OET WRITING BY PROFESSION · OPTOMETRISTS
OET Writing for optometrists: the letter task explained
Most OET Writing advice online is generic, or written for nurses. The OET Optometry Writing subtest asks optometrists for a specific kind of letter, built around the situations optometrists 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, most commonly a referral to an ophthalmologist about a finding such as raised intraocular pressure or a retinal abnormality, or a letter to a GP about an ocular sign with systemic relevance. The marking rewards clinical clarity: what was found, why it matters, and what you are asking the reader to do.
WHAT THE SIX CRITERIA REWARD
WHO ACCEPTS IT
OET Optometry is accepted in contexts including the Optometry Board of Australia via AHPRA and the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board of New Zealand. UK and other routes set their own requirements, so always verify against the regulator's current published rules before booking.
See the exact current requirement
LAST REVIEWED 9 AUGUST 2026
COMMON QUESTIONS
What does the OET Writing subtest involve for optometrists?
The Writing subtest is a 45 minute letter from case notes, most commonly a referral to an ophthalmologist about a finding such as raised intraocular pressure or a retinal abnormality, or a letter to a GP about an ocular sign with systemic relevance. The marking rewards clinical clarity: what was found, why it matters, and what you are asking the reader to do.
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 Optometry?
OET Optometry is accepted in contexts including the Optometry Board of Australia via AHPRA and the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board of New Zealand. UK and other routes set their own requirements, so always verify against the regulator's current published rules 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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