Writing 101 by Gurleen

Use the five minutes ‘reading time’ efficiently to understand the task requirements. The test is
designed to give you enough time to write your answer after you have carefully considered the
following questions:
What is your role?
Who is the recipient?
What is the current situation?
How urgent is the current situation?
What is the main point you must communicate to the reader?
What supporting information is it necessary to give to the reader?
What background information is necessary for the reader to know? What information is
unnecessary for the reader?
Next, consider the best way to present the information relevant to the task:
Should the current situation be explained at the start of the letter [e.g. in an emergency
situation]?
In what sequence can the ideas be presented depending on the urgency of the situation?

Helpful hints
 Use the 5-minute reading time effectively. You should read the information carefully and
plan an answer which meets the needs of the reader.

 When preparing for the test, practice writing the tasks within the word limit so that you
know when you have written enough in your own handwriting.

 A very important aspect of OET writing is the selection of relevant case-notes. Think
carefully about the particular task. What does the reader need to know, and in what order
of importance? What is the outcome that you want to achieve, i.e. what do you want the
reader to do with the information?

 Do not forget to get adequate time-limited practice that will help you to learn how to
manage your time within the 40-minute timeframe.

 Cross out anything you do not want the assessor to read, such as drafts or mistakes.
 Always proof-read your letter to check for any mistakes in grammar, style, and spelling.
While practicing the letters, one way to proof-read the letter is to read out loud. This is
especially helpful for spotting runon sentences, but you might also hear other problems
that you may not see when reading silently. Alternatively, you could read through once
(backwards, sentence by sentence) to check for fragments; and read again forward to
ensure that subject-verb agreement.