ChatGPT for OET Writing: How Nurses Can Refine Referral Letters and Learn Key Phrases

ChatGPT for OET Writing: How Nurses Can Refine Referral Letters and Learn Key Phrases

For many nurses preparing for the OET Writing sub-test, writing a clear and professional referral letter can be a major challenge. You need to select relevant details from case notes, organize them logically, and express them in formal clinical English—all within a strict time and word limit.

Fortunately, with the help of ChatGPT, you don’t have to practice alone.

ChatGPT can act as a writing assistant, language coach, and feedback generator, helping you:

• Identify weak points in your letter

• Suggest better vocabulary and sentence structures

• Explain why certain changes improve clarity or tone

• Provide model answers based on the same case notes

• Help you build your clinical English vocabulary through example phrases and rewrites

Whether you’re a beginner struggling with basic organization or an advanced learner aiming for a Grade B or higher, ChatGPT can guide your revision process and offer instant, personalized feedback.

In this article, we’ll show you:

• How to write effective prompts that get useful corrections from ChatGPT

• Sample before-and-after letter examples

• How to ask for explanations and vocabulary upgrades

• Key nursing-specific phrases you can learn and reuse in your writing

With the right approach, ChatGPT can become more than just a chatbot—it can be your private OET writing tutor, available anytime.

Let’s start by looking at a basic referral letter and how you can ask ChatGPT to refine it step by step.

1. Why Referral Letters Are Difficult for Many Nurses

Writing a referral letter may sound simple—until you’re under OET test pressure. Many nurses find the Writing sub-test especially challenging, not because they lack clinical knowledge, but because they’re unfamiliar with the formal writing conventions required by the OET.

Here are the most common reasons why referral letters become difficult for candidates:

1. Selecting Relevant Information from Case Notes

You are given a detailed case with background history, symptoms, medications, lifestyle factors, and social context. But not all of this should be included in the letter.
Knowing what to include and what to leave out is part of what OET assesses—and it’s a skill many test-takers underestimate.

️ 2. Organizing the Letter in a Logical Structure

Even when you know what information is important, arranging it in a clear and professional way can be tricky.
OET expects a structure like:

• Purpose of the letter

• Background and medical history

• Current condition

• What action is requested

If this structure is missing or confusing, you lose points—even if your grammar is perfect.

3. Using Clinical English with the Right Tone

Referral letters must be written in formal, polite, and clinical language. That means avoiding casual phrases or emotional expressions while still sounding compassionate and professional.

Example:
“She’s doing okay” → ❌ too informal
“She is recovering steadily post-operatively” → ✅ formal and appropriate

⏱️ 4. Writing Within 40 Minutes and 180–200 Words

Even with good English skills, many nurses struggle with time management. OET demands accuracy, efficiency, and conciseness—all within a tight time limit.

2. How ChatGPT Can Help: 3 Ways Nurses Can Use It Effectively

ChatGPT isn’t just a chatbot—it’s a powerful writing tool that, when used correctly, can help you refine your OET referral letters, understand your mistakes, and expand your clinical English.
Here are three practical ways nurses can use ChatGPT to improve their OET Writing performance:

✍️ 1. Edit and Improve Your Letter Line by Line

Paste your draft referral letter into ChatGPT with a prompt like:

“Please review this OET referral letter. Suggest corrections and improvements to make it clearer, more professional, and aligned with test expectations.”

ChatGPT can:

• Fix grammar and punctuation

• Recommend more natural clinical phrasing

• Help shorten overly long or repetitive sentences

• Suggest transitions to improve flow

It’s like having a writing tutor available 24/7.

2. Ask for Explanations of Corrections

Don’t just accept the edits—ask why. Try prompting:

“Please explain why you changed this sentence. What tone or grammar rule does it improve?”

This helps you:

• Understand formal writing conventions

• Learn the difference between casual and professional English

• Avoid repeating the same mistakes in future letters

Over time, you’ll internalize what makes a strong OET letter.

3. Request Model Answers and Vocabulary Upgrades

You can ask:

“Can you rewrite my letter at a Band B level?”
“Give me a model referral letter for a patient with pneumonia.”
“What are better alternatives to ‘He is getting better’?”

ChatGPT will generate high-quality samples and vocabulary suggestions, allowing you to learn phrase patterns, sentence structures, and tone control used in successful letters.

You can even create a personal phrasebook from ChatGPT’s suggestions.

3. Sample Prompt: Ask ChatGPT to Review Your Letter

Now that you know how ChatGPT can support your writing, let’s look at a practical example. Here’s how to ask ChatGPT to review and improve your OET referral letter—and how to interpret its feedback.

️ Step 1: Prepare Your Draft Letter

Write your referral letter based on a sample OET case note. For example:

Nurse’s Draft (Student Version):

Dear Dr. Smith,
I am writing to refer Mr. John Green, a 65-year-old man who was admitted with pneumonia. He had fever and cough and was treated with antibiotics. He is now feeling better. Please continue treatment.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe

Step 2: Enter a Clear Prompt

Copy and paste your letter into ChatGPT with this prompt:

“Please review this OET referral letter as if you are an OET Writing tutor. Correct grammar, improve professional tone, and explain your changes.”

