The candidate card
Setting
Emergency department
Candidate
You are a nurse in the emergency department. Mr Karthik Venkataraman, aged 41, fell about two metres from a ladder at home this afternoon and hit his head. He drove himself to hospital. His CT brain scan is normal and he is alert, but he has a headache and vomited once on arrival. The doctor has cleared him for discharge with verbal and written head-injury advice, provided he does not drive for at least 24 hours and until fully recovered, and has a responsible adult with him for the next 24 hours.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Find out how Mr Venkataraman plans to get home and spend tonight (e.g. transport, who lives with him, who could stay, alcohol)
- Explain why he must not drive or be alone (e.g. concentration and reactions can be affected even with a normal scan; no driving for at least 24 hours and until fully recovered; adult with him for 24 hours; ask the doctor if unsure)
- Explain warning signs and care at home (e.g. worsening headache, repeated vomiting, increasing drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, weakness, vision problems, seizure: call an ambulance; no alcohol or sleeping tablets; paracetamol for headache)
- Respond to his reluctance to ask anyone for help and his worries about work
- Agree a safe plan (e.g. lift home, adult for the full 24 hours, postpone tomorrow's job, no ladders, electrical work or machinery until recovered, car collection, written advice for him and his supporter; if no one can stay, he remains in hospital)
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
- Start by asking how he got here and how he plans to get home and spend tonight. He drove himself in with a head injury, so avoid blame and simply find out who lives with him, who could stay, and about alcohol.
- Explain the no-driving and not-alone rules together with the reasons. A normal scan is good news but does not mean concentration and reactions are back to normal. Say the doctor set these conditions for discharge, and invite him to ask the doctor if unsure.
- Cover warning signs from the written advice in full and teach both him and his supporter. Pick out the point at which to call an ambulance, and state no alcohol or sleeping tablets and that paracetamol is for the headache.
- Explore his reluctance to ask anyone for help and his worries about work. Likely concerns include being a burden or losing a job, but ask him. Offer practical ideas such as postponing tomorrow's job and a supporter who could stay.
- Close with a concrete plan: how he gets home, who stays for the full period, car collection, no ladders, electrical work or machinery until recovered, and written advice for both. If nobody can stay, explain that he remains in hospital.
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- Who is at home with you tonight, and who could come and stay?
- Asking for help is part of the treatment, not a weakness.
- The scan is reassuring, but your reaction time may still be affected.
- Let us work out together how tomorrow's job can be postponed.
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| head injury advice | Instructions on what to watch for and what to avoid over the next day. |
| responsible adult | A capable adult who stays with you and can call for help if you worsen. |
| drowsiness | Being unusually sleepy or hard to wake, which is a warning sign after a head injury. |
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.
More Nursing role-play cards
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All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Nursing.
Questions about this role-play
What if he insists he is fine and will drive anyway?
Stay calm and repeat the doctor's condition and the reason: his concentration and reactions can be affected even with a normal scan. Explore what is driving the refusal, offer to help arrange a lift or call someone, and involve the doctor if he still refuses.
How do I handle his worry about work?
Acknowledge it as real, then link the plan to getting back to work safely. Help him think of who could cover or postpone tomorrow's job. Remind him that ladders, electrical work and machinery are off limits until he has recovered.
How much of the warning-sign list should I read out?
All of it, from the doctor's written advice, and then check that his supporter has a copy. Do not select a few signs from memory. Make clear that if any appear, they should call an ambulance.
Sources
Last checked 22 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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