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OET Writing Sub-Test: Outlining the Essentials of Effective Referral Letter

OET Writing Sub-Test aims at assessing the written skills of the candidates. Usually, the candidates will have to write a referral letter. It can be addressed to a nursing home, a community center, hospital etc. In some rare cases, the task can be much more related to advising or recommending the best course of actions for the patients or some other similar circumstances. For instance, a school nurse may have to write a letter to school explaining the spread of common flu. Many of the healthcare professionals who take OET writing sub-test finds it to be very difficult because it writing a letter is very uncommon for them. (today’s hospitals and care centers make use of the ready-made templates to issue discharge letters or other letters of referral etc.).

But still, the task of writing is relevant and it is required for the candidates to get proficient at it too. They should have the ability to express all important things in the most precise manner by making use of the most effective words. Here, we have described how your referral letter should be.

Introducing the task

Before we delve a little deeper into how your letter should be, let us talk about how your task would be. You will receive the stimulus material based on wich you will have to write (as guided or suggested). Generally, for nurses, it can be a case sheet (outlining the details of the patients and the treatment offered or it is expected to be continued etc). It is always recommended to make use of the material in the most precise manner. Making use of the copy-paste phrases or sentences right from the given material is not at all a good practice. It can negatively affect your mark as well.

How your referral letter should be?

Introduce the patient

Right after you mention your subject, it is crucial to give one or two line introduction of the patient. Here, you need to describe who the patient is, what he / she was suffering from, when he / she was admitted into the hospital (and less common, how his / her condition was at the time of admission to the hospital).

Talking about treatment provided

When you complete giving small introduction of the patient, it is wiser to start speaking about the treatment that has been provided at your hospital or that the patient has been undergoing since the onset of the illness or the disease. Presenting the treatment in one’s own words is crucial. Here, do not just take the words you may find in your question material.

Talking about complications

Often, candidates do not pay more attention to complications. They just straightaway talk about the condition of the patient and the treatment provided. That is all. But, this is not just enough to bring good score. The examiner will look for complete answer. Talking about complications and the solutions for the same are two important things to include in your letter without which it will be regarded as incomplete.

Requesting Services

At the end of your referral letter, you need to list out the services you expect from the health service provider. Let the addressee knows how you want the services to be as well. If you do not include you request for the healthcare services then you will certainly lose your mark.

 

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Einsteincollege

Einsteincollege

Einstein College of Australia is a private Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and a CRICOS Provider that delivers high quality training facilities and standards for Domestic and International students.

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