The candidate card
Setting
General practice
Candidate
You are a GP seeing Ms Barbara Renteria, aged 41, in this original independent practice scenario; she has had fatigue for eight weeks and had blood tests three weeks ago. The fictional clinical record shows that her full blood count, thyroid function and blood glucose were reported within the laboratory's reference ranges, all requested results are available, and no results discussion was documented. She was promised a telephone call but received none, and the reason for the missed communication has not yet been established. You can take responsibility for her continuing assessment, arrange a review with you next week, and ask the practice's results administrator to track that the appointment and discussion take place.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Find out what Ms Renteria was told about receiving her results, how the silence affected her, and whether her fatigue or other symptoms have changed
- Acknowledge the missed communication and apologise, without speculating about who caused it
- Explain the available findings in plain language and their limitations: these tests have not identified a cause for her fatigue, and further assessment remains necessary
- Respond to her concerns and rebuild confidence by explaining what you will personally take responsibility for
- Agree a review with you next week, her preferred contact method and a written tracking arrangement: the results administrator will confirm the booking and flag a missed review to you; explain how to contact the practice if the arrangement fails or symptoms worsen
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 seeing Ms Barbara Renteria, aged 41, in this original independent practice scenario; she has had fatigue for eight weeks and had blood tests three weeks ago. The fictional clinical record shows that her full blood count, thyroid function and blood glucose were reported within the laboratory's reference ranges, all requested results are available, and no results discussion was documented. She was promised a telephone call but received none, and the reason for the missed communication has not yet been established. You can take responsibility for her continuing assessment, arrange a review with you next week, and ask the practice's results administrator to track that the appointment and discussion take place.
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 with her account before presenting results: ask what contact she expected, how the silence affected her, and whether fatigue or other symptoms have changed. Explore whether her likely concern centres on her health, reliability of communication, or both.
- After hearing the impact, acknowledge the missed call and apologise directly. Keep the apology separate from explanations: the reason remains unknown. The usual trap is defending colleagues or guessing what happened before establishing what she needs from this consultation.
- Explain that all requested results are available: the full blood count, thyroid function and blood glucose were within the laboratory's usual ranges. These findings have not identified the cause of fatigue; avoid translating them into a claim that nothing is wrong.
- Make clear that further assessment remains necessary and that you will take responsibility for continuing it. Explain the written tracking arrangement precisely: the results administrator will confirm the booking and flag a missed review to you, rather than assume clinical responsibility.
- Close by agreeing next week's review and her preferred contact method. Explain how to contact the practice if the arrangement fails or symptoms worsen, then ask her to describe the arrangement back; prioritise this practical ending if time is short.
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 Ms Renteria, please come in and sit down. I'm glad to see you today.”
- “I understand you've been very tired for around eight weeks. Could you tell me how things have been since your blood tests?”
2. Key questions
- “What were you told about how and when you would hear your results?”
- “How has not receiving the call affected you?”
- “How is the tiredness now, compared with when you first came in?”
- “Have you noticed any other symptoms since the tests?”
3. Handling the patient's concern
Likely concern: She is likely to be worried that her fatigue is not being taken seriously or that something has been missed.
- “I can hear how frustrating this has been. You were promised a call and it didn't happen, and I'm sorry. I'll look into why, and I will take responsibility for your care from here.”
- “Your tiredness is real and I'm taking it seriously. I'll personally oversee your ongoing assessment, so you're not left waiting without news again.”
4. Explaining
- “Your blood count, thyroid function and blood sugar were all within the laboratory's reference ranges. That's useful, but these tests haven't found a cause for your tiredness.”
- “So we're not finished. We need to keep assessing you, and that's what next week's appointment is for. Does that make sense, and is there anything you'd like me to go over again?”
5. Closing
- “To confirm: you'll see me next week. How would you prefer us to contact you? Our results administrator will confirm your booking in writing and alert me if the review is missed.”
- “If you hear nothing, or your symptoms get worse, please contact the practice straight away. Is there anything else you'd like to ask before we finish?”
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- You were expecting a call, and I am sorry that did not happen.
- Which part of this has been most unsettling for you?
- Would you prefer to discuss the results or your concerns about the missed call first?
- What would you like me to clarify before we finish?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| full blood count | a blood test that measures the different cells in your blood |
| thyroid function | blood tests checking how your thyroid gland is working |
| blood glucose | the amount of sugar in your blood |
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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- Iron-deficiency anaemia under investigation: support an informed patient decision with a worried spouse Haematology clinic, UK
All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Medicine.
Questions about this role-play
How should I respond if she asks whether the fatigue is all in her head?
Treat this as a question about whether you believe her. Say that you take her fatigue seriously, and ask what prompted that concern. Avoid introducing a psychological explanation simply because these results are within range, or suggesting she must prove that her symptoms are real.
What if she asks to make a complaint about the missed call?
Ask what she would like a complaint to achieve, without assuming she wants punishment or compensation. Offer to establish the practice's complaints process and explain it accurately. Avoid inventing a named complaints officer, response deadline or investigation outcome that the card does not provide.
What if she requests more blood tests immediately?
Ask what she hopes additional testing would clarify and whether there is a particular concern she wants addressed. Explain that decisions about further investigations need to follow the clinical assessment. Do not improvise a test panel, promise that another test will provide an answer, or dismiss her request.
Should I explain why the call was missed?
No. The reason isn't yet known, so don't guess or blame anyone. Apologise simply, say you will find out, and move on to what you can control: the review with you and the tracking arrangement.
How do I order the apology, results and plan?
Ask about what she was told and how she feels first, then apologise, then give results with their limits. Use the existing opening to let her choose the order if she wants. End with the specific tracking steps.
Sources
Last checked . Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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