Using the OET case notes correctly

The Writing sub-test requires you to write a formal letter, often to another healthcare professional based on OET case notes.

You are also supplied with the patient's case notes to help you write the letter. As the case notes are in note-form, you need to transform them into complete sentences when writing your formal letter.

Creating complete sentences

One of the most important tasks when turning notes into complete sentences involves introducing left out words. Key but small words are often missing from the case notes which are needed to write a complete sentence. These include:

• Prepositions: to, of, in, etc.
• Articles: the, a, an, etc.
• Auxiliary verbs: be, do, have, etc.
• Conjunctions: and, but, so, etc.
• Pronouns: he, she, it, etc.

Without these small words, your writing will not be accurate.

How to practise transforming case notes

A good way to practise this is by transforming a whole set of notes into complete sentences.

To start you off, you can use the case note in the image above. (See the bottom of this article for the answer.)

While this is not how you will write your letter in the actual test, it will help you improve the accuracy of your writing.

Once you are more confident doing this, you can then change your focus to paraphrasing and combining the notes into a letter.

For more case notes, you can download one of our official OET Sample Tests from the website.

Additionally, you can head over to the OET Blog for more study resources like this.

Answer: Daily dressings of the surgery incision site are required.