The candidate card
Setting
General practice, UK
Candidate
You are a GP in this original independent practice role-play; all patient details and clinic arrangements described here are fictional case facts. Mrs Lida Reilly, aged 49, has already been assessed for persistent fatigue, remains clinically stable with unchanged symptoms, and had blood taken for the agreed investigation. The practice has confirmed a sample-labelling error: the identifying details on the tube did not match her request form, the laboratory rejected the sample, no result was issued or used for treatment, and the practice manager is reviewing how the error occurred. You can offer repeat sampling today or another suitable appointment, arrange for the collector to check her identity and match the sample label to the request with her, and personally track the repeat results and contact her on an agreed date even if results or the incident review are still pending.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Acknowledge the confirmed labelling error and apologise directly, explaining the known facts without minimising the delay
- Find out what Mrs Reilly has been told, how the incident has affected her and what she needs before considering another sample
- Explain what remains unknown and how the practice is reviewing the incident, without speculating about responsibility
- Explain why a correctly identified repeat sample is needed to continue her fatigue investigation and describe the proposed identity checks without guaranteeing a normal result or an error-free future
- Agree whether and when she is willing to repeat the test, a date and preferred method for your follow-up, and how she can contact you if the promised contact is missed
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 role-play; all patient details and clinic arrangements described here are fictional case facts. Mrs Lida Reilly, aged 49, has already been assessed for persistent fatigue, remains clinically stable with unchanged symptoms, and had blood taken for the agreed investigation. The practice has confirmed a sample-labelling error: the identifying details on the tube did not match her request form, the laboratory rejected the sample, no result was issued or used for treatment, and the practice manager is reviewing how the error occurred. You can offer repeat sampling today or another suitable appointment, arrange for the collector to check her identity and match the sample label to the request with her, and personally track the repeat results and contact her on an agreed date even if results or the incident review are still pending.
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 with a direct apology naming the mismatch between the tube and request form and the laboratory’s rejection. Acknowledge the resulting delay; calling it just an administrative problem risks minimising its effect on her.
- Before proposing another appointment, ask what she understands happened and what concerns her most about giving another sample. Lost confidence is a likely concern, but explore her actual response rather than assuming anger or reluctance.
- Separate the confirmed error from unanswered questions about how it happened. Explain the practice manager’s review without assigning blame. Keep the investigation of her fatigue and the incident review distinct, so neither sounds dependent on the other.
- Only after hearing her concerns, explain why another correctly identified sample is needed and describe checking her identity and matching the label with the form together. Present these checks concretely without promising normal results or preventing every future error.
- If time runs short, prioritise her decision and a clear follow-up agreement. Offer today or another suitable appointment, agree a contact date and method even if matters remain pending, and establish how she can reach you if contact is missed.
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 Mrs Reilly, thank you for coming in. I'm sorry, but something went wrong with your blood test and I'd like to explain it to you properly.”
- “Before I do, what have you been told so far about what happened?”
2. Key questions
- “How has this affected you, including the wait while your fatigue is still unexplained?”
- “What would you need from us before you could consider another sample?”
- “How have your symptoms been since the blood was taken?”
- “How would you prefer I contact you with the repeat results?”
3. Handling the patient's concern
Likely concern: She is likely to feel let down and less confident in the practice, and may hesitate to give another sample.
- “That's completely understandable. You should not have been left dealing with this uncertainty, and I'm sorry for the delay it has caused.”
- “I'd like to tell you what we know and what we're doing, and you can decide what feels right for you.”
4. Explaining
- “The details on the tube didn't match your request form, so the laboratory rejected the sample. No result was issued or used for your treatment. The practice manager is reviewing how it happened, so I can't say more yet.”
- “A correctly identified repeat sample lets us continue investigating your tiredness. The collector will check your identity and match the label to the request with you. I can't promise a normal result or that no mistake will ever happen.”
5. Closing
- “So, if you're willing, we'll repeat the test on the day we've agreed. I'll personally track the results and contact you on the date and in the way you prefer, even if the review isn't finished.”
- “If you haven't heard from me by then, please contact the practice and ask to speak to me. Have I answered the question you most wanted to ask?”
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- You should not have been left dealing with this uncertainty.
- Please stop me if anything I explain is unclear.
- Would you prefer a moment before we discuss the options?
- Have I answered the question you most wanted to ask?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| sample-labelling error | The identifying details on your blood tube did not match those on your test form. |
| repeat sampling | Taking another blood sample. |
| persistent fatigue | Tiredness that has continued. |
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
- New type 2 diabetes: reluctant to start medication General practice
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- Acute low back pain: patient demanding a scan and strong painkillers General practice
All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Medicine.
Questions about this role-play
How should I answer if she worries that treatment was based on an incorrect result?
State the specific reassurance available: no result was issued from this sample or used for treatment. Keep that statement limited to this incident. Do not extend it into an assurance about every aspect of her care or suggest that a treatment error occurred.
Can I reassure her that her unchanged fatigue means there is nothing serious?
No. The card describes her as clinically stable with unchanged symptoms; it does not establish the cause of her fatigue. Use that distinction to avoid either unnecessary alarm or premature reassurance. Do not introduce possible diagnoses, additional investigations or predictions about what the blood tests will show.
How should I respond if she declines another blood sample?
Accept that she may not agree during this conversation. Ask whether she wants to explain any remaining concerns, without making her justify her decision. Avoid using the apology as pressure to consent, and do not record or describe an undecided response as agreement.
What if she asks who is to blame?
Don't speculate. Say the practice manager is reviewing how it happened, that you don't yet know, and that you will share what you can once it's complete. Keep the focus on what she needs now and on your commitment to track her repeat sample.
What if she wants time before deciding about a repeat test?
Accept that without pressure. Explain briefly that the repeat is what lets the fatigue investigation continue, offer today or another appointment, and still agree a follow-up date and contact method. Make sure she knows how to reach you if she changes her mind.
Sources
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