OET writing tips: Avoid these common letter mistakes in 2025

1. Misreading case notes

A common mistake made by candidates is the quick skimming through case notes which can reduce the focus of the letter.

Tips: Begin by understanding your audience and objective of the letter. You have to follow the below steps.

• Identify context of the letter
• Be mindful of the needs of recipient
• Include the significant details and medical history of the patient clearly.

2. Including irrelevant case notes

Candidates either copy excess details from case notes or write only short details to impress the examiner which reduces clarity.

Tips: In a health care setting it is important to include relevant information about the patient as your letter must leave no room for doubt for the recipient about the patient’s condition.

• Include details that are clinically relevant and professionally required.
• Mention the patient history and background
• Detail treatment, symptoms and recommendations
• Ensure you have covered each instruction given in the writing task

3. Poor paragraphing and structure

Examiners prefer well organized letters with a clear progression. Avoid writing your letter as a single block or as a disconnected paragraph.

Tips: Structure letter with paragraphs focusing on key information.

• Follow a clear four paragraph structure with introduction, medical background, present condition and action.
• Make sure that paragraphs follow a logical flow
• Each paragraph must discuss a single information
  
  4. Wrong tone

The overuse of formal words or casual expressions can reduce professionalism

Tips: Use a professional and respectful tone as well as keep it neutral and polite to avoid sounding robotic. You have to write in such a way that, informal tone for writing to a colleague and formal tone for writing to a patient.

• Use polite language for formal situations
• Before writing, identify the role of recipient and their medical knowledge. Filter information and choose vocabulary accordingly.
• Keep the primary purpose of your letter at your mind and write in a logical flow.

5. Using incorrect tenses

Incorrect use of tense confuses the examiner potentially leads to low scores.

Tips: Be mindful of the timeline.

• Use past tense for completed actions and history
• Use present tense for current state and ongoing conditions
• Use future tense for plans and recommendations

6. Mistakes in grammar, punctuation and spelling

Potential errors in grammar including incorret punctuation and spelling mistakes can reduce the professionalism of your writing.

Tips: Always focus on using grammatically correct phrases. Avoid writing complex sentences that are unable to convey the meaning of your intended message.

• Follow a simple sentence structure for clarity of your writing.
• Mindful of the subject-verb agreement
• Make use of active voice for clarity
  
  

7. Excessive writing

Writing too much does not make a better score instead it can ruin the quality of your writing.

Tips: Plan before you start writing to allocate wordcount. Identify the main information and write concisely.

• Write only needed information to avoid overcrowding of words.
• Try to shorten sentences to meet your planned wordcount.
• Avoid giving long explanations for tasks.