The OET writing test assesses a healthcare professional’s ability to write in English, especially for workplace communication. This test is tailored for several professions, such as Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, and other healthcare professionals. Candidates looking to work or study health-related programs in English-speaking countries must appear for the OET exam. In this blog, we will cover the overall OET writing format, criteria, question types, samples, and tips to ace your exam. So, stick to the end and learn everything!
Table of Contents
The OET stands for Occupational English Test, which identifies English proficiency for healthcare professionals. The OET writing test is conducted by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment Trust (CBLA). The OET letter writing must be in a formal tone. In this test, you will receive case notes based on your specialized field, and you have to write the relevant response.
There are several healthcare professions, in which you will attempt the test such as Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Speech Pathology, Veterinary Science, etc. However, the candidate gets the same time duration and format of the question.
The OET writing test is designed to mimic real-world situations, such as writing a referral letter to a colleague or a discharge letter to a patient. With the above paragraph, you have understood well what is OET writing sub-test is.
The OET writing is a one of the longest sub-tests where you have to write a letter, which must be around 180-200 words. The content of the letter must with clear and concise language, appropriate medical terminology, and a logical structure. Moreover, here is an overview of the OET writing format in a table format.
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Word Limit | Approximately 180–200 words |
| Time Limit | 45 minutes (including 5 minutes to read case notes) |
| Materials Provided | Detailed case notes regarding the clinical situation of a patient |
The writing part is a total of 45 minutes long test. In the beginning, the candidate gets a total of 5 minutes to study the case. This can be based on different professions, such as the OET writing for nurses, therapists, pharmacists, etc. Remember that you will not be allowed to circle, underline, or mark anything on the given case study. Besides, you can’t have a pen or pencil in your hand during the test.
In OET Writing questions are primarily based on letters of different types. You will be asked to write a letter based on a case that involves different scenarios. Here is a detailed breakdown you can get from the table.
| Types of Letters | Purpose of Writing |
|---|---|
| Referral Letter | This letter is used to refer a patient to another healthcare professional for further evaluation or treatment. |
| Urgent/Emergency Letter | This type of letter is written when a patient's condition requires immediate attention. |
| Discharge Letter | This letter is written when a patient is being discharged from the hospital or other healthcare facility. |
| Update Letter | This type of letter provides updates on a patient's condition or treatment plan to other healthcare professionals involved in their care. |
| Transfer Letter | This letter is used to transfer a patient from one healthcare facility to another. |
The OET writing questions are also known as patient notes and are used in writing tasks to provide context for writing a letter to a medical professional. These notes provides a brief and contain information about the patient’s demographics, medical history, investigations, etc. Understand better from the table below.
| Section | Content | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Details | Name, Age, DOB, Address, Phone Number | Mr. John Smith, 65 years old, DOB: 1958-05-24, 123 Main St, Anytown, 555-1212 |
| Medical History | Relevant past conditions, allergies, and medications | Hypertension, Asthma, taking Metoprolol 50mg daily |
| Social History | Smoking, alcohol, occupation, etc. | Smokes 1 pack of cigarettes daily, unemployed |
| Examination Findings | Observations, measurements | Blood pressure 140/90 mmHg, heart rate 100 bpm, oxygen saturation 88% |
| Progress/Outcome | Current condition, response to treatment | The patient's breathing improved after oxygen therapy. Follow up with cardiologist. |
Till now, you have understood the OET syllabus for writing sub-tests including the OET writing format, question types, duration, and case notes.
You can understand the format more clearly if refer to OET samples for writing sub-tests. In the following details, we have given OET writing samples for nurses along with the case notes and answers. After going through the sample question, you will get an idea of how to solve questions during the actual test, so let’s begin it.
OET Writing Sample for Nurse
Case Notes:
Patient name: Mr. Jack Martin
DOB: 12 April 1950
Occupation: Retired mechanic
Presenting problem: Admitted 20 May 2025 following a fall at home
Fracture: Left neck of femur, underwent surgery (open reduction internal fixation) on 21 May
Medical history:
Discharge plan:
Here is an example of how you might approach the OET writing samples for nurses, along with introduction, body, and conclusion:
[Date]
Community Nurse
[Community Health Center Address]
Dear Community Nurse,
Re: Mr. Jack Martin, DOB: 12/04/1950
Introduction:
A letter is provided to update the recipient on Mr. Jack Martin, who was admitted to [Hospital Name] on May 20, 2025, after a fall at home, resulting in a left neck of femur fracture. Now, he requires ongoing community nursing care and monitoring following his recent hospitalization.
