The candidate card
Setting
Radiology/imaging department - MRI suite
Candidate
You are a radiographer in the MRI suite. Mrs Amaka Lama, aged 52, has been referred by her GP for an MRI of the lumbar spine because of persistent low back pain with pain and tingling down her left leg. Her MRI safety screening form has been completed and shows no contraindications. She has changed into a gown, but on seeing the scanner she has become panicky about the enclosed space and says she wants to go home.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Find out what is worrying Mrs Lama about the scan (previous experiences, specific fears)
- Explain what the scan involves (positioning; approximate length: about 20–30 minutes for today's lumbar scan, in several short sections, longer if pictures need repeating; noise; staying in contact with you)
- Reassure Mrs Lama about the ways she can stay in control and feel more comfortable (call buzzer, stopping at any time, properly fitted MRI hearing protection with optional music through suitable headphones, support for her back)
- Persuade her to try the scan today rather than leaving, while respecting her choice
- Agree a plan for today and what will happen if she cannot complete the scan
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
- She is already in a gown and wants to leave, so start by slowing down and asking what she is most afraid of. Do not begin with the procedure; the fear may be the space, noise or a past experience.
- Explain what the scan involves in short, concrete steps, including the time of about 20 to 30 minutes in short sections, the noise, and that you can talk to her. Mention it may take longer if pictures need repeating.
- Offer control rather than just reassurance: the call buzzer, the option to stop, hearing protection that fits properly, music through suitable headphones, and support for her back. These address the fear of being trapped.
- Encourage her to try, but make it clear that the decision is hers. A patient who feels pushed may refuse; one who feels in control often agrees to a first section.
- Agree a plan for today and an alternative if she cannot finish, such as stopping and discussing options with her GP or referrer. Check she is comfortable with that before you go.
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- Lots of people feel this way when they first see the scanner.
- Tell me what feels worst: the space, the noise, or something else?
- You can press the buzzer and we stop. I will be talking to you.
- Would you be willing to try, knowing you can stop?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| Lumbar spine | The lower part of your back. |
| Claustrophobia | A fear of enclosed spaces. |
| MRI | A scan that uses a strong magnet to take pictures, with no X-rays. |
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 Radiography role-play cards
- Chest X-ray for a toddler Radiology/imaging department - general X-ray room
- Long wait before a contrast CT Radiology/imaging department - CT waiting area
- Possible pregnancy before a lumbar spine X-ray Radiology/imaging department - private screening room next to the general X-ray reception
All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Radiography.
Questions about this role-play
Should I use the word claustrophobia?
Use her words rather than labelling her. Ask what she feels in the scanner and what worries her. Use plain terms such as feeling closed in or panicky, so that she feels understood and not diagnosed.
How hard should I push her to stay?
Persuade, but not pressure. Link the scan to the cause of her back and leg symptoms, offer the ways she can stay in control, and accept her answer. A calm no with a plan is better than a distressed scan.
What happens if she cannot complete the scan?
Be honest that it may be possible to stop and discuss the next steps with her GP or referrer. Do not promise a specific alternative that the card does not mention. Reassure her that stopping is acceptable and will not be held against her.
Sources
Last checked 22 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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