OET Writing Samples to Succeed in The OET Exam

Introduction to OET Writing Task

While OET writing samples are a great way to prepare for the OET exam, learning about what the OET writing task consists of can help you tailor your preparation as per the exam requirements.

The Occupational English Test or OET writing sub-test is a task in the OET exam which is used to assess a healthcare professional’s written ability to effectively communicate in English in a healthcare setting.

In this section, you will have to write a specific type of letter based on the given case note. The letter is generally of three types: transfer, discharge, and referral letter, which you are supposed to complete in under 45 minutes, where 5 minutes are for reading and understanding the given case notes.

This is an important part of the OET exam where you have to select relevant information, organize it logically, and present it clearly and concisely, just as one would in a real-life professional setting. In addition to that, the OET Syllabus is designed in a way to assess you on six main criteria, namely Purpose, Content, Conciseness and Clarity, Genre and Style, Organization and Layout, and Language.

Types of OET Letters

As we mentioned above, in the OET writing sub-test, there are three main types of letters: Referral, discharge, and transfer letters. But in addition to these, you can also encounter other letters like urgent or update letters, or information/advice letters if you are giving OET for professions like pharmacy or veterinary science.

Below are OET writing samples on the most commonly occurring letter type along with an OET letter sample answer that you can refer to for your OET exam preparation.

1. Referral Letter

A referral letter in the OET writing is an important component where you have to showcase your written ability to effectively communicate a patient’s situation and refer to another healthcare professional.

Below is a writing OET sample that will help you understand the format and structure of writing a referral letter:

OET Writing Sample for Referral Letter

Dr Helena Tan

Consultant Radiologist

Greenhill Diagnostic Imaging Centre

22 Victoria Avenue

Greenhill, NSW 2040

25 August 2021

Dear Dr Tan,

Re: Mr James Carter

DOB: 18 May 1961

I am writing to refer Mr James Carter, a 60-year-old man, for an abdominal ultrasound to check for possible gallstones.

For the past three months, Mr Carter has been having pain in the upper part of his abdomen. The pain usually happens after eating large or fatty meals and he describes it as a dull ache, but sometimes sharp. He also feels bloated and slightly nauseous and has not had any vomiting, jaundice, fever, or changes in his bowel habits.

He has been taking antacids, which give him some short-term relief. On examination, his abdomen was soft but slightly tender in the right upper area. His vital signs were normal, and his urine test was clear.

Mr Carter has high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are well controlled with medication. His BMI is 30.2, and his mother had gallstones in the past.

In light of his symptoms and history, I would appreciate your assessment and an abdominal ultrasound to confirm or rule out cholelithiasis or other hepatobiliary causes. I have also requested liver function tests and serum lipase.

Please feel free to contact me if further information is required.

Yours sincerely,

Dr John Smith

General Practitioner

2. Discharge Letter

In the OET writing sub-test, the discharge letter is an important document which is typically written by nurses or doctors. Here, you have to summarize a patient’s hospitalization and treatment and write about their ongoing care after the discharge.

Below is an OET discharge letter sample that will help you understand the OET letter format and the kind of language and medical terminology you need to use.

OET Writing Sample for Discharge Letter

Northside General Hospital

88 East Road

Northside

15 March 2023

Ms Elena Ward

Senior Nurse

Meadowview Aged Care Facility

7 Garden Lane

Northside

Dear Ms Ward,

Re: Mrs Hannah Blackwood

DOB: 10 April 1950

I am writing to inform you that Mrs Hannah Blackwood will be discharged from hospital tomorrow following a laparoscopic appendectomy performed on 11 March 2023.

Mrs Blackwood, aged 72, was admitted with acute appendicitis. She has made good progress and is now afebrile. She is mobilising independently with her walking stick and tolerating a soft diet well. Her bowel and bladder functions are normal. The surgical wound is healing without signs of infection, and daily dressing changes have been performed.

Her pain is mild and controlled with paracetamol. For discharge, she will continue paracetamol 500 mg up to four times daily as needed. Wound care includes dressing changes every two days for one week. Please monitor for any signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or fever. She should avoid strenuous activity and be encouraged to move gently for 10 to 14 days.

Mrs Blackwood has some anxiety about returning to the care facility, and her daughter will visit on 17 March to provide support. Please encourage her to maintain good hydration, nutrition, and provide emotional reassurance.

