The candidate card
Setting
Student health clinic, UK
Candidate
You are a doctor in this original independent practice case; all patient history and proposed arrangements are fictional case facts. You have examined Mr Gerard Cornelisse, a 38-year-old postgraduate student, and diagnosed scabies, with no evidence of secondary skin infection or crusted scabies. He has not started treatment: today's proposed plan is to arrange suitable topical treatment through the pharmacist, with product-specific application instructions, and coordinate treatment with household members and relevant sexual contacts; NHS advice includes repeating topical treatment seven days later, washing bedding and clothing at 60°C or above on the first treatment day, and sealing clothing that cannot be washed in a bag for at least three days. He appears embarrassed and wants to treat himself privately; use this five-minute conversation to agree coordinated care, with a complete clinical assessment continuing afterwards if needed.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Find out what Mr Cornelisse thinks the diagnosis means and identify relevant household or sexual contacts sensitively
- Explain transmission without blame and why people without symptoms may still need treatment
- Respond to his embarrassment and explore an acceptable way to inform the people who need treatment
- Explain the proposed treatment arrangements and practical measures to prevent further spread
- Agree how he will obtain treatment, coordinate with contacts and seek review if symptoms suggest complications or do not settle
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 doctor in this original independent practice case; all patient history and proposed arrangements are fictional case facts. You have examined Mr Gerard Cornelisse, a 38-year-old postgraduate student, and diagnosed scabies, with no evidence of secondary skin infection or crusted scabies. He has not started treatment: today's proposed plan is to arrange suitable topical treatment through the pharmacist, with product-specific application instructions, and coordinate treatment with household members and relevant sexual contacts; NHS advice includes repeating topical treatment seven days later, washing bedding and clothing at 60°C or above on the first treatment day, and sealing clothing that cannot be washed in a bag for at least three days. He appears embarrassed and wants to treat himself privately; use this five-minute conversation to agree coordinated care, with a complete clinical assessment continuing afterwards if needed.
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 what the diagnosis means to him, then ask what feels difficult about involving others. Fear of judgement is a likely concern, but do not assume whether his embarrassment relates to household members, sexual contacts or something else.
- Ask permission before discussing household and sexual contacts, using neutral descriptions of contact rather than questions about blame. Explain close skin contact and the need to include people without symptoms before asking him to coordinate treatment. [NHS scabies guidance](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scabies/).
- Present pharmacist involvement as a concrete next step, distinguishing the agreed repeat treatment seven days later from product-specific application instructions. Avoid choosing a preparation or supplying application details that the card deliberately leaves for the pharmacist.
- Explore which communication method he would find acceptable, then connect that choice to coordinated treatment. The usual trap is accepting private self-treatment as the whole solution without checking whether the relevant contacts can participate.
- Close with who will obtain treatment, who will contact others and how coordination will be confirmed. If time runs short, prioritise these commitments over an extended explanation, while retaining practical precautions and a clear route back for review.
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- We can discuss this without judgement.
- You do not need to explain everything at once.
- Would you prefer to discuss this step by step?
- How comfortable do you feel with that suggestion?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| topical treatment | medicine applied to the skin |
| secondary skin infection | an additional infection affecting the skin |
| household contacts | the people who live with you |
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
- Osteoporosis: explore reluctance about prescribed treatment Hospital outpatient bone-health clinic
- Unexplained weight loss: discuss investigation under uncertainty General practice
- Positive bowel screening result: explain further investigation Screening follow-up clinic (community clinic, UK)
All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Medicine.
Questions about this role-play
How much household cleaning advice should I give without inventing extra timings?
Keep it practical and accurately relay the NHS advice provided on the candidate card: wash bedding and clothing at 60°C or above on the first treatment day, and seal clothing that cannot be washed in a bag for at least three days. Do not add temperatures or storage intervals beyond the supplied guidance. Avoid sharing bedding, clothing or towels, and explain that sex and close physical contact should wait until the full treatment course is completed. Do not substitute cleaning for coordinated treatment. [NHS scabies guidance](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scabies/).
What if he asks me to tell a contact for him?
Clarify exactly what assistance he wants and obtain permission before sharing identifiable information. Establish what the clinic can actually offer rather than promising anonymous notification. Agree the wording and recipient with him, and avoid revealing information to anyone else without an appropriate basis.
What review advice belongs in this conversation?
Explain that itching can persist for several weeks even after successful treatment and does not by itself prove treatment failure. Advise him to contact his GP if itching remains two to four weeks after completing the full treatment course. Seek earlier review for suspected skin infection, a new crusted or flaky rash, or another skin condition. Invite reassessment rather than advising repeated unsupervised applications. [NHS scabies guidance](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scabies/).
Sources
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