The candidate card
Setting
Sexual health clinic, UK
Candidate
This is an original independent practice scenario in which you are a doctor seeing Mr Salvador Mercado, aged 42. In this fictional case, painful genital sores began four days ago, a swab taken two days ago has confirmed genital herpes, and he started the oral antiviral prescribed at that visit. He returns today feeling upset and believes the diagnosis proves that his wife has been unfaithful. Discuss his understanding, symptom care and talking with his wife; no change to his prescription is required for this role-play.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Explore Mr Mercado's understanding of the result and his main concern, briefly checking his current pain and ability to pass urine
- Explain that herpes can remain unnoticed for a long time and that the swab cannot establish when infection occurred or who passed it on
- Acknowledge his distress and address his belief about infidelity without blaming either partner or making assumptions about their relationship
- Advise on simple symptom care and reducing transmission, including the limits of antiviral treatment and condoms
- Agree a supported approach to discussing the diagnosis with his wife and a review plan, including urgent help if he cannot pass urine
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.
This is an original independent practice scenario in which you are a doctor seeing Mr Salvador Mercado, aged 42. In this fictional case, painful genital sores began four days ago, a swab taken two days ago has confirmed genital herpes, and he started the oral antiviral prescribed at that visit. He returns today feeling upset and believes the diagnosis proves that his wife has been unfaithful. Discuss his understanding, symptom care and talking with his wife; no change to his prescription is required for this role-play.
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
- Begin by acknowledging his distress before asking what the result means to him. Briefly establish how painful the sores are and whether he can pass urine, so the relationship discussion does not crowd out assessment of his immediate needs.
- Address the inference about infidelity before giving detailed advice: herpes can remain unnoticed, and the swab cannot identify when infection occurred or who transmitted it. Explain that uncertainty without claiming either partner has been faithful. NHS guidance.
- A likely concern is what this means for trust, but explore rather than assume. Ask what connects the diagnosis with his conclusion about his wife. Validate the distress without endorsing an accusation or interrogating their relationship.
- Keep transmission advice concrete: herpes can be passed on even without symptoms. Avoid sexual contact, including oral, vaginal and anal sex, from the first warning tingling or itching until sores have fully healed. Explain that antivirals help manage herpes but do not cure it, and condoms reduce transmission risk without eliminating it. Avoid promises of complete protection. NHS guidance.
- Move to disclosure once he has had space to respond. Ask how he would like clinic support, agree a review arrangement, and explain that he should contact the clinic for reassessment if symptoms worsen or do not improve. Make clear that inability to pass urine requires urgent medical assessment immediately, without waiting for the agreed review. If time is short, prioritise these over further background explanation.
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
- “Hello Mr Mercado, thank you for coming back today. I can see this has been a difficult few days for you.”
- “How are you feeling, and what's your understanding of what the swab result means?”
2. Key questions
- “How is the pain at the moment, and are you able to pass urine normally?”
- “What has been going through your mind most since you got the result?”
- “What do you think the diagnosis says about how and when you caught it?”
- “How are you getting on with the tablets you started?”
3. Handling the patient's concern
Likely concern: He likely believes the diagnosis shows his wife has been unfaithful; I would explore what is behind his distress.
- “It's natural to look for an explanation when you're shocked and upset, and I'm sorry you're going through this. Let me explain what the swab can and can't tell us.”
- “I won't make assumptions about you or your wife. I'd like to help you work out how you want to approach this.”
4. Explaining
- “Herpes can stay in the body without causing noticeable symptoms for a long time. The swab confirms you have it, but it can't tell us when you caught it or who passed it on.”
- “For comfort, simple pain relief can help, and passing urine while sitting in a warm bath may ease stinging. Avoid sex until the sores have healed. The tablets help the episode but don't cure it, and condoms reduce risk but don't remove it. Does that make sense?”
5. Closing
- “So we'll keep your tablets as they are, and I can support you in deciding how and when to talk to your wife. We'll also arrange a review. Does that feel right?”
- “If you can't pass urine, please seek urgent medical help straight away and don't wait for your review. Is there anything you wanted to ask but haven't yet?”
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- You do not have to work through all of this at once.
- Would you prefer a pause before we discuss practical steps?
- Which part would you like me to explain differently?
- Is there something you wanted to ask but felt uncomfortable mentioning?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| genital herpes | An infection that can cause sores around the genitals. |
| swab | A sample taken from a sore for testing. |
| oral antiviral | Medicine taken by mouth to help manage the herpes infection. |
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.
More Medicine role-play cards
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- Testicular lump: negotiate examination preferences without avoidable delay General practice, UK
All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Medicine.
Questions about this role-play
How can I offer practical pain support without changing his prescription?
Ask what he has already tried and how he is taking the prescribed medicine, without assuming missed treatment. Offer gentle cleaning with plain water, loose clothing and pouring water over the genitals while passing urine to ease discomfort. Do not invent an additional medicine or dose. NHS guidance.
What exactly should I say about being unable to pass urine?
Make the action explicit: if he cannot pass urine at all, he needs urgent medical assessment immediately, including attending an emergency department. He should not wait for the antiviral to work or for the agreed review. Check that he knows where to seek help. Healthdirect guidance.
What if he asks me to tell his wife for him?
Clarify whether he wants help finding words, a supported conversation or direct contact. Establish what he consents to share and with whom before arranging any involvement. Do not promise to contact her automatically, assume she knows already, or present the consultation as a way to determine blame.
What if he becomes too upset to continue?
Stop and give him time. Acknowledge how hard this is, offer a pause, and then ask whether he'd prefer to start with practical steps or with his feelings. Keep your tone steady and avoid any comment about his marriage.
How do I check pain and urination without delaying the emotional conversation?
Ask it early as a brief, direct question, such as how the pain is and whether he's passing urine normally, then move on to his understanding of the result. Return to urination at the end as part of the urgent-help advice.
Sources
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