As an expert in Occupational English Test (OET) preparation, I know how crucial the Writing sub-test is for nurses aiming to work in English-speaking healthcare environments. The OET writing task requires candidates to write a professional, accurate, and concise letter—such as a referral, discharge, or transfer letter—based strictly on case notes.

This guide provides an updated 2025 breakdown, sample letters, tables, and step-by-step strategies to help nurses excel in the Writing sub-test.

Understanding the OET Writing Task for Nurses

The OET Writing task requires candidates to:

• Write a 180–200-word professional letter

• Based on case notes

• Within 45 minutes

• Addressed to another healthcare professional

• With clear purpose, organization, and clinical accuracy

Skills Being Assessed

You will be evaluated on:

• Purpose – Clarity of intention from the first sentence

• Content – Relevance and accuracy of selected information

• Conciseness & Clarity – No unnecessary details

• Genre & Style – Professional tone

• Organization & Layout – Logical structure

• Language – Grammar, vocabulary, and medical terminology

Components of an Effective OET Letter

Essential Features

• Clear, immediate purpose

• Polished professional tone

• Strong organization

• Precise medical details

• Relevant and concise case note selection

Standard Structure

1. Date

2. Recipient’s Details

3. Greeting

4. Introduction (Purpose + Patient Summary)

5. Body Paragraphs (History, current issue, management)

6. Closing Request + Offer of Help

7. Sign-off

OET Letter Structure Table

2025 Updates to OET Writing

What Has Changed?

OET assessors now focus more heavily on:

• Conciseness ? Avoid unnecessary case-note details

• Recipient-specific language

• Culturally sensitive communication

• Digital healthcare references, such as:

  • telehealth

  • virtual monitoring

  • electronic medical records

These additions reflect modern clinical documentation standards.

Step-by-Step Process for Writing an OET Letter

1. Analyse Case Notes

• Identify: purpose, condition, history, red flags

• Highlight only relevant information

2. Identify the Target Reader

• Specialist ? precise terminology

• Community nurse ? simpler explanations

3. Organize Information

Use this pattern:

• Purpose

• Present issue

• Past medical history

• Management

• Request for follow-up

4. Write Concisely

• Avoid repetition

• Include only information needed for the reader’s decision-making

5. Review

Check:

• Spelling

• Grammar

• Word count

• Tone

• Logical flow

Sample OET Letters for Nurses (2025 Format)

Below are two updated sample letters with clear structure and modern tone.

Sample Letter 1: Referral Letter

Case Notes Summary (Table)

Referral Letter

4 August 2025
Dr Emily Watson
Endocrinology Department
City Hospital
123 Health Road
Springfield

Dear Dr Watson,

I am writing to refer Mr John Carter, a 55-year-old patient with Type 2 diabetes, for specialist assessment due to ongoing difficulty in maintaining stable blood glucose levels.

Mr Carter was diagnosed in 2018 and has been on insulin therapy. His medical history includes hypertension, managed with lisinopril 10 mg daily, and obesity (BMI 32). Over the past month, he has experienced several episodes of hypoglycaemia, the most recent recorded at 3.2 mmol/L. His insulin dosage was recently adjusted, and dietary counselling was advised; however, his condition remains unstable.

I would appreciate your expert review of his diabetes management and further recommendations for optimizing his treatment plan. Please contact me on 555-1234 if additional information is required.

Yours sincerely,
Sarah Johnson
Registered Nurse

Sample Letter 2: Discharge Letter

Case Notes Summary (Table)

Discharge Letter

4 August 2025
Community Nursing Service
Springfield Community Health Centre
456 Wellness Avenue
Springfield

Dear Community Nurse,

I am writing to inform you that Mrs Linda Thompson, a 72-year-old patient, has been discharged today following treatment for community-acquired pneumonia.

Mrs Thompson, who has a history of COPD managed with a salbutamol inhaler, was admitted on 28 July 2025 and commenced on amoxicillin 500 mg three times daily and oxygen therapy. She has shown significant improvement and is now afebrile with an oxygen saturation of 96% on room air and a respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute.

Please continue monitoring her respiratory status and ensure adherence to her COPD management plan. She has been advised to use her inhaler as needed and to seek medical attention if symptoms deteriorate. For further details, please contact me at 555-5678.

Yours faithfully,
Emma Brown
Registered Nurse

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these frequent errors:

• Including unnecessary case details

• Writing beyond 200 words

• Using overly casual or overly technical language

• Mixing unrelated information

• Weak purpose statement

• Poor grammatical accuracy

How to Improve Your Writing with OETpro.com

Recommended Strategies

• Practice with 2025-updated case notes on OETpro.com

• Follow a time-management formula:

  • 5 minutes reading

  • 30 minutes writing

  • 10 minutes reviewing

• Use professional templates

• Send practice letters for expert OET feedback

• Learn synonyms for flexibility (e.g., MI ? heart attack)

• Build familiarity with digital healthcare terms

Final Note

Success in OET Writing requires the right balance of medical knowledge, clarity, professionalism, and strategic planning. With updated 2025 requirements focusing on conciseness, targeted language, and modern healthcare scenarios, nurses can confidently craft letters that meet assessor expectations.

With the guidance in this article and the tools available on OETpro.com, you can achieve the score you need and advance your nursing career in English-speaking healthcare settings.