OET WRITING BY PROFESSION · DOCTORS
OET Writing for doctors: the letter task explained
Most OET Writing advice online is generic, or written for nurses. The OET Medicine Writing subtest asks doctors for a specific kind of letter, built around the situations doctors 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, usually a referral to a specialist or a letter back to the GP after an admission or clinic review. The examiner is reading for purpose and selection: does the letter say clearly why you are writing, does it give the receiving doctor what they need to act, and does it stay inside the word range without padding.
WHAT THE SIX CRITERIA REWARD
WHO ACCEPTS IT
OET Medicine is accepted by the GMC for UK registration, required by ECFMG for all US Pathways applicants, and accepted by the Medical Board of Australia via AHPRA, the Medical Council of Ireland, and the Medical Council of New Zealand, among others. Grade B (350) per subtest is the usual bar. Rules and score validity windows differ by regulator, so check the current requirements directly before you book a sitting.
See the exact current requirement
LAST REVIEWED 9 AUGUST 2026
COMMON QUESTIONS
What does the OET Writing subtest involve for doctors?
The Writing subtest is a 45 minute letter from case notes, usually a referral to a specialist or a letter back to the GP after an admission or clinic review. The examiner is reading for purpose and selection: does the letter say clearly why you are writing, does it give the receiving doctor what they need to act, and does it stay inside the word range without padding.
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 Medicine?
OET Medicine is accepted by the GMC for UK registration, required by ECFMG for all US Pathways applicants, and accepted by the Medical Board of Australia via AHPRA, the Medical Council of Ireland, and the Medical Council of New Zealand, among others. Grade B (350) per subtest is the usual bar. Rules and score validity windows differ by regulator, so check the current requirements directly before you book a sitting.
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.
OET for doctors · OET Speaking for doctors · OET Writing for all twelve professions