OET Writing practice · Medicine
Obesity and type 2 diabetes – community dietitian
An original practice task written by LetterScore AI. Read the case notes in 5 minutes, then write your referral letter in 40 minutes, about 180–200 words in the body.
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Case notes
MEDICINE — WRITING TASK (practice) Time allowed: Reading time 5 minutes, Writing time 40 minutes Read the case notes below and complete the writing task which follows. Notes: Today's date: 28/08/2026 You are a GP at Larkfield Road Surgery, 65 Larkfield Road, Larkfield. Patient: Mr Kofi Mensah, DOB 30/03/1974 (52 yrs) Social background: - Taxi driver, 10–12 hr shifts, mostly evenings; eats takeaway meals in car, skips breakfast - Drinks approx. 1.5 L cola per day to "stay awake" - Married, 3 teenage children. Wife cooks traditional Ghanaian meals (jollof rice, fufu, fried plantain) – large portions, main meal after midnight - Non-smoker. Alcohol: rarely - Brother (56) had stroke 06/2026 – pt now "wants to make changes" Medical history: - Type 2 diabetes, dx 2022 - Hypertension (2023) - Gout: one episode 2024, none since - L knee osteoarthritis – limits walking > 15 min - Diabetic eye screening 03/2026: normal Medications: - Metformin 1 g BD - Ramipril 5 mg daily - Atorvastatin 20 mg nocte - NKDA Consultation notes: 10/07/2026 (annual diabetes review) - Wt 112 kg, height 1.75 m, BMI 36.6. Waist 118 cm - BP 142/88 - HbA1c 64 mmol/mol (07/2025: 55). Total cholesterol 5.2 mmol/L, triglycerides 2.6 mmol/L - eGFR 84. Urine albumin:creatinine ratio normal - Feet: pulses present, sensation normal - Discussed options: lifestyle change first; consider adding second diabetes medication if no improvement by 3 months - Pt reluctant to start injections 28/08/2026 - Food diary (1 week) reviewed: no breakfast; fast-food meals 5×/week; cola 1.5 L/day; large late-night meal; few vegetables - Has reduced cola to 1 L/day - Wt 111 kg - BP 138/86 - Knee pain unchanged; paracetamol PRN - Flu vaccine booked 10/2026 - Wife keen to help, would like to attend dietitian appointment - Pt prefers practical advice, "not a strict diet"; worried he will lose energy at work if he cuts sugar Plan: - Refer to community dietitian for individual dietary advice - Target: 5–10% weight loss (6–11 kg) over 6 months; reduce sugary drinks - Repeat HbA1c 10/2026; review medication then - Consider low-impact exercise (swimming, exercise bike) given knee - GP review 8 weeks Writing Task: Using the information in the case notes, write a letter to Ms Sophie Marchetti, Dietitian, Community Nutrition Service, Greenway Health Hub, 12 Lark Avenue, Larkfield, referring Mr Mensah for dietary advice. In your answer: - Expand the relevant notes into complete sentences - Do not use note form - Use letter format The body of the letter should be approximately 180–200 words.
How to approach this referral letter
- The reader has never met the patient. State the reason for referral, and how urgent it is, in the first paragraph.
- Select the history, findings and investigation results that support the referral, and group them by topic rather than by date.
- End with what you are asking the reader to do, and any action you have already taken.
Members also get the model answer, the note-selection table and task-specific tips for this task.