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Step-by-Step Strategy to Crack the OET Writing Part

The Writing sub-test of the Occupational English Test (OET) continues to be an essential part of assessing how well healthcare professionals can communicate in English within professional and clinical environments. Even with the new overall OET score launching on January 29, 2025, the Writing sub-test remains critical for balanced performance.

This sub-test evaluates your ability to write clear, concise, and professional letters such as referral, discharge, transfer, or advice letters. It is relevant to healthcare fields including nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and more.

Six Assessment Criteria (Scored 0–7):

  • Purpose

  • Content

  • Conciseness & Clarity

  • Genre & Style

  • Organization & Layout

  • Language

These criteria ensure that your writing reflects real-world communication used in healthcare settings.

What’s New in 2025?

Although the format of the Writing test remains the same, a few updates make preparation even more important:

Key Updates

  • More frequent test sessions (now including Wednesdays and Thursdays).

  • Australia’s new visa acceptance rules from August 7, 2025, including changes to minimum score requirements.

  • The new OET overall score, meaning weaknesses in Writing will affect your total performance.

Why Writing Matters Even More

Countries like Australia now allow some exemptions or alternative OET score conditions. This makes a strong Writing score more valuable for:

  • Visa approval

  • Job mobility

  • Registration with regulatory bodies

Target Scores for Healthcare Professionals

Most organizations require a B grade (350–440) in Writing, including:

  • NMC (UK Nursing and Midwifery Council)

  • AHPRA (Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)

Understanding the OET Writing Sub-Test

The Writing test simulates real workplace communication. You receive case notes and must convert them into a professional letter.

Duration

Section Time
Reading case notes 5 minutes
Writing the letter 40 minutes
Total 45 minutes

Word Limit

  • 180–220 words

  • Best range: 180–200 words (clear and concise)

Profession-Specific Tasks

Examples:

  • Nurses ? Discharge letter

  • Doctors ? Referral letter

  • Physiotherapists ? Progress report

You can take the test on paper or computer, with computer-based results released faster (10–12 business days).

Structure of the OET Writing Test

Understanding the layout makes it easier to score higher.

Typical Letter Structure

  1. Date & Address

  2. Salutation

  3. Reference Line (Re: Patient Name, Age)

  4. Introduction

    • State the purpose immediately.

  5. Body Paragraphs

    • Past medical history

    • Current condition

    • Treatment

    • Ongoing needs

  6. Conclusion

    • Recommendations

    • Contact information

  7. Closing (Yours sincerely)

  8. Your name and designation

Tips for the First 5 Minutes

  • Skim the notes.

  • Highlight essential information.

  • Group details (e.g., history, treatment, follow-up).

  • Create a quick paragraph plan.

Sample OET Writing Task (2025 Style)

Task Details

You are a nurse writing a discharge letter.

Patient Summary Table

Category Details
Name Elena Rodriguez
Age 72
Condition Community-acquired pneumonia
Admission 7 days ago
Treatment IV antibiotics, oxygen therapy
Current Status Stable, no oxygen, mild fatigue
Medication 5 days oral antibiotics, inhaler PRN
Follow-up Home visits for monitoring and vaccination advice
Concerns Age-related relapse risk; daughter provides support

Evaluation Criteria Table (2025 Standards)

Criterion What It Checks Band 7 Description
Purpose Is the purpose clear from the beginning? Instantly clear and fully developed
Content Is all essential information included? Complete, accurate, appropriate
Conciseness & Clarity Is the response short and relevant? No unnecessary details or repetition
Genre & Style Is the tone professional? Formal, clinical, suitable for the audience
Organization & Layout Is the letter easy to follow? Logical flow, clear paragraphing
Language Accuracy of grammar, vocabulary, punctuation Natural, precise, error-free

How to Excel in OET Writing (2025)

Core Strategies

  • Analyze the task properly
    Identify reader, purpose, and key details.

  • Plan before writing
    2–3 minutes outlining improves structure.

  • Stay concise
    Target 180–200 words.

  • Use formal tone
    Professional language only.

  • Manage time
    Keep 5 minutes for proofreading.

Language Tips

  • Use active verbs (e.g., She was treated with…).

  • Avoid unnecessary adjectives.

  • Use medical vocabulary correctly.

  • Do not copy case notes blindly—convert them.

Common Difficulties & Solutions

1. Unclear Purpose

Fix: Always start with a direct statement of purpose.

2. Too Much Information

Fix: Select what is relevant to the reader’s role.

3. Time Pressure

Fix: Practice timed writing weekly.

4. Grammar Errors

Fix: Review common medical writing structures.

5. Disorganized Paragraphs

Fix: Group information into themes:

  • History

  • Current condition

  • Treatment

  • Recommendations

Summary

  • 45-minute test based on profession-specific letters.

  • Six scoring criteria (0–7) determine your Writing grade.

  • Success depends on clarity, relevance, organization, and accuracy.

  • Practicing with updated 2025 materials and getting feedback greatly improves outcomes.

  • With new changes to test availability and visa rules, strong Writing performance is more valuable than ever.

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