The candidate card
Setting
Sexual health follow-up clinic, England
Candidate
You are a nurse in a sexual health follow-up clinic in this original independent practice scenario; all patient details and clinic arrangements are invented case facts. Ms Aurelia Hurtado, aged 57, has already discussed her negative HIV test result with the clinician and now asks you to send the result to her employer. Nothing has been sent, and you have not yet clarified why she wants this disclosure. For this case, the clinic can provide a general medical attendance letter showing her name and attendance date without naming the specialty or test; any requested result disclosure requires clarification and documentation of her voluntary permission, the exact information, the recipient and an approved secure delivery method.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Explore why Ms Hurtado wants her employer to receive the result and whether anyone has asked for it or made her feel under pressure.
- Clarify what she wants to demonstrate, the minimum information she wishes to share and who would receive it.
- Explain how permission for this employer disclosure would be agreed, including the information and recipient, without promising control over subsequent sharing.
- Reassure her that you will respect her informed choice and discuss the available attendance letter as an alternative.
- Agree what, if anything, will be prepared or disclosed, confirm the next steps and check her understanding.
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 nurse in a sexual health follow-up clinic in this original independent practice scenario; all patient details and clinic arrangements are invented case facts. Ms Aurelia Hurtado, aged 57, has already discussed her negative HIV test result with the clinician and now asks you to send the result to her employer. Nothing has been sent, and you have not yet clarified why she wants this disclosure. For this case, the clinic can provide a general medical attendance letter showing her name and attendance date without naming the specialty or test; any requested result disclosure requires clarification and documentation of her voluntary permission, the exact information, the recipient and an approved secure delivery method.
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 curiosity before discussing paperwork. She may be worried about satisfying an employer, but the reason remains unknown. Ask what prompted the request, then gently ask whether anyone has requested the result or made her feel pressured.
- Establish what she wants to demonstrate before choosing a document. This makes the discussion relevant to her purpose. Ask what she thinks the employer needs to know, without assuming that attendance evidence would meet that need.
- Once her purpose is clear, explain permission as a specific agreement rather than a general signature. Use everyday language about what would be shared and with whom. Explain that the clinic cannot promise control over subsequent sharing.
- Introduce the attendance letter as an option she can weigh against sharing the result. Describe its limited content accurately: her name and attendance date, without the specialty or test. Avoid steering her towards it as the correct choice.
- Close by asking her to describe her chosen next step in her own words. If time is short, prioritise a clear, voluntary decision over completing paperwork. Document the agreement, including any disclosure details and approved secure delivery method.
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 Hurtado, I'm one of the nurses here. I understand you'd like your result sent to your employer, and I'd like to talk it through with you first.”
- “Could you tell me what has led you to ask for this?”
2. Key questions
- “Has anyone asked you for the result, or made you feel any pressure to share it?”
- “What are you hoping your employer will be able to see or understand?”
- “What is the least information you'd be comfortable sharing, and who exactly would receive it?”
- “Is there anything about this that worries you?”
3. Handling the patient's concern
Likely concern: Likely to worry about who will see the result and what her employer does next.
- “That's an understandable concern, and the decision is yours. I want us to be clear about what would be shared and who would receive it.”
- “I'll explain what we can and can't control, so that whatever you decide is an informed choice.”
4. Explaining
- “If you choose to share, we'd record your voluntary permission, exactly what information is shared and who receives it, and send it by an approved secure method. Nothing has been sent so far.”
- “Once your employer has it, we can't control how they share it further. Alternatively, we can give a general attendance letter with your name and date only, without naming the specialty or test. Does that make sense?”
5. Closing
- “Based on what you've decided, I'll prepare either the attendance letter or the documented permission for the exact information and recipient. Nothing will be disclosed until your permission is recorded.”
- “Could you tell me in your own words what happens next? Please say if you'd like more time or want to change your mind.”
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- You can take a moment to think this through.
- Would you prefer to discuss the options before deciding?
- Is there any part of this that feels uncomfortable?
- Have I explained that clearly enough?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| disclosure | Sharing your information with someone else. |
| voluntary permission | Your agreement, freely given without pressure. |
| medical attendance letter | A letter confirming your name and the date you attended. |
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.
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Questions about this role-play
Should I explain what the negative HIV result means again?
The card says she has already discussed the result with the clinician. Ask whether she has any remaining questions rather than repeating an interpretation automatically. Do not add claims about timing, further testing or what the result excludes; those details are not provided.
What if she asks whether her employer is legally entitled to the result?
The scenario does not establish the employer's legal entitlement, so avoid declaring that the request is lawful or unlawful. Explain that you cannot determine that from the information available and suggest obtaining appropriate advice if she wants that question resolved before deciding.
How should I respond if she becomes angry because nothing has been sent?
Acknowledge her frustration without treating anger as evidence of a particular motive. Find out which part of the situation has upset her. State plainly that nothing has been sent, avoid blaming colleagues, and do not promise immediate dispatch simply to settle the conversation.
What if she says her employer has asked for the result?
Stay neutral and gently ask what was said and how she felt about it. Explain that sharing is her voluntary choice, offer the attendance letter as an option, and let her take time before deciding. Document what she tells you.
What if she decides to share nothing after all?
Respect the decision without trying to persuade her. Confirm that nothing has been sent, offer the attendance letter if she still needs to show she attended, and document her choice. Let her know she can raise it again later.
Sources
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