The candidate card
Setting
Radiology/imaging department - private screening room next to the general X-ray reception
Candidate
You are a radiographer. Ms Leila Ozturk, aged 26, has been referred by her GP for a lumbar spine X-ray after hurting her lower back lifting boxes at work three days ago. During routine pregnancy screening at reception she said her period is about a week late, so you have moved her to a private room next to reception to continue the conversation. Department policy is that women whose period is overdue are treated as possibly pregnant before any X-ray of the lower back, abdomen or pelvis. She wants the X-ray done today.
Task (interlocutor: patient)
- Find out more about the possibility of pregnancy (when her last period started, contraception, any symptoms)
- Explain in simple terms why the X-ray cannot go ahead today without further checks
- Respond to her concerns about her employer and insurance claim
- Explain the options (pregnancy test, discussion with her GP about whether the X-ray is still needed, rebooking)
- Agree a plan with Ms Ozturk
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 acknowledging that she wants the X-ray today and that you have moved her somewhere private. Ask the pregnancy questions in a neutral, non-judgemental way, and explain they are routine for everyone having this type of X-ray, so she does not feel singled out.
- Ask about her last period first, then contraception and any symptoms. Ask permission before sensitive questions. Avoid assuming whether a pregnancy would be wanted or unwanted, and do not react to her answers beyond a calm, matter-of-fact acknowledgement.
- Explain the policy as a safety step, not a refusal: a period that is overdue means she is treated as possibly pregnant before an X-ray of the lower back, and further checks are needed first. Avoid saying she is pregnant or that the X-ray is dangerous.
- She is likely to worry about her employer and insurance claim, so ask what she is concerned about rather than assuming. Be honest that you cannot speak for the employer or insurer, and do not promise outcomes, paperwork or letters beyond what you can offer.
- Lay out the options: a pregnancy test, a discussion with her GP about whether the X-ray is still needed, or rebooking. Let her choose, summarise the agreed plan, check she understands what happens next, and close by inviting questions. If time is short, prioritise the reason and the options.
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- I know you were hoping to have this done today, and I'm sorry for the delay.
- We ask everyone this, so I'd like to check a few things privately.
- What worries you most about the delay at work?
- Let me go through the options, and you tell me which suits you.
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| lumbar spine | the lower part of your back |
| ionising radiation | the type of radiation an X-ray uses, which we try to avoid if someone could be pregnant |
| last menstrual period | the first day of your most recent period |
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
- MRI postponed because of an unidentified pacemaker Radiology/imaging department - MRI safety screening area
- Anxiety about entering the MRI scanner Radiology/imaging department - MRI suite
- Chest X-ray for a toddler Radiology/imaging department - general X-ray room
All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Radiography.
Questions about this role-play
How do I explain the delay without alarming her?
Present it as a routine safety check that applies to anyone whose period is overdue. Say that you need to rule out pregnancy before going ahead, not that she is pregnant. Keep the tone calm and focus on the options for moving forward.
What can I say about her employer and insurance claim?
Acknowledge the concern and ask what specifically worries her. Be honest that the decision about the claim is not yours and that you cannot promise how it will be handled. Keep to what you can offer: the options for a pregnancy test, a GP discussion and rebooking.
What if she insists on having the X-ray today anyway?
Stay empathetic but clear that department policy means the X-ray cannot go ahead without further checks. Restate that the aim is safety, and return to the options so she has some control. Do not argue, bargain or make an exception.
Sources
Last checked 22 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
OETAce is an independent practice site. OET is a registered trademark of Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment (CBLA); we are not affiliated with or endorsed by CBLA. All practice material here is original.