OET WRITING BY PROFESSION · DENTISTS
OET Writing for dentists: the letter task explained
Most OET Writing advice online is generic, or written for nurses. The OET Dentistry Writing subtest asks dentists for a specific kind of letter, built around the situations dentists already handle at work.
This page sets out what that letter task involves, what the six published Writing criteria reward, and how to practise it with feedback rather than guesswork.
THE LETTER TASK
The Writing subtest is a 45 minute letter from case notes, typically a referral to an oral surgeon, orthodontist, or periodontist, or a letter to a patient's doctor about a finding with medical relevance. The test rewards clear purpose and careful selection from notes that always contain more detail than the reader needs.
WHAT THE SIX CRITERIA REWARD
WHO ACCEPTS IT
OET Dentistry is accepted by regulators including the GDC (UK) and the Dental Board of Australia via AHPRA. Acceptance and required grades vary elsewhere, and rules change, so confirm the current English language requirements with your registration body before booking the test.
See the exact current requirement
LAST REVIEWED 9 AUGUST 2026
COMMON QUESTIONS
What does the OET Writing subtest involve for dentists?
The Writing subtest is a 45 minute letter from case notes, typically a referral to an oral surgeon, orthodontist, or periodontist, or a letter to a patient's doctor about a finding with medical relevance. The test rewards clear purpose and careful selection from notes that always contain more detail than the reader needs.
How long is the OET Writing subtest?
45 minutes in total: 5 minutes to read the case notes and the task, then 40 minutes to write the letter.
Which criteria does OET Writing mark?
Six published criteria: Purpose, Content, Conciseness and Clarity, Genre and Style, Organisation and Layout, Language.
Which regulators accept OET Dentistry?
OET Dentistry is accepted by regulators including the GDC (UK) and the Dental Board of Australia via AHPRA. Acceptance and required grades vary elsewhere, and rules change, so confirm the current English language requirements with your registration body before booking the test.
Independent preparation service. Not affiliated with, or endorsed by, OET or Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment. Practice feedback is based on published OET criteria and is not an official evaluation. Regulator requirements change: confirm current rules with the regulator directly.
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