OET Writing: Selecting Relevant Case Notes 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When deciding which case notes to include in an OET referral letter, what is the single most important factor?
- The chronological order of every event
- The relevance to the recipient and purpose of the letter (Correct answer)
- The amount of detail available in the notes
- The patient's most recent vital signs only
Correct answer: The relevance to the recipient and purpose of the letter
Selection is driven by what the reader needs to act on the patient's care, not by completeness.
Question 2: A patient is being referred to a physiotherapist after a hip replacement. Which detail is LEAST relevant to include?
- Current mobility status and weight-bearing restrictions
- Pain levels during movement
- The patient's childhood appendectomy 30 years ago (Correct answer)
- Prescribed analgesia and dosing schedule
Correct answer: The patient's childhood appendectomy 30 years ago
An unrelated, decades-old surgery has no bearing on current physiotherapy management.
Question 3: In the OET Writing task, irrelevant case notes are best handled by:
- Copying them all in to be safe
- Omitting them entirely from the letter (Correct answer)
- Including them in a footnote
- Mentioning them only in the closing line
Correct answer: Omitting them entirely from the letter
Relevant-only selection is assessed, so irrelevant notes should simply be left out.
Question 4: Which piece of information is almost always relevant in a discharge or referral letter?
- The patient's favourite food
- The reason for referral or admission (Correct answer)
- The ward's bed number
- The name of the cleaning staff
Correct answer: The reason for referral or admission
The reason for referral or admission frames the entire letter and is essential.
Question 5: A note states the patient 'enjoys gardening as a hobby.' When is this relevant to include?
- Never, hobbies are always irrelevant
- When it relates to ongoing care, such as exposure or rehabilitation goals (Correct answer)
- Only in letters to family
- Whenever the word count is low
Correct answer: When it relates to ongoing care, such as exposure or rehabilitation goals
Social details become relevant when they affect diagnosis, risk, or care planning.
Question 6: When notes contain conflicting or repeated information, the writer should:
- Include every version to show thoroughness
- Select the most current and clinically relevant version (Correct answer)
- Ignore the section completely
- Ask the reader to check the records
Correct answer: Select the most current and clinically relevant version
The most up-to-date, relevant data supports the recipient's decision-making.
Question 7: Selecting relevant case notes mainly demonstrates which OET writing sub-skill?
- Spelling accuracy
- Appropriateness of content and purpose (Correct answer)
- Handwriting legibility
- Use of medical abbreviations
Correct answer: Appropriateness of content and purpose
Choosing the right content is assessed under appropriateness and purpose.
OET Writing: Selecting Relevant Case Notes 2
When deciding which case notes to include in an OET referral letter, what is the single most important factor?