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United Kingdom · English test

OET Writing: the letter task and samples

One letter in 45 minutes. The Writing sub-test of the Occupational English Test (OET) gives you case notes about a patient and asks you to write to another health professional, or to someone involved in the patient’s care. The letter might be a referral, advice, or a transfer or discharge letter, and it’s written for your profession: nurses get a nursing task, radiographers a radiography one. OET writing samples come in OET’s free sample tests for each profession.

  • 45 minutes5 to read the notes, then 40 to write
  • 180 to 200Words the task asks for
  • 6Criteria your letter is marked on
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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

What the OET Writing task gives you

  • Background information on the situation
  • Case notes for your profession, sometimes with other documents
  • Task instructions: who you’re writing to and why

Use the reader’s title and address as the task gives them. OET doesn’t require one layout, as long as the letter is clearly set out for the task. You can write in capitals if you prefer, but not a mix of capitals and lower case.

How is the OET Writing letter marked?

CriterionGrade B level
Purpose2 out of 3
Content5 out of 7
Conciseness and Clarity5 out of 7
Genre and Style5 out of 7
Organisation and Layout5 out of 7
Language5 out of 7

Two OET assessors mark each letter, and the criterion scores are combined and converted to the 500 scale. Spelling, punctuation and grammar count under Language.

Does word count matter in OET Writing?

Not directly: there’s no automatic penalty for going outside 180 to 200 words. But OET says a letter well over the range probably includes things the reader doesn’t need or isn’t well organised, and one well under has probably left out key information. The criteria scores pick that up.

Using the 5 minutes of reading time

Read the task and the case notes and plan who needs what, so you only include information relevant to your reader. The case notes stay with you for the whole 40 minutes of writing, and OET says that’s enough time to write the letter and check it.

Where can you find OET writing samples?

Every official sample test has a Writing task for its profession, and OET’s handbook says the packs include sample answers. OET also gives away a Writing guide and the full Writing assessment criteria.

OET sample exam packs →OET for nurses →OET Medicine →
Sources: OET and 3 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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Who accepts OET

OET in the UKOET in AustraliaOET for nursesOET Medicine