Preparing for the OET Writing task is not just about doing piles and piles of practice tasks – it is about doing them RIGHT.

Many students may repeatedly sit the OET but never pass the writing section as they just don’t have the right approach. If you are one of those students, this blog will hopefully point you in the right direction.

It is important to consider what the examiners are looking for – that is, the “marking criteria”. Your task is marked against the following 5 criteria:

1. Overall task fulfilment – make sure you stick to the required word length of approximately 180-200 words!
2. Appropriateness of language – choose the appropriate vocabulary and tone for the particular situation. Also, ensure your writing is organised into clear ideas!
3. Comprehension of stimulus – choose to include the most relevant information to the situation! This will show the marker you have understood the stimulus.
4. Control of linguistic features – grammar and cohesion!!!!!!
5. Control of presentation features – check the spelling and punctuation, as well as the layout of your letter!

In your preparation for the writing task, make sure you are considering each of these key points because these are the things that the examiner will be looking out for. So if you are confidently fulfilling these 5 criteria, then you can surely impress the examiner!