7 Mistakes That Will Drop Your OET Writing Score Below a B Grade
(And How to Fix Each One Before Exam Day)
Published by LanguageTest.in | Updated June 2026 | Reading time: 6 minutes
OET Writing is the sub-test where candidates most frequently drop below a B — not because they lack clinical knowledge, but because they make the same seven avoidable mistakes. These errors are well-documented in OET assessor reports, and each one has a direct, learnable fix.
If you are consistently scoring C+ or below in OET Writing practice, work through this checklist systematically. Eliminate these seven patterns and your Writing score will improve — regardless of your overall English level.
Mistake 1: Not Reading the Task Instructions Carefully
The OET Writing task tells you exactly who to write to, what type of letter to write, and what the patient's situation is. Candidates who rush into writing without fully reading the instructions consistently produce letters that miss the stated purpose — costing marks in the Purpose criterion from the very first line.
*Fix: Spend the first 2-3 minutes of the 45-minute task reading the case notes and task instructions twice. Underline the recipient, the letter type, and the 3-4 key points that must be included. Only then begin writing.*
Mistake 2: Including Irrelevant Clinical Information
OET Writing assesses whether you select the right information for the recipient's needs — not whether you can reproduce the entire case file. Candidates who include every clinical detail in the case notes write letters that are too long, too dense, and score poorly on Conciseness and Clarity.
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Mistake 3: Using the Wrong Tone for the Recipient
OET Writing tasks are almost always addressed to a healthcare professional (GP, specialist, community nurse, allied health professional) — not a patient. The expected register is formal, collegial, and professional. Many candidates write in a tone that is either too informal or too impersonal.
- Too informal: 'Hi Dr. Jones, just wanted to let you know about this patient...'
- Too impersonal: 'The above-named patient is being transferred to your care.'
- Correct register: 'I am writing to refer Mr. David Walsh, who was recently discharged from our ward following...'
Mistake 4: Starting Every Sentence the Same Way
Low-scoring OET Writing letters frequently begin every sentence with 'The patient' — creating a repetitive, monotonous structure that scores poorly on Language (vocabulary range criterion). Examiners specifically look for sentence variety.
- Instead of: 'The patient was admitted on 3 June. The patient presented with chest pain. The patient has a history of...'
- Try: 'Mr. Walsh was admitted on 3 June presenting with chest pain. He has a background of... On examination...'
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Mistake 5: Leaving Out the Closing / Further Management Section
The Weiteres Prozedere equivalent in OET Writing — the closing paragraph that outlines follow-up, recommendations, and contact information — is consistently the most omitted section. Assessors penalise its absence under both Purpose and Content.
*Every OET letter must end with: what you want the recipient to do, the follow-up plan or timeline, and your availability for queries. A letter without this section is clinically incomplete — and the OET penalises it as such.*
Mistake 6: Poor Time Management
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45 minutes for a clinical letter sounds generous — until you discover that planning, writing, and reviewing a well-structured OET letter takes the full allocation. Candidates who start writing immediately (without planning) waste 10-15 minutes rewriting sections that a 3-minute plan would have prevented.
Mistake 7: Expanding All Abbreviations Inconsistently
OET Writing requires full expansion of clinical abbreviations — but candidates who expand some and not others create a jarring inconsistency that assessors flag. The rule is simple: if it is a clinical abbreviation, expand it fully on first use; never use unexpanded abbreviations in a formal professional letter.
- Wrong: 'Patient has Hx of HTN, DM, and recent MI — currently on ASA 100mg and Metop.'
- Right: 'The patient has a history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and a recent myocardial infarction. He is currently prescribed aspirin 100mg and metoprolol.'
References & Further Reading
- 1OET. (2026). Writing assessment criteria — Assessor commentary samples. occupationalenglishtest.com
- 1OET. (2023). Updated Writing sub-test criteria (post-2023 revision). occupationalenglishtest.com
- 1Glendinning, E.H. & Holmstrom, B. (2005). English in Medicine. Cambridge University Press.