Writing sub-test: Assessment criteria and level descriptors

Band Purpose Band Content Conciseness & Genre & Style Organisation & Layout Language
Clarity
Content is appropriate to Length of document Writing is clinical/factual Organisation and Language features
Purpose of document intended reader and is appropriate to case and appropriate to genre paragraphing are (spelling/punctuation/vocabulary/
is immediately addresses what is and reader (no and reader (discipline and appropriate, logical and grammar/sentence structure) are
apparent and 7 needed to continue care irrelevant information knowledge); technical clear; key information is accurate and do not interfere with
sufficiently expanded (key information is included); information language, abbreviations highlighted and sub- meaning
3 as required included; no important is summarised and polite language are sections are well
details missing); content effectively and used appropriately for organised; document is
from case notes is presented clearly document and recipient well laid out
accurately represented
6 Performance shares features of bands 5 and 7
Content is appropriate to Length of document Writing is clinical/factual Organisation and
Purpose of document intended reader and is mostly appropriate and appropriate to genre paragraphing are
is apparent but not mostly addresses what is to case and reader, and reader with generally appropriate,
sufficiently 5 needed to continue care; information is mostly occasional, minor logical and clear; Minor slips in language generally
2 highlighted or content from case notes summarized inappropriacies; occasional lapses of do not interfere with meaning
expanded is generally accurately effectively and technical language, organisation in sub-
represented presented clearly abbreviations and polite sections and/or
language are used highlighting of key
appropriately with minor information; layout is
inconsistencies generally good
4 Performance shares features of bands 3 and 5
Content is mostly Inclusion of some Writing is at times Organisation and
Purpose of document appropriate to intended irrelevant inappropriate to the paragraphing are not
is not immediately 3 reader; some key information distracts document or target always logical, Inaccuracies in language, in
apparent and may information (about case from overall clarity reader; over-reliance creating strain for the particular in complex structures,
1 show very limited or to continue care) may of document; on technical language reader; key cause minor strain for the reader but
expansion be missing; there may be attempt to and abbreviations may information may not be do not interfere with meaning
some inaccuracies in summarise only distract reader highlighted; layout is
content partially successful mostly appropriate
with some lapses
2 Performance shares features of bands 1 and 3
Purpose of document Content does not provide Clarity of document The writing shows Organisation not logical, Inaccuracies in language cause
is partially intended reader sufficient is obscured by the inadequate putting strain on the considerable strain for the reader and
obscured/unclear information about the case inclusion of many understanding of the reader; or heavy reliance may interfere with meaning
and/or misunderstood 1 and what is needed to unnecessary details; genre and target reader; on case note structure;
0 continue care; key attempt to mis- or over-use of key information is not
information is missing or summarise not technical language and well highlighted and the
inaccurate successful abbreviations cause layout may not be
strain for the reader appropriate
0 Performance below Band 1

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Writing sub-test: Assessment criteria and level descriptors
Criterion Description
Purpose Due to time constraints, health professionals want to understand the purpose behind a written handover document (e.g. referral
• Helps the reader get a quick and precise letter) very quickly and efficiently. This criterion therefore examines how clearly the writing communicates the purpose of the
sense of what is asked of them document to the reader.
The purpose for writing should be introduced early in the document and then clearly expanded on later (often near the end of
the document). The purpose should be easily and immediately identifiable to the reader, so there is no need to search for it.
Content The content criterion examines a number of aspects of the content:
• Considers necessary information • All key information is included
(audience awareness: what does the • Information is accurately represented
reader need to know?) • Audience awareness is key here. The writing needs to be appropriate to the reader (and their knowledge of the case) and
• Considers accuracy of information what they need to know to continue care.
Conciseness & Clarity Health professionals value concise and clear communication. This criterion, therefore also considers:
• Considers irrelevant information • whether unnecessary information from the notes is included and how distracting this may be to the reader, i.e. Does this
(audience awareness: what doesn’t the affect clarity? Is there any information that could be left out?
reader need to know?) • how well the information (the case) is summarised and how clearly this summary is presented to the reader.
• Considers how effectively the case is
summarised (audience awareness: no
time is wasted)
Genre & Style Referral letters and similar written handover documents need to show awareness of genre by being written in a clinical/factual
• Considers the appropriateness of manner (e.g. not including personal feelings and judgements) and awareness of the target reader through using professional
features such as register and tone to the register and tone.
document’s purpose and audience The use of abbreviations should not be overdone thereby assuming common prior knowledge. If written to a medical colleague
in a similar discipline, then judicious use of abbreviations and technical terms would be entirely appropriate, but if the medical
colleague was in a totally different discipline, or a letter was from a specialist to a GP, more explanation and less shorthand
would be desirable. If the target readership includes the patient, the information must be worded appropriately, e.g. minimising
medical jargon.
Organisation & Layout Health professionals value documents that are clearly structured so it is easy for them to efficiently retrieve relevant
• Considers organisational features of the information. This criterion examines how well the document is organised and laid out.
document It examines whether the paragraphing is appropriate, whether sub-sections within the document are logically organised and
whether key information is clearly highlighted to the reader so that it is not easily missed. The criterion also considers whether
the layout of the document is appropriate.
Language Health professionals are concerned with linguistic features only to the extent that they facilitate or obstruct retrieval of
• Considers aspects of language information. This criterion examines whether the language is accurate, used appropriately and whether it interferes with reading
proficiency such as vocabulary, comprehension or speed.
grammar, spelling, punctuation

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