Problem: writers know passive exists but neither form it reliably across tenses nor judge when it helps. Answer in brief: formation is one pattern (be + past participle, be shifts with tense); use is one test (does hiding the agent help the reader?); application is three medical slots. This guide teaches all three layers, and OET Grammar — Course 9 drills passive formation and use across 11 topic sections.
Formation: one pattern, every tense
be + past participle; only be changes: is/are (present), was/were (past), has/have been (perfect), is being (continuous), will be (future), should be (modal). Drill the grid until any tense converts on demand: give an active sentence, produce its passive in the same tense, then shift the tense and convert again. Formation must be reflex before use is even considered.
Use: the agent test
Hide the agent only when it helps: unknown (“She was found confused”), irrelevant (“The wound was closed with clips”), or obvious (“He was admitted” — by the hospital, evidently). Show the agent when responsibility matters: requests (“should be reviewed by the GP”), errors, decisions. The test per sentence: would naming the doer help the reader act? Yes → active. No → passive.
Master formation and use supervised? The full OET Grammar — Course 9 teaches passive formation across tenses with use training for medical letters across 11 topic sections and mock tests. Explore the course →
Passive in OET medical letters
Three slots earn passive: procedures with dates (“was discharged on…”, “was commenced on…”); findings received (“was noted to have…”, “was found to be…”); arrangements made (“has been booked for…”, “has been referred to…”). Everywhere else — requests, histories, plans — active owns the sentence. Three slots, roughly one passive per paragraph: the density of qualified writing.
Worked paragraph: passives placed
Fictional paragraph, newly written: “Mr Byrne underwent cataract assessment last month (active history). Surgery has been scheduled for June with pre-assessment completed (perfect passives + relevance). He was found to have well-controlled diabetes at workup (findings received). Please confirm transport arrangements before admission (active request).” Passives in slots, actives elsewhere — placed, not sprayed.
FAQs
How do I drill formation fast?
Conversion ladders: one active sentence through six tenses passive, timed. Ten ladders daily for a week makes formation permanent.
Can a letter have zero passives?
Yes, and still score well — active clarity beats forced passives. But one to three well-placed passives demonstrate range examiners reward.
What is in the course?
Eleven topic sections on passive formation in every tense and structure with use training for medical letters, plus 5 complete mock tests.
The matching course
OET Grammar — Course 9 makes passive automatic and judicious: formation reflexes, the agent test, medical-letter application — 11 topic sections with 5 mock tests. For passives placed, not sprayed, train here.
Sources and note
- OET Writing criteria per the official OET site: oet.com — Writing. Check current format guidance before the exam.
- Course details verified from its public staging page (read-only): 11 topic sections, 5 mock tests.
- Examples are newly written and fictional; other valid structures exist.