How to take an OET Writing Sample Test for Pharmacists ( Experts Guide )

The Pharmacists OET Writing Sample Test is a part of an exam for pharmacists who want to work in countries where English is spoken. In this test, you need to write a letter based on a situation, like writing to a patient a colleague, or an expert. In this article, you will learn How to take an OET Writing Sample Test for Pharmacists. Go through this article in detail to get a B grade or higher in your OET Writing test. It explains step step-wise approach to tackle the test easily.

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OET Writing Sample Test for Pharmacists

What is the OET Writing Sample Test?

It’s a part of a bigger test called the Occupational English Test (OET). It can be explained in simpler terms as follows:

Test Purpose:

• For healthcare workers.
• Want to work in English-speaking countries.

Task:

• Write letters.
• About medical topics.

Importance:

• Shows how well you write in English.
• Needed for jobs in countries like Australia, UK, New Zealand.

Format:

• Given scenarios.
• Write letters based on situations.

Assessment:

• Checks clarity of writing.
• Looks at use of medical terms.
• Sees if writing is professional.

Preparation:

• Practice writing similar letters.
• Use guides and sample answers for help.

How to take an OET Writing Sample Test for Pharmacists ( Experts Guide )

In this section you will learn how to take an OET Writing Sample Test for Pharmacists. This test is tackled by trying to answer the following five questions:

• How to start your writing task?
• How to make the most of your five minutes reading time?
• How to show the six assessment criteria in your writing?
• How to use the example answer given?
• How to improve by looking at finished writing tasks?

Lets go through them one by one:

1. How to start your writing task?

A pharmacists writing task consists of 4 possible types of letter:

• Referral
• Discharge
• Transfer
• Advice/Inform

Things to be kept in mind before you start:

• The scenario for the test is unknown until the reading time starts.
  • Be prepared for various scenarios.
  • Scenarios may involve letters between pharmacists, pharmacist to doctors, pharmacist to patients etc.
• Patients are diverse in backgrounds and medical histories.
  • Consider each patient’s social and medical background.
  • Adapt language and structure to personalize letters accordingly.
• Customize language and structure for each patient and situation.
  • Avoid using the same language for every patient.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in English to achieve a high score.

2. How to make the most of your five minutes reading time?

Prioritize Key Information:

• Identify who you’re writing to and their job role.
• Understand the purpose of your letter.
• Recognize your role in the patient’s care, usually found at the beginning of the case notes.

First two information can be found at the end of the case notes.

Clarify Letter Purpose:

• Check the last details in the case notes to understand why you’re writing the letter.

Select Relevant Information:

• Read through the letter line by line.
• Ask yourself:
  • Is this information important to the situation?
  • Will it affect the patient’s care?

If not, you can skip it. If yes, include it in the letter.

Take Mental Notes:

• Remember important points as you read.
• Keep track of what to include in your letter.

Review Case Notes Again:

• If time allows, go through the case notes once more.
• Remind yourself of what you’ve decided to include in your letter.

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3. How to show the six assessment criteria in your writing?

You can start writing in the following manner to ensure that all the six assessment criteria are included in your letter.

Prepare for Writing:

• Underline important points in the case notes that you’ll use in your letter.
• Use the blank page at the back of the booklet to plan your letter’s structure.

Plan Your Letter Structure:

• Introduction: Introduce the patient and reason for referral.
• Middle paragraphs: Detail the patient’s complaint and examination results.
• Final paragraph: Provide advice to the patient.

Start Writing Your Letter:

• Step 1: Write the patient’s name and address as given in the task.
• Step 2:Add the date below the address.
• Step 3:Include a greeting and patient’s details (name and date of birth).
• Step 4: Write the body of the letter using your plan from the blank page.
• Step 5: Conclude with “Yours sincerely” and your job title (Pharmacist).

4. How to use the example answer given?

Review Sample Answer:

• After finishing your letter, examine the sample answer.
• Remember key points when looking at sample letters for official OET tasks.

Importance of Sample Letters:

• Samples are written and reviewed by language and subject experts.
• Ensures accuracy in medical and linguistic aspects.

Variation in Letters:

• Understand that the sample isn’t the only way to write.
• Your letter may use different language or structure, which is okay.

Focus on Communication:

• Main goal is to clearly communicate the situation as per the task.
• Differences in structure or language are acceptable if the message is clear.

Compare Similarities and Differences:

• Note similarities and differences between your letter and the sample.
• Try to understand the reasons behind any differences you notice.

5. How to improve by looking at finished writing tasks?

Reflect on Your Task:

• Compare your writing with the sample answer against the assessment criteria.
• Access the six assessment criteria from the OET website for reference.

Check Language and Grammar:

• Type your letter into a document and review language and grammar.
• Utilize tools like Grammarly for assistance.

Revise Your Letter:

• Rewrite the letter with corrections for a perfect copy.
• Keep this revised version for future reference during revisions.

Practice Speaking Role Play:

• Use the case notes as a foundation for practicing speaking role plays.

Research for Better Understanding:

• Search online for podcasts or medical journal articles to enhance your understanding of the treatment.

Related : Physiotherapy OET Writing Sample Test 

OET Writing Sample Test for Pharmacists: Conclusion

In this article we have talked about how to handle the Pharmacist OET Writing Sample Test. This test is important for pharmacists who want to work in other countries. It proves they can communicate effectively in English, which is important for getting jobs abroad. With the right approach, anyone can do well in this writing task.

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