The candidate card
Setting
General practice, UK
Candidate
You are a GP in this original independent practice scenario. Mr Jan Komar, aged 54, has attended about a mole on his left forearm which has enlarged and developed uneven colouring over the past three months. You have examined it and recommend an urgent dermatology referral because its features could indicate skin cancer, although no diagnosis has been established. He is a self-employed delivery driver and asks you to guarantee that the mole is harmless so that he can avoid taking time off work and losing income.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Explore the lesion's changes, associated symptoms, his understanding of the findings and the work pressures affecting his decision
- Explain why you cannot guarantee that the mole is harmless and why urgent specialist assessment is recommended, briefly describing closer skin examination and possible laboratory testing
- Acknowledge the potential loss of income and encourage timely assessment, exploring practical ways to reduce disruption without promising appointment flexibility
- Agree a feasible urgent referral and follow-up plan, including appointment communication, any work-related requests and what to do if appointment information does not arrive or he cannot attend
In the test you get 3 minutes to read the card and plan, then about 5 minutes to talk. This card is original, written for this site; the interlocutor's card is not shown.
Prepare this card, then say it out loud.
Plan your opening and the tasks below. Keep these notes when you move to the AI role-play.
You are a GP in this original independent practice scenario. Mr Jan Komar, aged 54, has attended about a mole on his left forearm which has enlarged and developed uneven colouring over the past three months. You have examined it and recommend an urgent dermatology referral because its features could indicate skin cancer, although no diagnosis has been established. He is a self-employed delivery driver and asks you to guarantee that the mole is harmless so that he can avoid taking time off work and losing income.
Getting your plan ready…
Preparation is free without an account. AI conversation and marking need sign-in; your first role-play is free. Notes are saved on this device when available. This checklist is your plan, not a score.
How to approach this card
- Start by acknowledging the request for a definite answer and the stated cost of taking time off. Explore what reassurance he hopes for and how an appointment would affect his work.
- Clarify the reported changes and associated symptoms, then ask what he understands about the findings. Ask whether any experiences or expectations influence his decision; respond to these only if he discloses them.
- Explain the limits of the current assessment in plain language. Avoid declaring the mole harmless or presenting cancer as established. Briefly describe how specialist examination and possible laboratory testing can help establish the diagnosis.
- Invite his reaction and explore which practical arrangements could help him attend. If he discloses a particular belief or work difficulty, address it directly. Check what the service can arrange before offering any assurance about appointment flexibility.
- Agree timely assessment with a realistic communication and attendance plan. Distinguish requests from confirmed arrangements, check his understanding and specify how he should follow up missing information or an appointment he cannot attend.
Model route: what a strong candidate might say
Example lines in a workable order for about 5 minutes: opening, key questions, the patient's concern, explaining, then the close. Use them to plan, not to memorise: the patient's replies are not scripted here, and your next line should follow what they actually say.
1. Opening
- “Good morning, Mr Komar. I'm the GP, and thanks for coming in about the mole on your arm.”
- “Could you tell me what you've noticed about it?”
2. Key questions
- “Besides the growth and uneven colour, does it itch, bleed, hurt or cause any other symptoms?”
- “What do you make of these changes, and what have you been worried it might be?”
- “How would time off for appointments affect your deliveries and your income?”
- “What would make attending an appointment easier for you?”
3. Handling the patient's concern
Likely concern: He is likely to want a guarantee that the mole is harmless so he can avoid time off and lost income.
- “I understand that losing income is a real worry. I can't honestly guarantee it's harmless, because these changes mean it needs a specialist's check.”
- “Prompt assessment is how we get a proper answer, and I'll help look for ways to keep the disruption to your work small.”
4. Explaining
- “Over three months the mole has grown and its colour has become uneven. Those features could point to skin cancer, but nothing is diagnosed. That's why I'm recommending an urgent referral to a skin specialist.”
- “The specialist will look at it closely with a magnifying instrument and may take a sample to be tested in a laboratory. Does that make sense, and what questions do you have?”
5. Closing
- “So I'll make the urgent referral. Which phone number or address should they use, and what times suit you? I can pass those on, but I can't guarantee a particular slot.”
- “If you haven't heard about the appointment, contact the surgery so we can chase it, and tell us promptly if you can't attend. Do you need anything from me for work?”
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- What were you hoping I could tell you about the mole today?
- I understand that taking time off could cost you income. I cannot honestly promise that this mole is harmless from what we know so far.
- What would help you arrange time away from your deliveries for an appointment?
- We can pass on your preferred times, but I cannot guarantee a particular slot. How could you manage if those times are unavailable?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| lesion | The mole or changed area of skin. |
| dermatology | The specialist service for skin problems. |
| laboratory testing | Examining removed skin to find out what it is. |
How this card is marked
Two assessors mark the recording on nine criteria: intelligibility, fluency, appropriateness of language and resources of grammar and expression (each 0–6), then relationship building, understanding and incorporating the patient's perspective, providing structure, information gathering and information giving (each 0–3). See the AI Speaking practice guide for what each criterion looks for.
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All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Medicine.
Questions about this role-play
What if he asks me to guarantee that the mole is harmless?
Acknowledge why certainty would help him, then explain honestly that the current findings do not allow that guarantee. State what assessment is needed to reduce the uncertainty. Avoid an unsupported probability, false reassurance or presenting referral as proof of cancer.
What if appointment information does not arrive?
Identify the contact route he should use to chase the referral and agree when to contact the practice if nothing arrives, using the actual local arrangements. Do not invent a service deadline or simply advise him to wait.
What if he still says he cannot take time off work?
Explore the specific obstacle and which arrangements might make attendance possible. Request suitable times or clear notice where available, without guaranteeing them or suggesting an open-ended delay. If he still declines, respect his decision, check his understanding of the unresolved risk, document the discussion and agree prompt follow-up to revisit the barrier. If an offered appointment is unmanageable, encourage him to contact the service promptly rather than miss it without notice.
What if he refuses the referral because of the cost of lost income?
Don't argue. Ask what exactly stops him and acknowledge the cost. Restate clearly that you can't say the mole is harmless and that you recommend assessment. Explore any options he suggests, leave the door open, and agree how to contact the surgery if he changes his mind.
How do I discuss time off without promising flexibility?
Ask what would help him arrange his deliveries around an appointment, and offer to pass on his preferred times. Say plainly that you can't promise a slot, then agree a back-up plan for what he will do if those times are unavailable.
Sources
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