Still have a couple of weeks before your test date? Want to learn more ways to ace the writing sub-test? Consider enrolling in the nearest JRooz Review Center in your area. Click here to find out more about their OET classes. Learn more at http://jroozoetreview.blogspot.com/2018/06/dos-and-donts-when-taking-oet-writing.html

1. Dos and Don'ts When Taking the
OET Writing Sub-test
If you think working in a hospital for years guarantees a high OET writing grade, then you may have
another thing coming. The OET writing sub-test is not your average writing exam. You’ll be scored
based on:
 how well you accomplished the task;
 how appropriate is the language you used;
 how well you responded to the test’s stimulus;
 how well-structured and coherent is your writing; and
 how well you presented your composition.

2. So, don’t underestimate the OET writing sub-test. Make the most out of your OET review. Adopt the
following dos and don’ts while preparing for and taking the high-stakes exam.
DO
 Practice interpreting case notes
If you’re taking OET classes, you’ll know that the case notes in the writing sub-test are not the most
straightforward when it comes to details. They’re usually presented in a mix of phrases,
abbreviations, shorthand symbols, and single-word analysis—which is why they can be a bit
challenging to understand. So, practice interpreting case notes during your test preparations.
Consider the timeline of the patient’s past diagnoses. Pay attention to the case note’s various
categories and sub-headings.
 Structure your letter
It’s critical that your letter is not only grammatically sound, but it should also have a logical
development of ideas. Here are some tips to enhance your letter’s structure.
o State the purpose of the letter and the primary medical concern it addresses in the first
paragraph.
o Gather similar ideas in a single paragraph to enhance clarity and coherence.
o Use transition words to smoothly initiate the flow of ideas.
 Use the correct letter format
Remember, you’re writing a formal letter to your patient, so, you can’t just wing it. Use only the
standard format of letter correspondence. Learn about the proper ways to write the recipient’s name,
position, address, and more. Know how you should start (with respectful salutations) and end (with a
closing phrase) your letter.

3. DON’T
 Scan the instructions and case notes
Read everything carefully. The first five minutes of the exam is reserved specifically for reading
through the task and case notes. Don’t waste a single second. Highlight pertinent details (by
underlining or encircling them), jot down notes on the margins, and make sure you understand
everything before starting your letter.
Also, pay attention to the task. It usually contains the recipient’s identity, work or personal address,
and what kind of letter (e.g., discharge, referral, etc.) is appropriate for the situation.
 Include everything in your letter
Most test takers—yes, even those who are attending OETclasses—tend to include every detail in the
case notes in their letter. Don’t make the same mistake. Include only what is relevant in your
compositions. This could be a bit tricky since some information can be semi-relevant depending on
how you perceive them.
Hone your ability to pick out relevant information during your OET training. Consider the task
instructions and make sure you don’t exceed the specified word count.
 Forget to proofread your work
Once you’re satisfied with your letter, give it a once-over. Keep an eye out for misspellings, missing
punctuations, and other grammatical mistakes. Make sure there are no issues when it comes to:
o articles (e.g., a, an, the, etc.)
o singular and plural nouns
o count and mass nouns
o subject–verb agreement
o verb tenses
o conjunctions and prepositions

4. Set yourself up for success! Follow these dos and don’ts to boost to reach—and exceed—your OET
writing grade goal.
Still have a couple of weeks before your test date? Want to learn more ways to ace the writing sub-
test? Consider enrolling in the nearest JRooz Review Center in your area. Click here to find out more
about their OET classes.