1. Active vs Passive Voice (OET style)

Active Voice

The subject does the action.

• The nurse administered the medication.
• The doctor reviewed the patient.

👉 Structure:
Subject + Verb + Object

Passive Voice

The subject receives the action.

• The medication was administered (by the nurse).
• The patient was reviewed.

👉 Structure:
Object + form of “be” + past participle

When to use each in OET

Passive is often preferred in OET writing because:

• Focus is on the patient, not the healthcare worker
• Sounds more formal and clinical

✔ Example (better for OET):

• The patient was admitted with chest pain.

❌ Less appropriate:

• The doctor admitted the patient with chest pain.

Quick comparison

Active vs Passive

The GP prescribed antibiotics (active)

Antibiotics were prescribed (passive)

The nurse monitored vital signs (active)

Vital signs were monitored (passive)

2. Tenses (in-depth but practical)

Tense = time + verb form

A. Present Simple

Used for:

• General facts
• Routine actions
• Medical truths

Structure:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/oet-grammar-for-156030228