OET Writing: A complete Guide
Passing OET with high marks is a huge step to your career growth. For a healthcare professional, it’s always a dream to work in the best healthcare setting. The increasing opportunities they have in various countries also increased the need for English proficiency requirements. There are several English proficiency tests, but the most popular one for healthcare professionals is the OET exam. This exam is to evaluate your skills to work in an English speaking healthcare setting.
The OET exam consists of four modules of equal importance – Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. Among these, writing can be a challenge to many. But this subtest can be excelled if you are ready to put a little bit more to it. Let’s look into details of this subtest.
Structure of OET Writing
In OET Writing, there are basically two tasks-
TASK 1
In Task-1, you are required to write a letter related to the patient’s case. It should include detailed information which explains the situation of the patient or requesting further action or follow up procedures. There is a word count of 180-200 words for this task, which you have to complete within a set period of time. The information shared must be conveyed in a clear and concise manner, following the guidelines of a professional communication in a healthcare setting.
TASK 2
In Task 2, you are required to write another letter related to a professional or work related situation. In this very formal letter, you can express your opinion on particular matters or discussion on a specific topic. You should write a letter between 250-300 words in a well organized effective manner. You should communicate in a concise manner that is understandable.
The writing test including both the task 1&2 is allotted 45 minutes in total. You should manage the time effectively for planning, writing and reviewing the letter to ensure that it’s correct and professional.
Assessment of OET Writing!
The OET Writing section is assessed based on many criterias like relevance and clarity of the content, the structure and organization of the content and the accuracy and appropriateness of the content. Scores range from A, which is the highest level, to E, which is the lowest level of proficiency. Each task in this section is scored separately and the test-takers are provided with specific case notes or documents for each task. Constant practice and focus on these core principles will help you attain a good score in OET and open new opportunities abroad for you.
A Guide To Excel in OET Writing!
- Analyzing the Case Notes: Always spend a few minutes analyzing the case notes before you start writing. Some details you see in the case notes may not be relevant for the letter you are writing, Identify which all informations are relevant and skip the others.
- Structure Your Letter: After ana;lyzing the case notes, you need to structure your letter. A well organized letter always stands out as it is easier to read and showcases your ability to communicate effectively.
- Clarity and Conciseness: The letter you are writing should be easy to understand. Do not use complex words or phrases or jargons that may create confusion.
- Usage of Tone and Language: The tone and language of your letter should be appropriate, professional and very formal. You might be dealing with sensitive medical information, so always be aware to keep a balance between empathy and formality.
- Take time to Proofreading: Always try to finish before time, so that you will get time to proofread and edit your letter. This will help you catch grammatical, punctuational, or spelling errors that would affect the overall score of your letter.
- Understanding the Test Format: Be familiar with the OET test format, which involves writing a letter within the specific time frame.
Some Common Mistakes to be Avoided!
- Never Ignore the Task Requirements: Make sure you understand and comprehend the scenario of the letter you are supposed to write. Never get confused by the address of the letter.
- Never Overload Your Letter with INformation: Do not include too much information in the letter. Focus on including the relevant information that the recipient needs to know.
- Use Consistent Formatting: In order to create a professional letter, it is important to have consistent formatting of your letter. Well aligned paragraphs, clear headings and adequate spacing between each section make it easier to read and leave a good impression.
- Use appropriate language: Never use any slang or informal language in your OET Writing section. It would impact your score negatively. Always use formal professional language that is appropriate for the healthcare setting.
CONCLUSION
OET Writing is just like any other module is important and in fact very beneficial when it comes to working in a real life scenario. With constant practice and good training OET Writing can be passed with the best grades. Good preparations and approach in writing the professional letter, you will excel in the test. Keeping in mind these guidelines and tips will benefit you in the exam. Nothing is impossible if you set to you mind on achieving it.
At Tiju’s Academy, we offer comprehensive OET courses, both online and offline, tailored to help you excel in the Reading module and every aspect of the OET. Join us to boost your confidence and achieve the scores you need to advance your healthcare career.
