Occupational English Test - Writing Task

OET is an international English language test that assesses the language

communication skills of healthcare professionals who seek to register and
practice in an English-speaking environment.

About the Writing sub-test

The Writing sub-test takes 45 minutes and is profession-specific. There is one task set for each profession based on a typical workplace situation and the demands of the profession – a nurse does the task for nursing, a dentist does the task for dentistry, and so on.

 The Writing sub-test structure

The task is to write a letter, usually a referral letter. Sometimes a different type of letter is required: e.g. a letter of transfer or discharge, or a letter to advise or inform a patient, career, or group.

Along with the task instructions, you will receive stimulus material (case notes and/or other related documentation) which includes information to use in your response.

How is writing ability assessed in OET?

Your performance on the Writing sub-test is marked independently by a minimum of two trained Assessors. Neither Assessor knows what scores the other has given you, or what scores you have achieved on any of the other sub-tests.

Your performance is scored against five criteria and receives a band score for each criterion:

·        Overall Task Fulfillment

·        Appropriateness of Language

·        Comprehension of Stimulus

·        Linguistic Features (grammar and cohesion)

·        Presentation Features (spelling, punctuation, layout)

What happens if I write too many words in exam?

There is no automatic penalty for writing over or under the word range for the task (180 – 200 words). However, each task is designed to be achievable within that word range. If you have written significantly more, it is likely that you have included irrelevant material or your letter is not well organized. If you have written significantly less, you may have misunderstood the task and/or the case notes, or missed out important information. In either case, your scores for the five assessment criteria for Writing will reflect any weaknesses in those areas.

What scores on the level descriptors do I need to reach on the writing test?

You should aim to achieve the highest level in the descriptors for each criteria. Test-takers securing grade B will have achieved predominantly scores of 5 out of 6 on each criteria.