What concise means in an OET letter
Conciseness and clarity is scored from 0 to 7. It looks at two things: whether your letter leaves out what the reader does not need, and whether you summarise the case well and clearly. Selecting the right notes is covered in the case-notes lesson. This lesson is about the second half: saying what you have selected in fewer words.
Concise does not mean short at any cost. Every sentence should still be a complete, correct English sentence, and every fact the reader needs should still be there. The aim is to remove words that carry no information.
Cut the filler
Filler phrases announce information instead of giving it. They are common in letters because they sound polite, but most of them can go.
| Filler | Shorter version |
|---|---|
| I would like to inform you that Mr Diaz was discharged today. | Mr Diaz was discharged today. |
| It is important to note that she is allergic to penicillin. | She is allergic to penicillin. |
| Due to the fact that he lives alone, ... | As he lives alone, ... |
| At this point in time, her wound is healing well. | Her wound is now healing well. |
| He underwent a procedure in which his gallbladder was removed. | His gallbladder was removed. |
| She was commenced on treatment with oral prednisolone. | She was started on oral prednisolone. |
| In order to reduce his risk of falls, ... | To reduce his risk of falls, ... |
Summarise a timeline
Long lists of dates are the biggest source of extra words. Ask what the reader needs from the timeline: usually the starting point, the overall direction, and the current state.
Nursing notes over a week
On Monday she needed two staff to stand. On Wednesday she needed one staff member. On Friday she walked to the bathroom with a frame and supervision.
Her mobility has improved steadily over the past week, and she now walks short distances with a frame and supervision.
Why: The reader needs her current level of mobility. The day-by-day record adds length, not information.
Medical notes over two years
In 2024 his HbA1c was 7.1%. In early 2025 it was 7.6%. In late 2025 it was 8.2%. In 2026 it was 8.9%.
His HbA1c has risen steadily over two years, from 7.1% to 8.9%.
Why: The first and last values show the trend. Keep the exact figures the reader will act on.
Concise is not note-form
Some candidates cut so hard that their sentences turn back into notes: no verbs, no articles, symbols and arrows. The task asks for a letter in full sentences. Note-form makes the reader work harder and affects Language and Genre and style as well.
Pt adm 3/10 c SOB, ↑ ankle oedema. Furosemide ↑ to 80 mg.
Mr Abara was admitted on 3 October with shortness of breath and worsening ankle swelling, and his furosemide was increased to 80 mg daily.
Why: The better version is longer in characters but easier to read. Concise means no wasted words, not missing words.
Daughter visits - helps c shopping, meds.
His daughter visits regularly and helps him with shopping and his medication.
Why: Full sentences keep the meaning clear. The dash and 'c' leave the reader guessing about who does what.
A quick editing routine
Keep a few minutes at the end of the 40 minutes for this check.
- Underline every sentence that starts with 'I would like to inform you', 'It should be noted' or 'Please be advised'. Delete the announcement and keep the fact.
- Look for two or more short sentences about the same thing. Can they become one?
- Find any list of dates. Can you replace it with a trend and a current state?
- Check that each sentence still has a subject, a verb and articles. Concise, not note-form.
- Estimate your length. If you are far above 200 words, look again at what you selected, not only at how you wrote it.
One paragraph from a discharge letter to a GP
I would like to let you know that during her admission it was found that her blood pressure was high. It was 168/96 on admission. It was 160/94 on the second day. It was 150/90 on the day of discharge. Because of this we started her on amlodipine 5 mg daily.
Her blood pressure was raised during admission (168/96 on arrival and 150/90 at discharge), and she was started on amlodipine 5 mg daily. I would be grateful if you could recheck it in two weeks.
Why: The better version is shorter, gives the trend and the treatment, and turns the information into a clear request.
Check yourself
4 quick questions. Tap an answer to see why.
1 Your letter body is 290 words. What is the most likely problem?
2 Which version is concise and still correct?
3 Which phrase should you usually keep?
4 The notes give six weekly weights showing steady loss from 82 kg to 76 kg. What is the best summary?