How long is the OET Writing sub-test?

45 minutes in total, which includes reading the case notes and writing the letter. You write one letter, usually a referral or transfer letter.

How long should an OET letter be?

Around 180–200 words. Letters that are much longer tend to lose marks for conciseness, and very short letters usually miss relevant content.

What are the OET Writing assessment criteria?

Purpose, Content, Conciseness & Clarity, Genre & Style, Organisation & Layout, and Language.

Can I copy sentences from the case notes?

No. You should select the relevant information and rephrase it in your own words; copying the notes verbatim is penalised and often reads unnaturally.

OET Writing Sample Letter for Nurses (2026) + How It's Scored

A worked OET nursing referral letter with the case notes behind it, plus how OET marks Writing across its six criteria — Purpose, Content, Conciseness & Clarity, Genre & Style, Organisation and Language.

OET Writing for nurses is a 45-minute task: you read a set of case notes and write a letter — most often a referral or transfer letter to another health professional. A strong response is about 180–200 words of relevant, well-organised content.

How OET Writing is scored

Assessors mark your letter against six criteria:

Purpose — is the reason for writing clear in the opening lines?
Content — did you include the information relevant to that purpose (and leave out what isn't)?
Conciseness & Clarity — no padding, no repetition, nothing vague.
Genre & Style — appropriate professional tone for a letter to a colleague.
Organisation & Layout — logical paragraphs and correct letter conventions.
Language — grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation.

Use the first five minutes to plan

You get reading time before you write. Spend it to:

underline the reason for the letter and who it is addressed to,
decide which notes are relevant to that purpose — not everything is, and
group the relevant points into paragraphs.

A worked example

Case notes (abbreviated)

Patient: Mr John Adeyemi, 68
Admitted 2 Oct 2026 with community-acquired pneumonia; completed IV antibiotics, switched to oral
Observations now stable; oxygen saturation 95% on room air
Lives alone; daughter visits daily
Discharged today on oral antibiotics for a further 5 days
Plan: community nursing follow-up — monitor respiratory status, check medication adherence, review within 3 days

Model letter (about 150 words)

Dear District Nurse,

Re: Mr John Adeyemi, aged 68

I am writing to refer Mr Adeyemi, who was discharged today following treatment for community-acquired pneumonia, for follow-up care at home.

Mr Adeyemi was admitted on 2 October 2026. He completed a course of intravenous antibiotics and was subsequently changed to oral antibiotics, which he will continue for a further five days. His observations are now stable, with an oxygen saturation of 95% on room air.

Mr Adeyemi lives alone, although his daughter visits daily. Given his recent respiratory illness, could you please visit to monitor his respiratory status and oxygen saturation, confirm that he is taking his medication correctly, and review his recovery within three days?

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.

Yours sincerely,

Registered Nurse

Common mistakes that cost marks

Copying the case notes word for word instead of selecting and rephrasing.
Including irrelevant detail (e.g. unrelated social history) that doesn't serve the purpose.
Going well over length — padding lowers Conciseness & Clarity.
Forgetting the closing request — be explicit about what you want the reader to do.

Verify before you book

OET tasks and criteria are updated periodically. Always confirm current details on the official OET website.