OET Writing asks you to write a profession-specific letter using case notes and a task. This bank practices the language decisions involved in selecting relevant information, preserving status, and stating the requested action. All people and notes are fictional. The exercises teach communication, not clinical judgment or medical advice.
Read OET Writing vocabulary by letter purpose for the parent framework. Then complete each exercise using only the supplied facts; do not fill gaps with assumed clinical details.
Exercise 1: select for a referral purpose
Writing purpose: Request an assessment of persistent communication difficulty.
Case notes:
- Alex Morgan, age 58
- works as an accountant
- enjoys gardening
- reported difficulty finding words during longer conversations for six weeks
- colleague first noticed the difficulty during presentations
- no assessment result available
- prefers morning appointments
- referral discussed; Alex agreed
- purpose: request specialist assessment
Select the four details most relevant to the opening and request.
Answer: Name and age; reported word-finding difficulty; six-week duration; request for specialist assessment. The colleague's observation and consent may support later detail. Occupation may be relevant if the letter explains functional impact. Gardening and appointment preference do not belong in the opening unless the receiving service needs them for a stated reason.
Model opening:
I am writing to request your assessment of Alex Morgan, a 58-year-old who has reported persistent word-finding difficulty during longer conversations over the past six weeks.
Rationale: Request your assessment states the reader action. Reported preserves the information source. Persistent is supported by the stated duration; the sentence does not invent a diagnosis.
Understanding is only the first step.
Lyra Practice helps you retrieve and use high-value workplace expressions in realistic situations until they feel natural.
Start a practice session →Exercise 2: preserve status in a discharge handover
Writing purpose: Inform a community provider about current arrangements after discharge.
Case notes:
- Priya N., discharge planned for September 25
- transport home confirmed for 10:30 a.m.
- follow-up appointment requested; date pending
- written information provided and discussed
- Priya stated she understood whom to contact with questions
- neighbor may visit during first week; not confirmed
Complete each sentence with the status-accurate word.
- Transport home has been confirmed / recommended for 10:30 a.m.
- A follow-up appointment has been requested / scheduled; the date is pending.
- Written information was provided / prescribed and discussed.
- A visit from the neighbor is possible / arranged.
Answers: 1 confirmed, because the arrangement is settled. 2 requested, because no date exists. 3 provided, because the notes do not describe a prescription. 4 possible, because the visit is not confirmed.
Model paragraph:
Priya's discharge is planned for September 25, with transport home confirmed for 10:30 a.m. A follow-up appointment has been requested, although the date remains pending. Written information has been provided and discussed, and Priya stated that she understood whom to contact with questions.
Rationale: Planned, confirmed, requested, and pending keep four different statuses separate. The model omits the uncertain neighbor visit because it does not yet establish a reliable arrangement.
Exercise 3: sequence a transfer update
Writing purpose: Transfer responsibility for an unresolved equipment issue.
Case notes:
- replacement equipment ordered September 20
- supplier acknowledged order September 21
- delivery date not confirmed
- temporary equipment available through September 27
- receiving team to contact supplier if no update by September 24
- original equipment labeled and stored
Put the sentences in the clearest order.
A. If no delivery update is received by September 24, please contact the supplier.
B. Temporary equipment is available through September 27.
C. Replacement equipment was ordered on September 20, and the supplier acknowledged the order the following day.
D. The delivery date has not yet been confirmed.
Answer: C, D, B, A. The paragraph establishes the action already taken, gives the unresolved status, identifies the temporary arrangement, and closes with the requested next action.
Model paragraph:
Replacement equipment was ordered on September 20, and the supplier acknowledged the order on September 21. However, the delivery date has not yet been confirmed. Temporary equipment is available through September 27. If no update is received by September 24, please contact the supplier.
Rationale: However marks the gap between acknowledgment and confirmation. If makes the reader action conditional on a clear deadline.
Final edit: evidence verbs
Choose according to the source.
- The person supplied the information: reported / observed.
- The writer directly noted an event: observed / guaranteed.
- A result has not arrived: pending / negative.
- Another professional is asked to evaluate: assessment requested / diagnosis established.
Answers: 1 reported. 2 observed. 3 pending. 4 assessment requested. Each answer preserves source or status without adding a clinical conclusion.
Review one draft by highlighting purpose, relevant evidence, current status, and reader action in different colors. Then use the OET vocabulary hub to practice the specific letter type through Lyra Practice's referral, discharge, and transfer guides.
Sources
Related
- OET Writing vocabulary by letter purpose
- OET case notes to letter vocabulary
- OET referral-letter vocabulary
- OET vocabulary hub
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