The candidate card
Setting
Community clinic
Candidate
You are a general practitioner. Ms Tendai Vanwyk, aged 74, is a widow who lives alone in a rural town. Yesterday she had about 20 minutes of weakness in her right arm and slurred speech, and these symptoms have now fully resolved. You have assessed her this morning and diagnosed a probable transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Following the local TIA pathway, you have started initial preventive treatment and confirmed a same-day assessment at the stroke and TIA clinic at the regional hospital this afternoon. You are now discussing the next steps with her.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Find out how Ms Vanwyk is feeling now and how she relies on driving in her daily life
- Explain what a TIA is and why this afternoon's specialist assessment at the hospital is important (warning sign, higher risk of stroke in the coming days)
- Advise her not to drive (for at least two weeks and until she has been medically reviewed) and persuade her to accept this despite her objections
- Discuss safe transport to the hospital today and practical alternatives for shopping and visiting her sister
- Explain what to do if any symptoms return and agree a plan
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 how she is feeling and how she uses her car before mentioning driving. In a rural town the car is probably her independence and her link to her sister, so show you understand what the restriction costs her.
- Explain a TIA as a brief blockage of blood supply to the brain, a warning sign with a higher chance of stroke in the coming days. That is why the afternoon specialist assessment matters even though she feels better.
- State the driving advice firmly: no driving for at least two weeks and until medically reviewed. Acknowledge her objections, avoid arguing over details, and link the advice to her safety and others on the road.
- Settle transport to the hospital today before other practicalities, as she must not drive herself. Then explore alternatives for shopping and visiting her sister, asking who could help rather than assuming she has someone.
- Give one clear instruction: if any symptoms return, call an ambulance (000) straight away, do not drive herself and do not wait to see whether they pass. Because she lives alone, check she can reach a phone and ask her to repeat it.
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- It must have been frightening yesterday. How are you feeling now?
- I know driving keeps you independent, so let us work out how to manage without it.
- Even though the symptoms have gone, this afternoon's visit is important.
- Who could take you to the hospital today?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| transient ischaemic attack | A short episode like a stroke, where blood flow to part of the brain is briefly blocked. |
| stroke and TIA clinic | A specialist clinic that checks why this happened and how to lower your stroke risk. |
| resolved | The symptoms have gone away completely, though the warning still matters. |
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.
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All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Medicine.
Questions about this role-play
How do I handle her saying she will drive anyway?
Stay calm and explain that the advice is to protect her and others, as a further episode could happen without warning. Ask what would make it workable, offer practical alternatives, and be clear that this applies for at least two weeks and until she is reviewed.
What if she has nobody to take her to the hospital?
Do not leave it open. Explore family, neighbours, community or hospital transport, or an ambulance if no safe option exists, and confirm it before she leaves. The same-day appointment is already booked, so the plan must get her there safely.
How do I explain the risk without frightening her?
Be honest and plain: the symptoms went away, which is good, but a TIA is a warning that a stroke can follow, particularly in the next few days. Pair this with reassurance that the clinic and early treatment exist to lower that risk.
Sources
Last checked 22 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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