OET Writing: one letter, six criteria, 45 minutes
You write one letter for your profession from a set of case notes: a referral, discharge, transfer or advice letter. Here is how it is marked, what to practise free, and how to get your letters checked.
In short
- One letter from case notes in 45 minutes, marked on six criteria by two assessors.
- Grade B is 350 out of 500. Most of the letters we see that miss it lose marks on Purpose, Content and Conciseness.
- Practise with real case notes, check each letter at once, and send the important ones to a person.
Which fits you?
My exam is in the next two weeks
Send letters for human correction with a 24-hour return, and practise Speaking alongside.
I missed Grade B and I am retaking
Find out why you lose marks first, then send 5 to 10 letters to confirm the fix.
I am starting out, with six weeks or more
Build the skills first, then book corrections nearer the exam.
The OET Writing sub-test in 30 seconds
| Task | One letter from case notes, written for your profession |
|---|---|
| Time | 45 minutes |
| Letter types | Referral, discharge, transfer, advice and others |
| Marked on | Purpose (0 to 3), then Content, Conciseness & Clarity, Genre & Style, Organisation & Layout and Language (0 to 7 each) |
| Grade B | 350 out of 500 |
Where we see marks lost
From the work students send us, not from OET.
- A purpose that only appears in the second paragraph.
- Copying every case note instead of choosing what the reader needs.
- Long sentences that repeat the patient’s history.
Practise free now
- Free letter checkFree
Paste a letter and get feedback on the six criteria in about a minute.
- Case notes libraryFree
Case notes for every profession, to practise on.
- Free OET Writing courseFree
Five lessons by email, ending with a marked letter.
- Grade B sample lettersFree
Letters that reach B, with what makes them work.
- Timed writing practiceFree
Write against the 45-minute clock.
The course
OET Writing Pass Course
Fourteen lessons by email, with WhatsApp reminders if you want them, each with a letter that is marked on the six criteria in about a minute.
- 14 letters for your profession, each marked at once
- Drills for purpose, content selection and concise sentences
- Add human corrections when you want a person to check
$15 $35Launch offer until 2 November
Lesson pages behind your own sign-in, a daily email, and a PDF to keep.
See the course Or all four skills for $59Practise more
- Grammar for OET Letters$29
The grammar letters lose marks on: tenses, articles, reported speech, linking words.
- OET model letters pack$9
Model letters for your profession to compare against.
- OET letter templates packFree
Openings, paragraph plans and closings for each letter type.
- The six criteria explainedFree
What each criterion asks for, with examples.
Get a letter marked by a person
Dr Mariam’s team marks your letter by hand on all six criteria, sentence by sentence, with a corrected version and what to work on next. Back in 24, 48 or 72 hours.
From $15 a letter
See OET correction packagesBy profession
The letter is written for your profession, so the case notes and the reader change. Our profession pages show the letter types and mistakes we see most.
OET Writing: questions
How long is the OET Writing sub-test?+
It is 45 minutes for one letter. You read the case notes, plan, write and check within that time.
What score do I need in OET Writing?+
Most regulators ask for Grade B, which is 350 out of 500, in each sub-test. Some ask for C+ in Writing; check your regulator’s own page.
How is the OET letter marked?+
Two assessors mark it on six criteria: Purpose from 0 to 3, and Content, Conciseness & Clarity, Genre & Style, Organisation & Layout and Language from 0 to 7 each. The marks are converted to a score out of 500.
How many words should an OET letter be?+
OET sets no exact word count for the body of the letter. We aim for about 180 to 200 words, which leaves room to select the right case notes without padding.
Can I practise OET Writing for free?+
Yes. Use the case notes library, write a letter against the clock, then paste it into the free letter check for feedback on the six criteria.
The other sub-tests