OET Writing: Referral Letter Essentials 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How should dates from case notes generally be expressed in the letter body?
- In a consistent written format, e.g. 'on 3 June' (Correct answer)
- As raw note shorthand
- Only as 'today' and 'yesterday'
- Omitted always
Correct answer: In a consistent written format, e.g. 'on 3 June'
Convert note shorthand into clear, consistent date expressions.
Question 2: When several past medical conditions are stable and unrelated to the referral, the best approach is to:
- Summarise them briefly as relevant background (Correct answer)
- Detail each one in a full paragraph
- Ignore the entire history
- Copy the notes verbatim
Correct answer: Summarise them briefly as relevant background
Stable, less relevant history is condensed into brief background.
Question 3: Which sentence best transitions from patient background to the current presenting problem?
- 'Mr Jones now presents with...' (Correct answer)
- 'Anyway, moving on...'
- 'As you know, doctors are busy...'
- 'In conclusion...'
Correct answer: 'Mr Jones now presents with...'
A clear topic shift signals the move to the current concern.
Question 4: In a discharge referral to a community nurse, what is usually the central purpose?
- Requesting ongoing care or monitoring after discharge (Correct answer)
- Requesting payment
- Reporting the writer's shift schedule
- Asking for a diagnosis the writer already made
Correct answer: Requesting ongoing care or monitoring after discharge
Discharge referrals typically request continuity of care.
Question 5: How should medication information be presented when relevant to the referral?
- Clearly with names and doses as needed (Correct answer)
- As a vague 'some medications'
- Hidden in the closing line
- Only in the salutation
Correct answer: Clearly with names and doses as needed
Relevant medications should be stated clearly with necessary detail.
Question 6: If two pieces of information could go in either of two paragraphs, you should group them by:
- Logical theme so each paragraph has one focus (Correct answer)
- Random order
- Alphabetical order
- Length of each item
Correct answer: Logical theme so each paragraph has one focus
Paragraphs should be organised around a single logical theme.
Question 7: A referral letter's tone toward the recipient should be:
- Professional and respectful (Correct answer)
- Casual and chatty
- Apologetic and uncertain
- Authoritative and commanding
Correct answer: Professional and respectful
Inter-professional correspondence maintains a professional, respectful tone.
OET Writing: Referral Letter Essentials 3
How should dates from case notes generally be expressed in the letter body?