Please contact me if you require further information.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]

Charge Nurse

Northside General Hospital

3. Transfer Letter

Below is another OET writing sample for nurses for a transfer letter. This is generally used by another medical professional to provide information regarding a patient that is being transferred to another facility.

This OET letter writing sample will help you understand how transfer letters differ from other kinds of letters in the OET exam and the structure you need to follow.

OET Writing Sample for Transfer Letter

Westside Community Health Clinic

27 Hill Street

Westside

12 July 2021

Community Health Nurse

Eastvale Community Health Centre

12 Bridge Road

Eastvale

Dear Community Health Nurse,

Re: Mr Albert Holmes

DOB: 04 February 1944

I am writing to refer Mr Albert Holmes, a 77-year-old gentleman, who is relocating to Eastvale to live with his son. He will require continued community-based monitoring and support.

Mr Holmes has a medical history of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, early-stage chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, and mild cognitive impairment. He has been under regular review at our clinic since 2019.

His blood sugar levels remain moderately elevated, often ranging from 7.5 to 9.5 mmol/L. He occasionally forgets to take his metformin, likely due to memory issues, and sometimes struggles with managing his pill organiser. He is generally cooperative but has difficulty maintaining a diabetic diet, with a particular craving for sweets.

Mr Holmes uses a walking frame for mobility and has no significant safety concerns at home. He currently receives Meals-on-Wheels twice weekly. His son, who is a pharmacist, has agreed to assist with medication supervision and dietary management.

I would appreciate it if you could continue monitoring his blood pressure, blood sugar levels, medication adherence, and cognitive status. Please feel free to contact me if further details are required.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]

Community Nurse

Westside Community Health Clinic

Common Mistakes to Avoid in OET Writing

Apart from our OET writing sample for doctors above, you can also prepare for the OET exam and achieve a high score by knowing about the common mistakes to avoid. Below is a list of common pitfalls that most people make during the OET preparation, as well as the OET writing mock test for you:

1. Not Knowing the Task Requirements: The first mistake most test-takers make is not knowing what is expected from them, which can lead to the inclusion of irrelevant information. To avoid this, you can check out a few OET letter sample along with their answers to learn the kind of information you are expected to add.
2. Grammar and Sentence Structure: Another common mistake to avoid in OET writing is using incorrect verb tenses, making subject-verb agreement errors, and following a poor sentence structure. This can significantly reduce your overall marks.
3. Bad Vocabulary and Tone: Using inappropriate medical jargon and abbreviations, and having Incorrect or limited vocabulary can reduce your lexical resource score. To avoid this, you can use OET writing samples to check the tone and the kind of vocabulary you are expected to use.
4. Ignoring the Assessment Criteria: Lastly, not knowing how your writing will be scored can negatively affect your OET result. So, make sure to review the official criteria and compare your letters with a high-scoring OET letter writing sample to ensure your writing meets the expected standards.

Conclusion

Our OET writing samples above are a great resource that can help you prepare for the OET writing sub-test, as they not only offer numerous benefits but can even enhance your OET test preparation.

In addition to these writing OET samples above, you can also get help from our experts at Gradding.co,m who will give you targeted feedback, guidance on assessment criteria, and help in mastering medical terminology. Connect with them today!

FAQs

1. How Can I Practice Writing for OET?

To practice writing for the OET exam, start by reviewing a couple of OET writing samples, case notes, and other official writing tasks which is relevant to your profession (Nursing, medicine, etc.) Then practice writing referral letters, discharge summaries, or transfer letters based on those notes regularly.

2. What is the Format of Writing in OET?

The format of writing in OET consists of one task, which is related to your specific healthcare profession. In this, you will be asked to write either a referral, transfer, or discharge letter based on the given case notes in 45 minutes in under 180-200 words.

3. How to Get 350 in OET Writing?

To get 350 (Grade B) in OET writing, you need to meet the task’s six key assessment criteria, which are Purpose, Content, Conciseness & Clarity, Genre & Style, Organisation & Layout, and Language. In addition to that, make sure that your writing uses correct grammar, vocabulary, and professional tone.

4. What is the Hardest Part of OET?

The hardest part of the OET exam varies from person to person. However, there are many candidates who find the OET writing sub-test challenging because it requires an accurate selection of relevant information from case notes and presenting it in a professional, well-structured format.