From Avigna

The OET Writing Sub-Test consists of a profession specific task of writing a letter of referral. The
task simulates a real-life work situation .You will need to write a letter to another medical
professional transferring the patient under your care to him/her giving him/her appropriate, relevant
and clear instructions and advice on the patient’s current medical condition and why the patient is
being transferred.. You could be asking another medical professional to advice your patient; asking
another doctor to take the case of the patient forward; ask for surgery to be performed; ask for
specific care to be provided to the patient; prescribe specific kind of treatment or exercise or diet to
the patient. There could be many more such situations.
The writing task is profession specific and is therefore different for nurses, dentists, doctors,
physiotherapists etc. You will be presented with the case notes of the patient from which you will
have to use relevant information to compose a referral letter.
The entire task has to be completed in 45 minutes and the letter should be no more than 200 words
long.
The following are the assessment parameters on which you will be marked:

 Overall Task Fulfillment: Length of the letter, letter format

 Appropriateness of Language:Tone,organization and vocabulary
 Comprehension of Stimulus : Use relevant information from the notes to provide appropriate
response
 Linguistic Features (grammar and cohesion): Correct grammar, sentence structure, use of tenses

Presentation Features (spelling, punctuation, layout): Divide into paragraphs, use correct spellings
and use punctuation marks correctly.
SAMPLE WRITING TASK 1 WITH REFERRAL LETTER1
WRITING TASK: NURSES

Time allowed: 40 minutes

Today’s Date
13/09/09

Ms Nicole Smith is an 18 year old woman who has just given birth to her first child at the Spirit
Mothers’ Hospital in Brisbane. You are the nurse looking after her.

Patient Details
Address: Flat 4, Matthews Street, West End 4101
Phone: (07) 3441 3257
Date of Birth: 4 September 1991
Admitted: 9th September 2009
Discharged: 13th September 2009
Marital Status: Single
Country of birth: Australia

Social Background
Nicole is single and has had no contact with father of child for six months. She does not know his
current address.
No family members in Brisbane. Parents and sister live in Rockhampton. Does not currently have
contact with them.
Lives in a rental share flat with one other woman. Currently receives sole parent benefits

Feels very isolated and insecure. Doubts her ability to be a good mother and has talked about
offering the baby for adoption.

Medical History
General health good
Had appendicectomy at 15 years
Non-smoker
No alcohol or illicit drug use.
No drug or other allergies

Obstetric History
First pregnancy
Attended for first antenatal visit at 16 weeks gestation.
8 antenatal visits in total.
No antenatal complications.

Birth details
Presented to hospital at 1900hrs on 9th September
Contracting 1:10mins
1st stage of labour: 16 hrs
Mode of delivery: Emergency Caesarean Section
1st stage of labour: 16 hrs
Mode of delivery: Emergency Caesarean Section.

Reason: Fetal distress and failure to progress

Baby Details
DOB: 10th September 2009
Time: 1120hrs
Sex: Male

Weight: 4.4 kgTime: 1120hrs Sex: Male

Apgar Score: 6 at 1 min, 9 at 5 mins
Resusitation: O2 only for few minutes

Postnatal Progress
Maternal post partumhaemorrhage of 800mls
Blood loss now minimal
Wound: Clean and dry
Haemoglobin on 12/09/08: 90 g/L
Started on Fefol (Iron supplement) and Vitamin C
Started breast feeding but not confident. Prefers to change to bottle feeding
Not confident in bathing and caring for baby
Baby weight at discharge: 4.1 kg
Feeding well
No jaundice

Community Child Health Service

41 Vulture Street
West End, 4101
Dear Sir/Madam
Re: Ms Nicole Smith
DOB: 04/09/1991
I am writing to refer this patient, an 18-year-old single mother who delivered a baby boy on the
10/09/09. Nicole had difficulty with vaginal delivery which took 16 hours of labour. Therefore, due to
fetal distress and progress failure an emergency caesarean section was performed.
The baby is progressing quite well with breast feeding and is gaining weight and is currently 4.4kg.
Fefol and Vitamin C were prescribed to Nicole as her blood examination revealed low numbers in
her hemoglobin from blood loss.
Nicole has no relatives in Brisbane and no contact with her family or the father of the baby. She lives
in a rented flat with one other young woman and is on a single mother’s pension.
My main concern is that she does not believe she has the ability to breastfeed, bathe or care for her
baby and is considering adoption. It would be greatly appreciated if you could organize a home visit
for Nicole and the baby. Nicole requires appropriate advice and assistance to encourage her to
develop parenting skills due to her isolated circumstances.
Thank you for agreeing to assist in this matter. Should you require any further information, please do
not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Charge Nurse
Spirit Mother’s Hospital