OET · Writing sub-test · Assessment criteria
The 6 OET Writing criteria, explained.
These are the six lenses every official OET Writing letter is graded through. We use the same six in our free AI check and in our paid human correction service — the same rubric that's marked 11,000+ letters since 2014.
Purpose
Have you actually written the right letter for the right reader?
What assessors look for
- The opening paragraph names the patient and states the reason for writing in one or two sentences.
- The reader (GP, specialist, charge nurse, social worker, patient) is the correct one for the clinical scenario.
- The letter type — referral, discharge, transfer, advice — matches what the case notes asked for.
Weak example
“I am writing to you about Mr Smith.” — vague; doesn't say why, doesn't orient the reader.
Stronger version
“I am writing to refer Mr John Smith, a 72-year-old man with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation, for outpatient cardiology review and consideration of anticoagulation.”
Common mistakes
- Writing a discharge letter when a referral was asked for.
- Addressing the wrong professional (e.g., GP when the case notes specify a specialist).
- Burying the purpose under social pleasantries.
Content
Is the clinical information accurate, relevant and at the right depth?
What assessors look for
- Every clinically relevant fact from the case notes is included; irrelevant detail is left out.
- Nothing is invented, exaggerated, or misremembered from the source notes.
- Depth matches the reader's role — a GP needs different detail than a specialist.
Weak example
Copying every line of the case notes verbatim, including the patient's hobbies, the family's holiday plans, and routine vitals from three years ago.
Stronger version
A 4–6 sentence body paragraph that names the diagnosis, the relevant history, current management, and what changed since last review — and nothing else.
Common mistakes
- Including irrelevant social history because it appears in the case notes.
- Omitting a key medication or allergy.
- Adding clinical judgement not supported by the source material.
Conciseness & Clarity
Is every sentence pulling its weight?
What assessors look for
- No padding phrases (“at this point in time”, “it should be noted that”).
- Active voice where it reads more clearly than passive.
- One idea per sentence; sentences a tired reader can parse on first pass.
Weak example
“It should be noted that, at this present moment in time, the patient is currently experiencing ongoing symptoms of a respiratory nature.”
Stronger version
“She has a persistent cough and shortness of breath on exertion.”
Common mistakes
- Nominalisation: turning verbs into nouns (“the administration of the medication” vs “we gave the medication”).
- Stacking three adjectives where one would do.
- Long subordinate clauses that delay the verb.
Genre & Style
Does the register fit the reader and the situation?
What assessors look for
- Formal but not stiff for a colleague; warmer and clearer when writing to a patient or family.
- Medical abbreviations are appropriate for the reader (don't write “BNP” to a layperson).
- Tone is collegial — you're writing to a peer, not a stranger.
Weak example
“Hey doc, just wanted to flag this one to you.” (To a colleague) — too informal. Or, “The patient is suffering from a myocardial infarction.” (To the patient's family) — too technical.
Stronger version
To a GP: “Thank you for seeing Mr Smith following his recent admission.” To a patient: “Your heart is having trouble pumping at its normal strength, and we'd like to start a new medication to help.”
Common mistakes
- Mixing registers within one letter.
- Using textspeak or contractions in a professional letter.
- Translating jargon for one audience but not another.
Organisation & Layout
Can a busy reader find the answer in 30 seconds?
What assessors look for
- Standard letter scaffolding: date, recipient address, salutation, body paragraphs, sign-off.
- Paragraphs group ideas logically — purpose, history, current state, request.
- Sign-off matches the salutation (“Yours sincerely” when you named the recipient; “Yours faithfully” when you didn't).
Weak example
One 280-word block of text with no paragraph breaks, mixing history, current treatment and the actual request.
Stronger version
Three to four short paragraphs, each with a clear job: (1) why you're writing, (2) relevant background, (3) current status, (4) what you'd like the reader to do.
Common mistakes
- Burying the “please do X” at the bottom under three paragraphs of history.
- Forgetting a salutation or sign-off entirely.
- Inconsistent paragraph length — one giant block followed by a one-line paragraph.
Language
Is your grammar, vocabulary and accuracy what an examiner expects of a registered health professional?
What assessors look for
- Tense consistency — past for what happened, present for what's true now.
- Articles (a / an / the) used correctly — a high-frequency error for non-native speakers.
- Medical vocabulary used precisely (“presented with” vs “came in with”).
Weak example
“Patient is 72 years old man, he has a heart problem since one year, we did echocardiogram and find ejection fraction is reduced.”
Stronger version
“Mr Smith is a 72-year-old man with a one-year history of cardiac symptoms. An echocardiogram performed last week showed a reduced ejection fraction of 35%.”
Common mistakes
- Dropping articles in front of singular nouns.
- Mixing tenses across consecutive sentences.
- Subject-verb agreement errors with collective nouns (“the family are/is”).
Next step
See where your own letter sits against these six.
Paste a practice letter into the free AI check and get an estimated band plus six specific things an examiner would flag — in about 60 seconds.