Common Pitfalls in OET Writing and How to Address Them

In OET Writing, examiners are not only assessing your ability to use English accurately.

They are also evaluating whether your response functions as a clear, professionally structured referral letter.

The task is not simply about language. It is about whether your writing reflects real clinical communication, where structure and clarity directly affect patient care.

Below are common mistakes seen in OET Writing, along with practical ways to avoid them.

Understanding these patterns can help you recognise what examiners are truly looking for — and what may unintentionally reduce your score.

Mistake 1: Not Writing in Proper Letter Format

OET Writing requires you to produce a formal referral letter. This means your response must follow recognised letter conventions.

Scores often drop when candidates:

Do not leave blank lines between paragraphs
Write in bullet-point or note-style format
Omit essential elements such as the salutation or closing

These issues suggest that the candidate does not fully understand the conventions of professional correspondence. Even if the language is accurate, poor formatting affects the overall impression.

To avoid this, consistently follow a standard letter template. Pay particular attention to:

Correct placement of recipient details, subject line, and date
Clear paragraph separation using blank lines
Proper opening and closing conventions

These elements are not cosmetic. They demonstrate awareness of formal communication standards, which is part of what OET assesses.

Mistake 2: Mixing Chronological and Category-Based Structure

Organisation has a major impact on clarity. One frequent issue is beginning in one structure and then shifting unpredictably to another.

Common patterns include:

Starting in chronological order, then switching to topic-based grouping
Presenting symptoms, treatment, and social background in a scattered sequence

This makes it harder for the reader to quickly identify key clinical concerns.

A category-based structure is generally recommended. Grouping information by the reader’s main concerns — for example, current symptoms, relevant history, and management — improves overall clarity and logical flow. This directly supports the assessment criterion of Clarity.

If specific dates are necessary within this structure, placing them at the beginning of a sentence — such as “On April 20th, …” — helps maintain readability while preserving organisation.

The key is consistency. A letter that follows one clear structure from beginning to end is easier to process and reflects effective professional communication.

Mistake 3: Repeating the Same Vocabulary and Sentence Structures

Repetition can weaken the overall impression of your writing. For example:

“She has been experiencing …” repeated multiple times
“The patient was referred for …” used in consecutive sentences
Overreliance on simple subject + verb constructions

Although these sentences may be grammatically correct, excessive repetition suggests limited range.

OET is a language test. Demonstrating intentional variation in vocabulary and grammar contributes to stronger performance under the Language criterion.

Practical techniques include:

Using the passive voice when appropriate (e.g., “Ibuprofen was prescribed …”)
Incorporating relative clauses or participle constructions
Paraphrasing repeated expressions where possible

Variation should feel natural, not forced. The goal is not complexity for its own sake, but evidence of controlled and flexible language use.

Mistake 4: Using Overly Definitive Statements

In medical communication, certainty carries weight. Writing statements such as:

He is diabetic.
She has pneumonia.

implies a confirmed diagnosis. If the condition is still under investigation, this may create misunderstanding.

Instead, using hedging language allows you to reflect clinical uncertainty appropriately:

It is possible that he is diabetic.
She may be showing signs of pneumonia.

This adjustment demonstrates awareness of professional tone and clinical nuance. It positively affects the criteria of Genre & Style and Language, while also aligning with real-world medical communication.

In clinical settings, precise wording protects both the patient and the practitioner. The same principle applies in OET.

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OET Strategies, Writing