Expected ChatGPT Response:

ChatGPT might respond with:

Corrected Version:
Dear Dr. Smith,
I am writing to refer Mr. John Green, a 65-year-old man who was admitted with community-acquired pneumonia. He presented with fever and a productive cough and was treated with intravenous antibiotics. He has responded well to treatment and is now clinically stable. Your continued management is kindly requested.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe

Explanation of Changes:

• “He had fever and cough” → changed to “He presented with…” for clinical tone

• Added “community-acquired” for specificity

• “He is now feeling better” → replaced with “clinically stable”

• “Please continue treatment” → rephrased for polite, professional request

✅ Tips:

• You can follow up with: “Can you explain why you changed this sentence?”

• Try re-writing your draft and submitting again

• Save improved versions for future reference and practice

4. Before & After Example: A Referral Letter Revised by ChatGPT

Seeing how a basic referral letter can be transformed into a polished, OET-ready version is one of the best ways to learn. In this section, you’ll find a realistic student draft (“Before”), the ChatGPT-revised version (“After”), and a breakdown of what changed and why.

BEFORE – Student Draft

Dear Dr. Allen,
I am writing to refer Mrs. Mary Brown, a 72-year-old woman who was admitted with UTI. She has a history of diabetes and was treated with antibiotics. She is now doing okay and can be discharged. Please take over her care.
Sincerely,
Anna Lopez

✅ AFTER – ChatGPT’s Suggested Revision

Dear Dr. Allen,
I am writing to refer Mrs. Mary Brown, a 72-year-old woman who was admitted with a urinary tract infection. She has a past medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and responded well to intravenous antibiotic therapy. She is currently clinically stable and ready for discharge. I kindly request your continued management and monitoring upon discharge.
Sincerely,
Anna Lopez

️ Key Improvements Explained

This transformation reflects exactly what OET examiners want to see:

• Accurate clinical language

• Clear structure

• Formal and professional tone

• No vague or casual expressions

You can repeat this process with any draft letter, allowing ChatGPT to help you gradually refine your writing to Band B or higher.

️ 5. Useful Phrases Nurses Can Learn from ChatGPT Corrections

One of the most powerful ways to improve your OET referral letters is by collecting and reusing formal clinical expressions—the kind that make your writing sound professional, structured, and exam-ready. ChatGPT often suggests these phrases when editing your drafts. Here’s how to make the most of them.

1. Phrases for Opening and Purpose

• I am writing to refer [Mr./Ms. Last Name], a [age]-year-old patient who…

• This letter concerns [patient name], who presented with…

• I kindly request your continued management of…

These establish clarity from the first sentence and show awareness of tone and audience.

2. Clinical Descriptions of Condition and Progress

• He was admitted with [condition] and responded well to treatment.

• Her vital signs have stabilized over the past 48 hours.

• She is currently clinically stable and suitable for discharge.

• He has a past medical history of [condition] dating back to [year].

These are objective, medically accurate, and preferred over vague phrases like “doing fine” or “getting better.”

3. Requests and Follow-Up Instructions

• I would appreciate your continued care upon discharge.

• Please monitor her condition and adjust medications as needed.

• Further assessment regarding [specific issue] may be necessary.

• Referral to [specialist/service] is kindly requested.

Such phrasing shows initiative while remaining polite and collaborative.

How to Build Your Own Phrasebook with ChatGPT

Try asking:

“Can you give me 10 common phrases used in OET referral letters for nurses?”

Or:

“Please highlight any advanced phrases I can learn from the revision above.”

Keep a document or notebook where you:

• Save corrected sentences

• Categorize them by purpose (opening, history, request)

• Practice rewriting them in different contexts

With repetition, these phrases will become second nature—and your writing will sound much more confident and professional.

6. Final Tips: How to Make the Most of ChatGPT in Your Writing Practice

ChatGPT can be a powerful tool in your OET Writing preparation—but like any tool, it’s most effective when used consistently and strategically. Here are some final tips to help you make the most of it.

1. Make Writing a Daily Habit

Set aside 20–30 minutes each day to:

• Write a referral letter using real or sample case notes

• Ask ChatGPT to review and improve your draft

• Reflect on the feedback and rewrite a better version

Even 3–4 days per week can lead to major improvement over time.

2. Rotate Scenarios to Build Versatility

Avoid writing the same type of case repeatedly. Practice different patient situations:

• Respiratory infections

• Elderly care

• Post-operative recovery

• Mental health or wound care referrals

This helps you build a broader vocabulary and become more flexible on test day.

3. Review Feedback Carefully—Don’t Just Copy

ChatGPT can give excellent suggestions, but your job is to understand why.

• Ask follow-up questions like: “Why is this tone more appropriate?”

• Keep a personal correction log or phrase list

• Compare multiple versions of the same sentence

This develops awareness and control, not just passive improvement.

️ 4. Build Your Own OET Writing Toolkit

Use ChatGPT to:

• Create checklists (e.g., “10 things to remember before submitting my letter”)

• Simulate mock tests (with time limits)

• Analyze model Band B letters with explanations

You’re not just learning English—you’re building the mindset of a professional communicator.

✅ Consistency = Confidence

With regular practice and smart use of ChatGPT, your writing will become clearer, more clinical, and more confident. By test day, you’ll be ready not just to write a great referral letter—but to think and express yourself like a nurse in English.

OET For Nurses