The candidate card
Setting
Hospital ward
Candidate
You are a doctor on a medical ward. Mr Joon-ho Nakamura, aged 56, a self-employed builder, was admitted last night with central chest pain on exertion that settled with rest. His ECG showed no acute changes, and his first troponin, taken a few hours after the pain began, was normal but did not meet the hospital's criteria for ruling out a heart attack on its own. A repeat troponin result is expected late this morning, and the cardiology team plans to see him early this afternoon. The nurse has told you he has packed his bag and wants to leave now to drive to his job site.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Find out why Mr Nakamura wants to leave now (reasons, worries, current symptoms)
- Explain in simple terms why the remaining tests and cardiology review are important (the first normal blood test does not complete the check for a heart problem)
- Try to persuade him to stay until the assessment is complete, while respecting his right to decide
- Respond to his concerns about work and finances
- Agree a plan (staying for the assessment, or, if he still leaves, driving, work, warning signs and same-day follow-up)
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.
How to approach this card
- Ask why he wants to go and how he is feeling right now before arguing. His work is likely a main worry because he is self-employed, but let him say so. Check for any current symptoms, as they affect urgency.
- Explain the unfinished check simply: his first blood test was normal, but taken a few hours after the pain began it cannot rule out a heart problem alone. Say the repeat result and cardiology review are due soon.
- Persuade without pressure or scare tactics. State the risk honestly, offer the specific times and acknowledge his right to decide. Check he understands the risk of leaving, so that any choice he makes is informed.
- Address work and money practically: what could be arranged, such as contacting his site or giving a certificate, and whether the cardiology review could be brought forward. Do not promise what you cannot deliver.
- If he still leaves, advise no driving or strenuous work until assessed, arrange safe transport and same-day medical follow-up, and document the discussion. If chest pain returns or he develops breathlessness, cold sweats or faintness, he should call 000 immediately and not drive. Give this advice in writing. If he stays, agree what happens next.
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- Tell me what is making you want to leave now.
- The first test was normal, but on its own it cannot complete the check.
- It is your decision, and I want you to have the full picture.
- Let us see what we can do about your work today.
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| troponin | A blood test that shows whether the heart muscle has been strained or damaged. |
| ECG | A tracing of the heart's electrical activity, taken with stickers on the chest. |
| cardiology review | A check by the heart specialist team to decide what else is needed. |
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). Grade B usually means 5 on each language criterion and 2 on each clinical one. See the AI Speaking practice guide for what each criterion looks for.
More Medicine role-play cards
- Transient ischaemic attack: advice not to drive Community clinic
- Palliative care: daughter's fear of morphine Hospital ward
- Carer strain: reluctance to accept respite Home visit
All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Medicine.
Questions about this role-play
How hard should I push him to stay?
Push clearly and honestly, but not coercively. Give the reason, the short wait, practical solutions for work, and your recommendation. Once he understands the risks, his decision stands, so move on to making leaving as safe as possible.
What should I say about driving?
Raise it, because he plans to drive to a job site while his chest pain is unresolved. Explain that he should not be driving until assessed, ask whether someone else can take him, and include it in the plan if he leaves.
What if he mentions money worries?
Treat it as a real concern, not an excuse. Ask what he stands to lose, then offer concrete help such as a letter for work or contacting his site, and ask the nurse or social worker about support. Tie it back to staying a few more hours.
Sources
Last checked 22 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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