Types of Letters in OET

The OET Letters come in three different varieties. Each of these letters will be formatted or structured differently. You must be able to adhere to a few fundamental letter-writing guidelines.

Any exam may be faced successfully with the right attitude, planning, and practice. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss OET types of letters and a number of helpful OET referral writing pointers and recommendations that might help you learn how to write better in the OET. By utilizing these tips, you will be able to polish your writing skills and get a top score in the OET Writing subtest.

What are the types of letters in OET?

The three most common letter types you must prepare to write in the OET include:

• Referral letter
• Discharge letter
• Transfer letter

Besides these, you might come across a particular type of letter depending on your specialisation. These include:

• In the fields of pharmacy, veterinary science, speech pathology, and occupational therapy – letters to advise or inform a patient, caregiver, or group.
• For Radiography – a written response to a complaint.

Evaluation Criteria for the Writing Subtest in OET

Your letter will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Purpose
• Content
• Conciseness & Clarity
• Genre & Style
• Organisation & Layout
• Language

Each of the aforementioned is given a band score between 0 and 7, with the exception of Purpose, which is given a band value between 0 and 3. You must perform well in each of the six categories if you want to achieve a writing score of 350, which displays a good grasp of written communication skills.

Tips for drafting the Letter:

Once you have learned about the fundamentals of the Writing task, it is wise to acquaint yourself with some tips to compose your letter. They are as follows:

• Through the Writing task and the case notes, you can determine and comprehend the goal of your letter. You must be able to demonstrate this in your letter as well. To do this, write an opening sentence that clearly states the aim of your letter and uses the appropriate verbs.
• The best information to choose will depend on what the reader needs to continue providing care for the patient. Additionally, you must be able to translate the case notes accurately into entire sentences while preserving the original meaning of the content.
• You must decide what details are not necessary and ought to be omitted.
• Your correspondence with another professional should be formal. Knowing how to employ the appropriate register and tone is necessary for this. It’s crucial to start and end the letter correctly and to use facts rather than assumptions.

The writing assignment, which is directly related to the job, calls for you to pick and arrange pertinent data before presenting it in a way that is appropriate for the reader. For working professionals, writing such a letter with little time is a reality. Thus, this task will directly prepare you for your time as a healthcare professional. Mastering this skill is a necessity – not just to score well on the OET but also for you to be a proficient and efficient healthcare provider for your patients.