Professional writing does not require every sentence to be passive. The useful question is which structure makes the important information easiest to understand.
The active-versus-passive practice in Perfecting OET Writing for Physiotherapists asks learners to consider focus and clarity. This guide turns that choice into a practical editing check.
Use the active when the actor matters
If the reader needs to know who will perform an action, name that person or role. Avoid a passive sentence that leaves responsibility unclear.
Original administrative example
Vague: “The joining link will be sent.”
Clear responsibility: “The course coordinator will send the joining link.”
The second version answers a question the first leaves open.
Use the passive when the action is the focus
“The file was uploaded yesterday” may be sufficient when receipt and timing matter more than who uploaded it. Retain the actor if omitting it would change useful meaning.
Choose a structure for this purpose
Purpose: Tell the reader who will confirm the appointment.
Choice: “The tutor will confirm the appointment.”
An unnamed passive would conceal the requested information.
Avoid changing facts during a rewrite
Do not replace a simple event with a different observation just to obtain a passive form. “The learner arrived” does not mean “The learner was found in the room.”
Review a paragraph with several passive sentences. Keep those that serve a clear purpose and revise those that obscure the actor. Aim for an accurate, readable mix rather than a fixed quota of either voice.
Explore OET Writing for Physiotherapists — 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.
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OET Writing for Physiotherapists — Course 2
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Source: OET GRAMMAR PHY 21.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.