OET Referral Letters: What to Include
A strong OET referral letter states the ask early, keeps only referable facts, and closes with a clear request. This guide shows how to separate background from action-changing detail, fixes common faults, and links to free trainer-reviewed practice. Confirm timing and letter types on the official OET website. OET Practice is independent and not affiliated with OET; practice grades are feedback, not official scores.
Referable vs background facts
Ask of every case-note fact: does the recipient need this to accept and manage the referral?
| Usually referable | Usually background |
|---|---|
| New red-flag symptoms, abnormal key results | Resolved childhood illnesses with no current impact |
| Current medications and allergies | Long lists of normal routine vitals |
| What you have already tried and the outcome | Social detail that does not change the request |
Structure that works
- Patient details and explicit referral purpose in the opening.
- Presenting problem and relevant history, grouped by theme.
- Investigations and management so far, with results that matter.
- The request: what you want, and how urgently.
Common faults and fixes
- Burying the ask. Fix: put the purpose in sentence one, then support it with selected facts.
- Retelling notes in order. Fix: group by problem, findings, and management — not chronologically unless chronology is clinical.
- Over-including background. Fix: delete any line that does not change urgency or management.
- Jargon for the wrong reader. Fix: match vocabulary to the recipient (specialist vs patient/carer).
Next step
Write one in OET Writing practice and submit it for trainer review. For purpose-first technique across letter types, see the Writing guide.
Related guides
Sources
- Official OET website — Writing sub-test information (confirm current details there).
Written by OET Practice editorial. Reviewed by OET Practice training team. Last reviewed: September 2026.