OET WRITING BY PROFESSION · OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
OET Writing for occupational therapists: the letter task explained
Most OET Writing advice online is generic, or written for nurses. The OET Occupational therapy Writing subtest asks occupational therapists for a specific kind of letter, built around the situations occupational therapists 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, commonly a discharge or referral letter to a community OT, GP, or care coordinator covering functional status, equipment needs, and follow up. The test rewards organising by what the receiving professional must act on, not by chronology.
WHAT THE SIX CRITERIA REWARD
WHO ACCEPTS IT
OET Occupational Therapy is accepted by bodies including the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia via AHPRA and the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand. In the UK, the HCPC publishes its own English language requirements, so check its current guidance. Always confirm with your regulator before booking.
See the exact current requirement
LAST REVIEWED 9 AUGUST 2026
COMMON QUESTIONS
What does the OET Writing subtest involve for occupational therapists?
The Writing subtest is a 45 minute letter from case notes, commonly a discharge or referral letter to a community OT, GP, or care coordinator covering functional status, equipment needs, and follow up. The test rewards organising by what the receiving professional must act on, not by chronology.
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 Occupational therapy?
OET Occupational Therapy is accepted by bodies including the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia via AHPRA and the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand. In the UK, the HCPC publishes its own English language requirements, so check its current guidance. Always confirm with your regulator before booking.
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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