Problem: writers treat tense as one criterion among four — but tense faults bleed into Content trust and Communicative Achievement polish, deciding more marks than Language alone suggests. Answer in brief: tense is the only system scored three times over (accuracy, trust, tone), so combining tenses correctly across a full letter is the highest-leverage grammar work available. This guide shows the scoring logic with a full-letter tense map, and OET Grammar — Course 11 trains combination across 18 topic sections.
Why tenses decide the score
Language: verb errors are the most counted fault class. Content: wrong tenses misreport facts — past-tense findings read resolved, present-tense history reads current — so content trust falls with tense control. Communicative Achievement: confident tense use reads as professional competence; hesitant tense use reads as learner English regardless of vocabulary. One system, three criteria: no other grammar topic offers this leverage.
Combining tenses: the full letter
Map zones before drafting: mark each planned paragraph H/T/C/P (history, today, change, plan), then write to the marks with announced transitions. The combination skill is transition management — “Since discharge…” (perfect bridge), “At today’s review…” (present anchor), “Going forward…” (future signal). Letters fail combination at unmarked transitions; mark every one and combination holds.
See the scoring logic applied? The full OET Grammar — Course 11 teaches tense combination across full letters with consolidated present-tense drills across 18 topic sections with 71 lessons and mock tests. Explore the course →
Consolidated present-tense drills
Present simple for status, routines and truths; present continuous for genuinely ongoing processes; present perfect for change-to-now — drilled as a triple with contrast sentences (“She takes… / She is recovering… / She has improved…”). Present is the highest-frequency family in any letter, so its drills earn the most per minute. Consolidate until the triple fires without thought.
Worked example: tense-mapped letter
Fictional skeleton, newly written — discharge with zone marks: [H] “Mrs Duarte underwent hip replacement on 3 May; mobilisation began day one.” [T] “She is comfortable and afebrile with a clean dry wound.” [C] “Her walking has progressed from frame to single crutch.” [P] “She will continue community physiotherapy with GP review in three weeks.” Four marks, four zones, transitions announced — the mapped letter in miniature.
FAQs
Do tenses really affect Content marks?
Indirectly but really: misreported timing misreports facts, and examiners cannot credit content they cannot trust. Accurate tenses protect the Content you earned.
How do I practise combination?
Zone-marked paragraphs: mark first, draft second, verify third. Ten marked paragraphs teach combination; a hundred unmarked ones rehearse faults.
What is in the course?
Eighteen topic sections on combining tenses across full letters with consolidated present-tense drills, 71 lessons and 5 complete mock tests.
The matching course
OET Grammar — Course 11 bets on the highest-leverage skill: tense combination across full letters — 18 topic sections, 71 lessons, 5 mock tests. If one fix could move three criteria, this is it.
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): 18 topic sections, 71 lessons, 5 mock tests.
- Examples are newly written and fictional; other valid structures exist.
Put this into practice
Compare these course outlines and choose the practice that matches your next goal.
