OET Dentistry Writing: Separate Completed Work From Planned Work

A letter can change the case meaning if a planned action is described as completed. Before expanding notes, identify the status of each action.

The case-note reading chapter in Letters That Pass: The Dentist’s Gateway to OET Writing Success distinguishes work already provided from work being requested. This guide develops that distinction into an editing exercise.

Label the status before drafting

Mark each relevant action as completed, planned or requested. If the notes leave the status unclear, do not invent a completion date to make the sentence easier to write.

Check the verb phrase

“Was reviewed,” “will be reviewed” and “requires review” communicate different relationships to the action. Choose the phrase from the evidence, not from a familiar model sentence.

Review action words separately

After drafting, underline the verbs describing what happened or should happen. Compare each with the source note. This focused pass can reveal errors that a general read-through misses.

Practise with a short administrative timeline before applying the method to the course cases. The goal is accurate writing, not deciding what care should be provided.

Explore OET Writing for Dentists — Course 2 to see the course outline, current availability and enrolment options. Use the worked exercise above to identify a skill you would like to practise next.

Source: OET DEN WR 02.epub, Jobins Training. Examples labelled original or illustrative were written for this article. Independent exam preparation; no affiliation with or endorsement by the examining body. Practice does not predict an official score.