OET Writing Samples for Nurses: Band A and Band B Examples Explained

For nurses taking the Occupational English Test (OET), the writing sub-test might be one of the toughest parts. It’s not all about grammar rules in English — it’s about presenting professional communication in a healthcare environment. Reading well-constructed OET writing samples for nurses teaches you precisely what examiners expect and how to organize your letters with professionalism and clarity.

An effective sample letter provides you with a sense of tone, structure, and clinical context. As you compare both Band A and Band B samples, it’s easy to identify what distinguishes an average response from a top one. What usually stands out is the way you logically structure your information, professionally greet your reader, and accurately convert case notes into a relevant medical letter.

By reading and reworking model letters, you acquire the rhythm of professional English writing, which ultimately makes you gain confidence and accuracy when you are taking the test.

Band A vs Band B Differences

Numerous candidates are concerned about what really sets a Band A letter apart from a Band B one. Both levels show an ability to communicate well, but Band A shows greater command of English, accuracy, and professional tone.

A Band A letter is written in a natural-sounding style, as if by a competent healthcare professional able to communicate medical information clearly and courteously. The writing is concise and each paragraph logically leads to the next. The author only includes pertinent information from the case notes and ensures that the reason for writing is clear from the outset. There are no grammatical errors, spelling inaccuracies, or clunky sentences.

A Band B letter tends to get the message across all right but is not refined. The organisation is perhaps not entirely logical, some irrelevant information might be presented, or the tone could be either too blunt or too formal. It still demonstrates functional English capacity, but it doesn’t indicate the same degree of linguistic self-assurance and business finish.

If you are targeting Band A, emphasis should be placed on accuracy, organization, and tone. The evaluator should have the impression that your letter would be fully acceptable in actual medical practice.

Example 1: High-Score Referral Letter (Band A Sample)

Case Notes Summary:

Patient: Mrs. Evelyn Parker, aged 67

Diagnosis: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (new diagnosis)

Medication: Metformin 500 mg, twice daily

Concern: Incomplete diet and unstable glucose levels

Task: Referral letter to a dietitian for dietary management advice

OET Letter Example (Band A):

Date: 14 March 2025

To: Ms. Laura Green, Dietitian, Green Valley Hospital

Re: Mrs. Evelyn Parker, aged 67 years

Dear Ms. Green,

I am writing to refer Mrs. Evelyn Parker, aged 67 years, who is in need of dietary management after being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus recently.

Mrs. Parker presented two months ago with a diagnosis and started on Metformin 500 mg twice a day. After counseling, it has been challenging for her to follow a diabetic diet and keeps taking sugary foods. Her last fasting blood glucose is still high at 9.5 mmol/L.

She resides alone and indicates that it is hard to prepare meals suitable for her. Mrs. Parker is interested in accepting professional guidance and assistance to optimize her blood glucose control.

I would be grateful if you could evaluate her dietary lifestyle and create a personal meal plan to enhance compliance and glycaemic control better.

Feel free to contact me should you need any additional information.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]

Registered Nurse

Why This Scores Band A:

This letter earns Band A because it is clear, accurate, and professional. The reason is clearly expressed in the first sentence, the facts are pertinent and logically organized, and the tone is respectful and compassionate throughout. Sentences are well-connected, and no words are wasted on unnecessary repetition. Each word has a function, and the language is natural but formal — exactly as in a genuine medical setting.

Example 2: Common Mistakes in Band B Letters

Now let’s see how small mistakes and negligence can bring your score down to Band B.

Dear Dietitian,

I am writing on behalf of Mrs. Parker who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. She is on Metformin 500 mg but her sugar level is still high. She is not adhering to her diet. Kindly advise her.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Nurse

This draft has the overall message but is without proper structure, detail, and professionalism required in the OET. It is too abrupt in tone and lacks precise sentences, giving the impression of informality. There isn’t a proper introduction outlining who Mrs. Parker is, when she was diagnosed, or why specialist support is required. The letter is also concluded in a rush without a polite and proper closing remark.

Even though the examiner is able to tell what is meant, the letter does not demonstrate the degree of accuracy, empathy, or organization that a healthcare professional would be expected to provide. It would, therefore, score a Band B.

Examiner Expectations Explained

OET examiners grade your writing on six criteria. Familiarity with them should enable you to focus your practice more effectively:

Purpose: The primary purpose of writing should be obvious at the outset. If the purpose is not clear in the opening paragraph, you can lose marks.
Content: Write down all pertinent details required by the reader and leave out unnecessary details. Relevance is crucial.
Conciseness and Clarity: Use short sentences, avoid repetition, and ensure that each paragraph serves the overall purpose.
Style and Genre: Stick to a professional, formal tone throughout the letter. Use language that is respectful and clinical.
Structure and Layout: Adhere to an evident format — introduction, background, main clinical information, and conclusion. Make sure the letter appears neat and professional.
Linguistics: Grammar, punctuation, and spelling should be correct. The vocabulary should be medically natural and suitable.

Examiners assess how well your writing resembles authentic healthcare communication. They look for confidence, clarity, and empathy — qualities that reflect how a real nurse would write to another healthcare professional.

Writing Practice Tips

Improving your OET writing skills requires practice, reflection, and exposure to model answers. Here are effective strategies to guide your preparation:

Learn model letters well: Read formal OET letter samples carefully to observe how high scorers structure information and present ideas. Look at how they open and close with politeness.
Turn case notes into letters often: Practice rewriting bullet-point notes in complete sentences. Emphasize summarizing instead of imitating.
Time yourself: In the exam, you have 45 minutes — five minutes for reading case notes and 40 minutes writing. Practicing under this constraint helps develop speed and control.
Seek feedback: Get your letters checked by OET tutors or peers who can identify problems with tone, structure, or grammar.
Effectively use linking words: Phrases such as however, therefore, in addition, and as a result enhance flow and allow ideas to be joined naturally.
Stay on point: Don’t provide extra information. Keep facts that assist the recipient in comprehending the condition of the patient or necessary care.
Read your letter out loud: Reading your letter assists in the detection of awkwardly worded statements and grammatical mistakes. It also makes your writing sound natural and courteous.
Enrich your medical vocabulary: Acquire synonyms and appropriate phrases for frequent conditions, remedies, and demands.

Through a combination of these methods, you will develop the fluency, tone, and structure that examiners look for in a high-scoring OET writing sample for nurses over time.

Conclusion

Achieving Band A in OET writing requires patience, dedication, and understanding of what the examiners appreciate most — professional communication. The distinction between Band B and Band A is not merely grammatical but a nimbler sense of conveying empathy, clarity, and clinical rationale using language.

A Band A OET letter example shows a nurse who can write as confidently as they would speak to another healthcare professional. It’s organized, polite, and precise, without being wordy or mechanical. By consistently practicing with authentic case notes and reviewing OET high score samples, you’ll learn how to craft letters that meet professional standards and reflect real-world communication skills.

With sufficient practice, attention to detail, and support, getting a Band A score is very much within your grasp.