Mastering English Tenses for OET
Mastering English Tenses for OET: The Ultimate Guide for Healthcare Professionals
As a medical professional preparing for the OET exam, your ability to use English tenses correctly is crucial—not only for passing your test but for real-life communication with patients, colleagues, and documentation in a healthcare setting. This guide is designed to focus on how tenses appear in OET sub-tests (Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Reading), with healthcare-focused examples and practical exam strategies.
Why are English Tenses Critical for OET Candidates?
1. Clinical Clarity:
Correct grammar tense use is essential when describing patient histories, diagnoses, treatments, and care plans. Errors can cause confusion and even clinical risk.
2. Professional Communication:
OET writing and speaking tasks demand precise time reference. You’ll need to talk about patient symptoms (past), explain procedures (present), and provide instructions (future).
3. Patient Interactions & Notes:
In OET Speaking role plays, you must explain what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen next. Notes and discharge summaries require careful tense choice.
English Tenses for OET: Structure, Examples, and Usage
| Tense | Healthcare Example | OET Context or Task | Key Usage/Markers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | The patient takes aspirin daily. | Handover, routine care | always, every |
| Past Simple | She had surgery last year. | Medical history | yesterday, last |
| Future Simple | You will receive your results tomorrow. | Instructions, reassurance | will, soon |
| Present Continuous | I am reviewing your notes now. | Reporting, live consultations | now, currently |
| Past Continuous | He was experiencing chest pain when admitted. | Case notes, sequencing | while, when |
| Future Continuous | I will be monitoring your progress this week. | Care plans, follow-up | will be |
| Present Perfect | The nurse has changed the dressing. | Summary, updates | has/have + participle |
| Past Perfect | He had already taken his medication when I arrived. | Case reconstruction, notes | had + participle |
| Future Perfect | You will have completed the course by next month. | Treatment end, forecasting | will have |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been feeling dizzy since yesterday. | Symptom description, updates | for, since |
| Past Perfect Continuous | She had been coughing for a week before the visit. | Chronicity, case notes | had been + ing |
| Future Perfect Continuous | By next year, I will have been working here for five years. | Career, experience details | will have been |
Practical Strategies for OET Candidates
1. Focus on Medical Functions:
- Present Simple: Charting, stating facts (“He smokes.”)
- Past Simple: History-taking, describing events (“She fell last night.”)
- Present Perfect: Result reporting (“The patient has improved.”)
- Future Simple/Continuous: Instructions, care plans (“You will need to rest.”)
2. Use Accurate Time Markers:
OET assessors look for correct sequencing and logical order in your speaking and writing, so use marker words precisely (e.g. “since yesterday,” “when admitted,” “by the end of the week”).
3. Practice Scenario-Based Role Plays:
During Speaking, practice switching tenses as you transition from patient history (past), to observations (present), to explanations and instructions (future).
4. Be Clear and Concise in Writing:
Discharge summaries, referral and transfer letters require tense shifts:
- Present perfect for updates (“has recovered well”)
- Past simple for past care (“was admitted…”)
- Future simple for ongoing care (“will need a check-up…”)
5. Avoid Common Mistakes:
- Mixing tenses within an explanation.
- Forgetting -s in third person Present Simple.
- Using Present Continuous for habits instead of Present Simple.
Sample Scenarios for OET Preparation
- Patient History:
“The patient first experienced symptoms two weeks ago. She has had intermittent headaches since then.” - Discharge Summary:
“The patient was admitted on 12 October. She has been assessed by the cardiologist and will continue medication at home.” - Instructions to a Patient:
“You will need to avoid heavy lifting for the next week. If you experience any pain, contact your GP immediately.”
Final OET Tips:
- Study authentic sample letters and role play scripts—observe tense usage in context.
- Practice writing and speaking out loud using recent clinical experiences to build confidence.
- Check carefully: Is your time reference accurate? Does your tense match the timeline and clinical task?
By mastering English tenses with a clinical mindset, you not only improve your OET performance but also become a safer, clearer, and more professional healthcare communicator.
