the body of the blog into three paragraphs. In the first paragraph, write about the patient's current complaints, symptoms, and other issues. In the second paragraph, include all the relevant information, like past medical, social, and family history. In the third paragraph, write about any previous interventions, treatment plans, or advice given.
7. Conclusion: Finally, conclude the OET letter by summarizing the key points and requesting for reader’s action or expected care for the patient.

However, since the letter-writing section in OET is tailored for each healthcare profession differently, you should take a look at the OET writing sample of each of the professions to get a better understanding of what you are expected to write.

Different Types of OET Letters

As we already mentioned above, in OET writing, there are different types of letters that you have to write based on your profession. Here is more detail about the types of letters that you need to prepare for the OET exam, along with example scenarios for different professions:

Types of OET Letters

In healthcare communication, each of these types of OET letters serves a distinct purpose, and you have to tailor them accordingly. While you can take help from OET letter writing samples, knowing about what each of them entails can help you achieve your dream score:

1. Referral Letters: In the OET writing sub-test, the referral letter is used when a healthcare professional is referring a patient to another healthcare professional, either for an evaluation or treatment.
2. Discharge Letters: A discharge letter is a type of letter that you write when a patient is being discharged from a hospital or other care facility. In this, you have to summarize their treatment and give follow-up instructions.
3. Transfer Letters: This is written when a patient is being transferred from one facility to another or from one department to another.

Example Scenarios for Different Professions

Below are some example scenarios for different professions that you can get in OET writing that will help you tailor your preparation:

OET Letter Writing Sample with Answers

Based on the OET format above, we have created an OET writing sample for nurses based on the case notes given below. This will help you understand the kind of data you will get in the case notes and which information you have to add in your letter and which not.

OET Letter Writing Sample

Ms. Julie RenshawCommunity NurseGreendale Health Services3 Maple CrescentGreendale

12 March 2020

Re: Ms. Helen Andrews, aged 71

Dear Ms. Renshaw,

I am writing to inform you that Ms. Helen Andrews will be discharged from Greendale Community Hospital on 13 March 2020 following treatment for a left femoral neck fracture.

Ms. Andrews was admitted on 28 February 2020 after a fall at home. She underwent surgery on 1 March 2020 and has since shown satisfactory progress. Her wound is healing well, and she is now ambulating with a 4-wheeled walker under supervision. She continues to experience mild discomfort but is afebrile and stable.

Upon discharge, Ms. Andrews will require assistance with activities of daily living, including dressing and bathing. Her daughter, Rachel Andrews, will be providing this support at home. We have arranged for home visits from a Community Nurse to monitor her recovery and provide additional support.

Please ensure that Ms. Andrews continues her prescribed medications and attends her follow-up appointments as scheduled. Should you require any further information or have concerns regarding her care, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Charge Nurse

Common Mistakes to Avoid in OET Letter Writing

You are bound to make some mistakes during your preparation, especially when it comes to navigating the OET syllabus. We have curated some points on common mistakes you should avoid in OET letter writing during your preparation, as well as in the exam:

1. Unclear Introduction: The first mistake most test takers make is writing an unclear purpose in the introduction. So, make sure that you write the reason for writing a letter in the introduction, such as a referral or report.
2. Adding Irrelevant Information: You might have noticed how our OET letter sample above only had important information that was relevant to the recipient. So, make sure that you avoid copying all case note information into the letter without selection.
3. Late OET Registration: Another common mistake most test takers make is waiting too long for OET registration. Leaving things at the last minute will give you less time to prepare and sort out other important details and documentation.
4. Grammatical Errors: Since OET is an English proficiency test, making grammatical errors or spelling mistakes can impact your score significantly. So when you practice with an OET writing sample, use grammar check tools and proofread carefully.
5. Ignoring the 5-Minute Reading Time: In OET letter writing, you get 5 minutes to read and understand the case notes. Ignoring this time can lead you to not understand the main issue, timeline, relevant history, and purpose of the letter.

Tips for Improving OET Letter Writing Skills

To improve your OET letter-writing skills, check out our list of OET writing tips below that will help you finesse the skill of writing every type of OET letter. These tips focus on various aspects like grammar, clarity, vocabulary, and more:

1. Understand the Purpose and Task: The first tip is to identify the type of OET letter you are expected to write and who the recipient is, then identify the purpose, like the reason behind writing this letter, important information, and required action.
2. Use a Clear Structure: Next is to follow a proper and clear structure while writing the letter. A well-organized letter will improve readability and coherence.
3. Develop Your Language Precision: This goes without saying that to score 350+ in OET writing, you need to have better language precision. You can use various OET writing sample letter to help you use medical terminology appropriately.
4. Time Yourself During Practice: Next on our OET writing tips is to simulate test conditions to build speed and accuracy. This will help you in reducing exam anxiety on the actual test day.
5. Use Sample Letters and Get Feedback: Lastly, work with case notes and OET letter sample regularly and then share them with a tutor or mentor to get constructive feedback. This will help you identify areas for improvement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, acing the writing section in OET, especially the OET exam for nurses, is all about writing clear, concise, and professional letters that adhere to the OET writing criteria. While our guide above will give you insights into OET letter writing and strategies to aim for a score of 350 or higher, you cannot ignore the role of practice and tailored support that an expert can give you. If you are looking for help, you can connect with our experts from Gradding.com, who will give you structured training and resources in order to improve your specific areas. Get help today!

FAQs

1. How to Write a Letter in OET Exam?

In the OET exam, you have to write a referral, discharge, or advice letter based on the healthcare scenario provided in the case note. To write it, start by reading the task carefully and then using a clear format, write an introduction, body, key patient information, and a polite closing. Make sure that you stay organised and concise throughout the letter.

2. How to Get 350 in OET Writing?

In the OET writing section, getting 350 or above means achieving at least a B grade, and to do this, you should focus on writing clearly and coherently. In addition to this, also make sure to address all the parts of the task completely, use appropriate tone and vocabulary, and avoid spelling or grammar mistakes.

3. How can I Practice Writing for OET?

To practice writing for OET, you can try to do sample letters under timed conditions regularly. You can also study the common letter types and formats, and learn the language that is typically used in the healthcare context. Lastly, to practice, you can also use the official OET materials and, if possible, get feedback from a teacher or a native English speaker who is familiar with OET.

4. How to Write a Purpose in OET Writing?

In the OET writing, you can write the purpose of your letter in the introduction or opening sentence. For example, you can say, “I am writing to refer a patient,” or “This letter is to inform you about…” This will set the context for the readers and will ensure that your letter is relevant and focused.