Body:
Mr. Martin was admitted to the hospital on 20 May 2025 following a fall at home, which resulted in a left neck of femur fracture. He underwent open reduction internal fixation surgery on 21 May. His medical history includes Type 2 Diabetes (diagnosed in 2012) and Hypertension. He is a long-term smoker (30 years) and has no known drug allergies.
Mr. Martin is scheduled for discharge on 27 May. He will require home visits for wound care, as well as blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring. Ongoing physiotherapy will also be necessary to support his recovery. He is scheduled for a follow-up appointment with his GP in one week. Smoking cessation advice is also recommended.
Conclusion:
Assistance in Mr. Martin's ongoing care is appreciated. Please note that Mr. Martin lives alone, with his son visiting twice a week. Further information can be provided upon request.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name/Title]
[Your Department/Hospital]
Hopefully, through the above OET letter writing sample, you have understood the way to answer.
The OET writing criteria involve six major factors to determine the final scores. These criteria ensure that the letter effectively communicates necessary information and adheres to healthcare communication standards. The following table provides a detailed explanation of the OET writing criteria to evaluate scores:
| Criterion | Description |
|---|---|
| Purpose | The letter's primary objective should be clear and consistent throughout. |
| Content | All necessary information should be included accurately and comprehensively. |
| Conciseness & Clarity | The letter should be concise, avoiding unnecessary jargon or irrelevant information. |
| Genre & Style | The letter's tone, register, and use of abbreviations should be appropriate for the intended recipient and the situation. |
| Organization & Layout | The letter should be well-structured and easy to read, with clear headings and paragraphs. |
| Language | Accurate grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation are essential for effective communication. |
Finally, you have understood the major factors to consider in the assessment of the OET writing sub-test.
In OET writing, using effective strategies is necessary. In this sub-test, you are required to write a letter that must be within a certain word limit, and for that, you must know the right technique. Here are some OET writing tips that you can use in your test.
1. Use Initial Five Minutes Carefully- At the beginning of the writing sub-test, use five minutes to understand the case situation, treatment plan, and related things.
2. Plan Before You Write- Never start writing the response immediately, make a proper format that includes an introduction (purpose), body (present status and history), and conclusion (treatment plan or action).
3. Maintain a Professional Tone- Use professional language and structure in your answer. For this, you can practice through different OET writing materials and sample questions.
4. Be Concise and Clear- Try not to repeat information and be concise and clear with the language. Your answer must be concluded within 180-200 words so adhere to the instructions.
5. Practice Regularly with Sample Tests- If you refer to a variety of OET writing materials, you can score well in the actual test. Therefore, practice regularly with the OET writing mock test so that you can also develop your time management skills.
To conclude, we have discussed the OET writing tips, samples, assessment criteria, format, question types, and related things in this blog. As the OET writing sub-test assesses a candidate’s ability to express medical context effectively, so, to succeed, you must understand the format, focus on clarity, maintain a professional tone, and practice regularly. You can take proper OET online classes. Here you can access several writing mock tests and track your performance. Apart from the writing sub-test, this is a good way to prepare for other sub-tests.
1. What Is the Format of Writing in OET?
The OET writing sub-test requires candidates to write a formal letter on a profession-specific matter, using case notes provided. It involves 5 minutes of reading time for the case notes and a 40-minute writing time with a 180-200 word limit.
2. How Can I Practice Writing for OET?
If you follow a proper study plan and practice regularly with OET writing materials, you can perform better. Moreover, here are some practice tips:
3. How to Get 350 in OET Writing?
Your response must be well-organized in the writing sub-test. Moreover, you should use a formal tone which is appropriate for healthcare professionals. If you do the same, you can get 350 in OET writing.
4. What Are the Criteria for OET Writing?
The Occupational English Test (OET) writing sub-test assesses six main criteria including purpose, content, conciseness & clarity, genre & style, organization & layout, and language. Apart from this, examiners also evaluate features like grammar and cohesion so prepare accordingly.
5. What Is the Hardest Part of the OET Exam?
The writing sub-test is usually considered the challenging part of OET. Therefore, candidates are advised to practice well before the actual exam.
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