,CONTENTS:
Background
Types of Letters
Referral Letters:
1. Normal Vs. Urgent Referral
2. Example of a Referral Letter
Discharge Letters
Transfer Letters
Update Letters
Most Important Tips To Score Grade A
Practice Letters
,OET Writing Guidelines:
Background:
The OET writing part assesses your skill to communicate in formal English while
assessing your grammar, vocabulary and communication skills. It does so by
asking you to write a formal letter that is related to medicine. The word limit is
180-200 words and the time duration is 5 minutes for reading and 40 minutes for
writing.
What do examiners expect in writing subtest?
Criteria What Examiners Expect
Task Response -Address all points from the prompt.
- Fulfill the purpose of the letter clearly and
effectively.
- Clear introduction (purpose of the letter).
- Well-organized body (patient history,
Structure and Organization current condition, action requested).
- Logical conclusion (follow-up or contact
information).
Language and Tone - Professional, formal tone.
- Use of appropriate healthcare terminology.
- Clarity and precision in expression.
Grammar and Spelling - Accurate grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
- Variety in sentence structure.
Coherence and Cohesion - Use of linking words for smooth flow.
- Clear paragraphing with one idea per
paragraph.
Accuracy in Task Type - Correct format based on the task (e.g.,
referral, discharge).
- Adherence to the scenario provided.
,Types of letters:
There are four types of letters:
1. Referral Letters
2. Discharge Letters
3. Transfer Letters
4. Update Letters
, REFERRAL LETTERS:
Referral letters show up 99% of the time. There are two main categories of these
letters:
Normal
Urgent
Differentiating between the two letters using the information in the case notes is an
essential step of letter writing. This will change the way the body of the letter will
be written. The other format remains the same.
How to differentiate?
In the case notes, if the patient is presenting with the condition that needs to be
resolved immediately such as Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, Active bleeding,
Acute Psychosis, Trauma to the Eye that needs urgent Ophthalmological Referral,
then you will be writing an Urgent Referral Letter. However, if the patient can wait
and the condition is not life threatening, then you have to write a Normal Referral
Letter.
FORMAT OF A REFERRAL LETTER:
1. Address
-Use the full name in the address e.g. Dr Rosalind MacQueen.
-Write its designation below it
-Write Hospital address
-Leave an empty line after the address.
2. Date
-The date is usually written day/ month/ year e.g. 14 August /08/2021
-Leave an empty line after the date.
3. Salutation
-Write the salutation (Dear…).
-Use Dr/ Mr/ Ms/ Mrs/ Miss Etc. then the family name e.g. Dr MacQueen.
-Do not use the person’s first name.
Background
Types of Letters
Referral Letters:
1. Normal Vs. Urgent Referral
2. Example of a Referral Letter
Discharge Letters
Transfer Letters
Update Letters
Most Important Tips To Score Grade A
Practice Letters
,OET Writing Guidelines:
Background:
The OET writing part assesses your skill to communicate in formal English while
assessing your grammar, vocabulary and communication skills. It does so by
asking you to write a formal letter that is related to medicine. The word limit is
180-200 words and the time duration is 5 minutes for reading and 40 minutes for
writing.
What do examiners expect in writing subtest?
Criteria What Examiners Expect
Task Response -Address all points from the prompt.
- Fulfill the purpose of the letter clearly and
effectively.
- Clear introduction (purpose of the letter).
- Well-organized body (patient history,
Structure and Organization current condition, action requested).
- Logical conclusion (follow-up or contact
information).
Language and Tone - Professional, formal tone.
- Use of appropriate healthcare terminology.
- Clarity and precision in expression.
Grammar and Spelling - Accurate grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
- Variety in sentence structure.
Coherence and Cohesion - Use of linking words for smooth flow.
- Clear paragraphing with one idea per
paragraph.
Accuracy in Task Type - Correct format based on the task (e.g.,
referral, discharge).
- Adherence to the scenario provided.
,Types of letters:
There are four types of letters:
1. Referral Letters
2. Discharge Letters
3. Transfer Letters
4. Update Letters
, REFERRAL LETTERS:
Referral letters show up 99% of the time. There are two main categories of these
letters:
Normal
Urgent
Differentiating between the two letters using the information in the case notes is an
essential step of letter writing. This will change the way the body of the letter will
be written. The other format remains the same.
How to differentiate?
In the case notes, if the patient is presenting with the condition that needs to be
resolved immediately such as Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, Active bleeding,
Acute Psychosis, Trauma to the Eye that needs urgent Ophthalmological Referral,
then you will be writing an Urgent Referral Letter. However, if the patient can wait
and the condition is not life threatening, then you have to write a Normal Referral
Letter.
FORMAT OF A REFERRAL LETTER:
1. Address
-Use the full name in the address e.g. Dr Rosalind MacQueen.
-Write its designation below it
-Write Hospital address
-Leave an empty line after the address.
2. Date
-The date is usually written day/ month/ year e.g. 14 August /08/2021
-Leave an empty line after the date.
3. Salutation
-Write the salutation (Dear…).
-Use Dr/ Mr/ Ms/ Mrs/ Miss Etc. then the family name e.g. Dr MacQueen.
-Do not use the person’s first name.
