Free Practice Resources · Last updated: 28 April 2026

OET Case Notes Practice

The OET writing task gives you a structured set of case notes and asks you to write a 180–200 word letter using only the relevant information for a specific recipient. Below are three complete sample scenarios — one for nursing, one for medicine, and one for pharmacy — followed by the learning point each one is designed to teach. For unlimited unique practice scenarios, use our free AI Case Note Generator.

Generate unlimited case notes See annotated letter samples

Key takeaways

  • OET case notes are a structured patient summary plus a writing instruction. Your task: write a 180–200 word letter using only relevant information for the specified recipient.
  • The single biggest Grade B blocker is over-inclusion of case-note details. Selectivity beats thoroughness.
  • Three sample case notes below cover nursing (discharge), medicine (referral), and pharmacy (advice), each with a learning point.
  • For unlimited unique cases, use our free AI Case Note Generator — profession-specific scenarios on demand.

Sample 1 — Nursing (Discharge)

Patient: Mrs Patricia Doyle, 78 years old

Admission: Day 6 — admitted with community-acquired pneumonia

Medical history: Type 2 diabetes (15 yrs), hypertension, mild cognitive impairment

Treatment: IV antibiotics (now switched to oral co-amoxiclav, 7 more days)

Current status: Afebrile 48 hrs, mobilising independently, oxygen sats 96% on air

Social: Lives with daughter, daughter works full-time

Discharge plan: Today, with community nurse follow-up

Task: Write a discharge letter to the community nurse for follow-up care

Learning point: Selectively include the antibiotic course, current respiratory status, and follow-up needs. The cognitive impairment is relevant for medication compliance — but the daughter's work hours are not.

Sample 2 — Medicine (Referral)

Patient: Mr Hassan Ali, 54 years old

Presenting: Three-month history progressive exertional breathlessness, ankle swelling

Examination: BP 160/95, BMI 31, bilateral pitting oedema to mid-calf, displaced apex beat

Investigations: ECG: LV hypertrophy. CXR: cardiomegaly. BNP: elevated

Medical history: Hypertension (poorly controlled), type 2 diabetes, smoker (20/day, 30 yrs)

Current management: Started on furosemide 40mg, ramipril 5mg, atorvastatin 40mg

Task: Write a referral letter to the cardiologist for assessment of suspected heart failure

Learning point: Open with the suspected diagnosis. Include investigations, cardiovascular risk factors, and current treatment. Smoking 20/day is relevant; family history (if present) would be too. Skip social/occupational details unless they affect treatment planning.

Sample 3 — Pharmacy (Advice)

Patient: Master Tom Williams, 8 years old (parent: Mrs Williams)

Prescription: Salbutamol inhaler (100 mcg, 2 puffs PRN)

Diagnosis: Newly diagnosed mild asthma

Instructions: Use spacer device, demonstrate technique, monitor for triggers

Side effects to mention: Tremor, increased heart rate, headache (transient)

Safety net: Seek urgent help if SOB at rest, blue lips, no improvement after 4 puffs

Task: Write an advice letter to Mrs Williams explaining the new inhaler

Learning point: Patient-appropriate register — avoid clinical jargon. Explain why a spacer matters. Include the safety net clearly. Examiners reward clear safety information in advice letters above almost any other content choice.

How to Practise with Case Notes

More practice without feedback rarely lifts a candidate from Grade C to Grade B. Practising the right way matters more than practising more.

1

Read twice

Once for clinical understanding. Once to identify recipient, letter type, and purpose. Spend 5 minutes.

2

Highlight what's relevant

Mark only what the recipient needs to act on the patient. Cross out irrelevant social details, unrelated history, and information that doesn't affect the recipient's decision.

3

Sketch a four-paragraph structure

Opening (purpose), background (relevant history), current situation, request/closing. Decide which case-note items go in which paragraph before writing.

4

Write in 30 minutes

Aim for 185–195 words. Don't pause to perfect a sentence. Editing is faster than drafting.

5

Submit for correction

Self-review only catches surface errors. The patterns blocking Grade B are usually invisible to the writer. Three to five corrected letters typically reveal them.

Submit a letter for correction

Related Guides

4 Annotated Letter Samples

See how case notes turn into Grade B letters with full examiner annotations.

How to Write an OET Letter

45-minute live walkthrough from case notes to finished letter.

How to Get Grade B in OET Writing

Six-criteria breakdown and the patterns that block Grade B.

OET Letter Templates

Paragraph-purpose structures for each letter type.

AI Case Note Generator

Generate unlimited profession-specific practice scenarios on demand.

AI Writing Checker

Paste your letter for instant AI feedback before submitting for human correction.

Case Notes FAQ

What are OET case notes?
A structured summary of a patient's clinical situation given to you in the writing task. They include patient ID, presenting complaint, history, examination, investigations, treatment, and a writing instruction. Your task: write a 180–200 word letter using the relevant information.
Where can I get free OET case notes for practice?
Limited official samples are at oet.com. For unlimited profession-specific practice cases, use our free AI Case Note Generator at /free-oet-tools/casenotes/.
How should I practise with OET case notes?
Read twice, highlight relevance, sketch structure, write in 30 minutes, then submit for professional correction. Practising without feedback usually reinforces existing errors rather than fixing them.
Are OET case notes the same for nurses and doctors?
No — OET writing is profession-specific. Nurses get nursing-handover scenarios, doctors get diagnostic/treatment cases, pharmacists get medication scenarios. The structure is consistent; the clinical content reflects each profession.