OET Writing
Stuck at 340 in OET Writing? How to Get From C+ to B
October 5, 2026 · 9 min read
Writing is the sub-test where more candidates stall than any other, and the most common stalling point is the top of C+: 330 or 340, one step below the 350 that most regulators ask for. The good news is that the gap is rarely about vocabulary or grammar alone. It is usually about a few predictable choices in how the letter is planned. This guide shows where those points go and how to win them back.
Table of Contents
First: Do You Actually Need 350?
Before you rebook, check your regulator. Several accept C+ (300) in Writing:
- NMC (UK nurses and midwives): C+ (300) in Writing.
- NMBI (Ireland nurses and midwives): C+ in Writing.
- ECFMG (US, 2027 Pathways): 300 in Writing.
- Ahpra (Australia): C+ in Writing only for tests taken on or before 22 April 2026. For tests on or after 23 April 2026, Ahpra requires 350 in Writing.
- GMC (UK doctors): 350 (Grade B) in Writing.
If your regulator accepts 300, a 340 already meets the Writing requirement. Use the OET score calculator to check all four scores at once.
Why Letters Stall at C+
OET Writing is marked against six criteria: Purpose (0–3) and Content, Conciseness & Clarity, Genre & Style, Organisation & Layout, and Language (each 0–7). A C+ letter is usually competent on all six — it isn’t failing anywhere — but it loses a mark or two on several criteria at once. Those small losses add up to the difference between 340 and 350.
The typical pattern: the language is reasonably accurate, but the letter reads like a summary of the case notes rather than a letter written for one specific reader with one specific job to do. Most of the fixes below come back to that.
Criterion by Criterion: Symptom and Fix
| Criterion | Typical C+ symptom | What a B letter does |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | The reason for writing appears late, or is vague (“I am writing regarding Mr Smith”). | States in the first one or two sentences exactly what is being asked of the reader — and why it matters now — then develops it in the body. |
| Content | A key fact the reader needs (an allergy, a medication change, the reason for urgency) is missing or buried. | Includes everything the reader needs to act, and nothing they’d have to dig for. |
| Conciseness & Clarity | Copies routine or irrelevant notes (normal observations, unrelated history) “just in case”. | Leaves out what the reader doesn’t need, and summarises where detail adds nothing. |
| Genre & Style | Note-form fragments, abbreviations, or a tone that doesn’t suit the reader (lay terms to a specialist, jargon to a carer). | Full sentences, a professional register matched to the reader, and no unexplained abbreviations. |
| Organisation & Layout | Paragraphs follow the order of the case notes. | Paragraphs follow the reader’s priorities: purpose, relevant background, current situation, request. |
| Language | Frequent small errors — articles, tense consistency, prepositions — that slow the reader down. | Errors are rare and never get in the way of meaning. |
The Five-Minute Reading Time Is Where B Letters Are Won
Most C+ letters are decided before the first word is written. Use the five minutes of reading time to answer three questions:
- Who is the reader and what will they do with this letter? A GP continuing care, a specialist assessing, a nurse taking over a discharge — each needs different information.
- What is the one request? Write it as a single sentence in your head. That sentence becomes your opening.
- Which notes does this reader need? Mentally sort every note into “essential”, “useful context” or “leave out”. Most candidates leave out too little.
Then plan paragraphs around the reader’s needs, not the order of the notes. A letter that is well selected and well ordered is easier to read — and that shows up across Purpose, Content, Conciseness and Organisation at the same time.
A Pre-Submission Checklist
- Does the opening make the purpose clear within the first two sentences?
- Would the reader be able to act without asking for more information?
- Is there any sentence the reader would not miss if it were deleted?
- Are all sentences complete, with no note-form fragments or unexplained abbreviations?
- Do paragraphs follow the reader’s priorities rather than the case-note order?
- Is the body within roughly 180–200 words?
- Have you re-read for articles, tenses and medication names?
Practise With Feedback That Names the Criterion
Generic feedback (“improve your grammar”) rarely moves a 340 letter. What helps is knowing which criterion is costing you points. Our Writing practice grades each letter against the six OET criteria and lists missed key points and corrections, so you can see whether your problem is selection, structure or language. For the full format, read the OET Writing guide; if you are a nurse, see discharge and transfer letters that score B.
Just missed after test day? Read re-mark or retake before the 72-hour re-mark window closes.
Put it into practice
Take a full-length OET practice test with real exam timing and automatic scoring — Test 1 is completely free, no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 340 a pass in OET Writing?
OET has no single pass mark — 340 is a Grade C+. Whether it is enough depends on your regulator: the NMC, NMBI and ECFMG accept C+ (300) in Writing, while the GMC and Ahpra (for tests on or after 23 April 2026) require 350.
What is the difference between C+ and B in OET Writing?
C+ covers 300–340 and B covers 350–440. A C+ letter is usually competent on every criterion but loses a mark or two on several — typically purpose stated too late, irrelevant notes included, or paragraphs that follow the case notes instead of the reader’s needs.
Which OET Writing criterion matters most?
All six count, but Purpose, Content and Conciseness & Clarity are closely linked to how well you select and organise case notes — which is where most C+ letters lose points. Language accuracy matters too, but rarely holds a letter back on its own.
How long does it take to go from 340 to 350 in Writing?
It varies, but candidates already at 340 are usually one or two habits away from B rather than a full skill level. A few weeks of writing letters under timed conditions with criterion-level feedback is a common plan.