OET Writing Marking Criteria in Plain English
Two OET assessors mark your Writing letter against six criteria: Purpose, Content, Conciseness and Clarity, Genre and Style, Organisation and Layout, and Language. Purpose is marked out of 3 and the others out of 7. This page explains what each criterion checks, what helps your score, what lowers it, and how to check your own letter.
On this page
The six criteria and their scores
| Criterion | Marked out of | Typical at grade B |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | 3 | 2 |
| Content | 7 | 5 |
| Conciseness and Clarity | 7 | 5 |
| Genre and Style | 7 | 5 |
| Organisation and Layout | 7 | 5 |
| Language | 7 | 5 |
The grade B column comes from OET's description of a typical grade B letter. It is a guide, not a fixed rule, so a letter can reach grade B with a slightly different profile.
How assessors mark
Each criterion has a set of level descriptions. OET says assessors do not count how many mistakes you make. Instead, they decide which level description your letter matches most closely. Two assessors mark every letter.
So the effect of a problem on the reader matters more than the number of problems. Errors that make information unclear do more damage than small slips that don't affect meaning. Leaving out one key fact can matter more than several small slips, because the reader cannot act on information that isn't there.
Purpose (out of 3)
OET checks whether the reason for writing is clear from the start and developed throughout the letter. The reader should know why they are reading your letter after the first sentence, and know what to do by the end.
What helps
- A first sentence that names the patient and states your reason for writing.
- A closing request that says exactly what you want the reader to do.
- Signs of urgency, such as "urgently" or "within the next week", when the case needs it.
What loses marks
- Opening with background, so the reason for writing only appears in paragraph two or three.
- A vague purpose, such as "for your information" or "for review", when the task asks for something specific.
- A request that does not match the purpose in the opening.
Content (out of 7)
OET checks whether the information the reader needs is included and accurate. Think about what this reader must know to continue the patient's care.
What helps
- Every case note that changes what the reader will do: diagnosis, current treatment, medication, allergies, risks and the plan.
- Numbers, doses, dates and names copied exactly from the case notes.
What loses marks
- Missing an important detail, such as a new medication or a warning sign the reader must watch for.
- Copying a dose, date or result incorrectly.
- Adding information that is not in the case notes.
Conciseness and Clarity (out of 7)
OET checks whether the letter leaves out irrelevant information and is an effective summary for the reader. Content checks that everything the reader needs is there. Conciseness and Clarity checks that nothing else is.
What helps
- Summarising related notes in one sentence instead of listing each one.
- Keeping the body of the letter to about 180–200 words.
What loses marks
- Including resolved conditions, hobbies or family details that don't affect care.
- Listing every observation, including normal results that don't matter to the reader.
- Repeating the same information in two places.
Genre and Style (out of 7)
OET checks whether the register, tone and abbreviations suit the reader. A letter to a specialist and a letter to a patient's carer need different word choices.
What helps
- A formal, professional tone throughout, with no contractions.
- Medical terms for a healthcare professional, and plain words for a patient or carer.
- Abbreviations only when you are sure this reader will understand them.
What loses marks
- Chatty wording, such as "a bit worried" or "it'd be great if".
- Copying note-style abbreviations, such as "pt", "SOB" or "c/o", into the letter.
- Writing about the patient by first name or without respect.
Organisation and Layout (out of 7)
OET checks whether the letter is well organised and laid out for the reader. A busy reader should be able to find the main points quickly.
What helps
- Paragraphs that each cover one topic, in order of importance to the reader.
- A standard letter layout: address, date, salutation, reference line, paragraphs and sign-off.
What loses marks
- Following the case notes in date order instead of importance.
- One long paragraph, or many one-line paragraphs.
- Information about one topic spread across several paragraphs.
Language (out of 7)
OET checks whether the accuracy of your grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation communicates the information the reader needs. The question is whether your language makes the meaning clear.
What helps
- Complete sentences instead of note-style fragments.
- Correct verb tenses for what happened, what is happening now and what should happen next.
- Careful spelling of medical terms and drug names.
What loses marks
- Errors that change the meaning, such as the wrong tense making it unclear whether a treatment has stopped.
- Note-style fragments copied from the case notes.
- Frequent spelling or punctuation errors that slow the reader down.
Before and after: one sentence per criterion
Purpose
Before
I am writing regarding Mrs Lopez, who has been my patient since 2015.
After
I am writing to refer Mrs Lopez for assessment of a breast lump found on examination today.
The improved version states the reason for writing in the first sentence.
Content
Before
She is on some medication for her blood pressure.
After
She takes ramipril 5 mg daily for hypertension.
The reader may prescribe, so they need the exact drug and dose.
Conciseness and Clarity
Before
Her temperature was 36.8°C, her pulse was 72, her respiratory rate was 16 and her oxygen saturation was 98%.
After
Her observations were within normal limits.
When normal results don't affect the referral, one summary sentence is enough.
Genre and Style
Before
Pt c/o SOB on exertion, pls see ASAP.
After
She reports shortness of breath on exertion, and I would be grateful if you could see her soon.
Note-style abbreviations and informal requests do not suit a formal letter.
Language
Before
She has stopped the tablets and she take them again from Monday.
After
She stopped taking the tablets last week and will restart them on Monday.
Correct tenses make it clear what happened and what will happen next.
Check your own letter
Use this checklist after every practice letter. Read your letter once as the reader would, then go through the list one criterion at a time.
Six-criteria checklist
- Purpose: my first sentence says why I am writing, and my last paragraph asks for something specific.
- Content: every note the reader needs is there, and every number and dose matches the case notes.
- Conciseness and Clarity: I removed every note that doesn't change what the reader does.
- Genre and Style: the tone is formal, and every abbreviation is one this reader will understand.
- Organisation and Layout: each paragraph covers one topic, and the most important information comes first.
- Language: I checked tenses, spelling of drug names and medical terms, and punctuation.
Practise on OET Practice
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Write a letter under exam timing
Open Writing practice and choose a task for your profession. You get 5 minutes of reading time, then 40 minutes to write, with a live word count.
Open Writing practice -
Read your feedback against the criteria
Writing and Speaking get AI-assisted feedback, reviewed by our team. When your feedback arrives, match each comment to one of the six criteria, so you know which one to work on next.
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Focus on one criterion at a time
In your next letter, focus on the criterion your feedback mentioned most. Use the checklist on this page before you submit.
Go to your dashboard
For the full Writing task with a model letter, read our OET Writing guide. For referrals, see the OET referral letter guide.
Sources
- Study skills: assessment criteria (opens in a new tab) — OET (oet.com)
- OET Writing sub-test (opens in a new tab) — OET (oet.com)
Written by OET Practice team. Last reviewed: 27 October 2026. Read our editorial policy .