The candidate card
Setting
Veterinary clinic
Candidate
You are a veterinarian. Mr Ramesh Achari's 5-year-old male Labrador retriever had tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery on his right hind leg yesterday for a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament, and the surgery went well. The dog is ready to go home today with pain relief and a protective cone; the surgeon's plan is short lead walks for toileting only at first, increased only as directed by the clinic, a wound check in 10-14 days, and strict exercise restriction until an X-ray review at about 8 weeks. Mr Achari has mentioned to the nurse that he plans to let the dog off the lead at the beach next week because 'he is already walking fine'.
Task (interlocutor: owner)
- Find out about Mr Achari's plans for the dog over the coming weeks and his home situation
- Explain why the dog needs strict exercise restriction even though he is walking well (bone healing, risk to the plate and screws)
- Explain what activity is safe during recovery (lead walks for toileting only at first, confinement, no running, jumping or stairs)
- Respond to Mr Achari's frustration about the length of the restriction
- Agree a home care plan and arrange follow-up visits (wound check in 10-14 days, X-ray review at about 8 weeks)
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 about his plans and household before lecturing: stairs, other pets, who is home and whether the dog can be confined. His beach plan hints at a belief that good walking means healed, so draw that out.
- Open the explanation by agreeing the dog is walking well, then explain that comfort does not reflect bone healing. The bone needs time to heal, and early activity risks the plate and screws.
- Be concrete about what he may do: short lead toileting walks first, confinement, and no running, jumping or stairs. Say clearly that increases come only when the clinic directs, not when the dog seems ready.
- Respond to his frustration with acknowledgment, not rebuttal. Ask what he finds hardest about confinement, then help with practical ideas, while explaining that the restriction continues until the X-ray review.
- Close with the schedule: wound check in 10-14 days and X-ray review at about 8 weeks. Ask him to repeat the beach plan, and confirm that it is postponed, as well as who to call with concerns.
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- Tell me about home: floors, stairs, and who will be around this week.
- He is doing well, and that is a good sign for the surgery.
- I know this feels long. What will be hardest for you both?
- So what will the next few weeks look like for him?
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| TPLO | Surgery that changes the shape of the shin bone, held with a plate and screws, to steady the knee. |
| Cruciate ligament | A strong band inside the knee that keeps the joint stable. |
| Exercise restriction | Keeping him calm and confined, with only short lead walks, while the bone heals. |
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 Veterinary Science role-play cards
- Puppy vaccination and early socialisation Veterinary clinic
- Starting insulin for a newly diagnosed diabetic cat Veterinary clinic
- Rabbit with gastrointestinal stasis needing admission Veterinary clinic
All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Veterinary Science.
Questions about this role-play
How do I deal with the beach plan without being preachy?
Name it openly and kindly: you understand he wants him to enjoy himself. Explain that the beach is for later, after the X-ray review, and ask what else could be enjoyable now, such as chews or gentle attention indoors.
What if he says the dog seems fine, so why wait?
Agree he looks good, then explain that walking well shows pain control, not bone healing. Describe the risk to the plate and screws if activity increases too soon. The surgeon's plan lets the clinic say when to increase.
Do I discuss pain relief and the cone?
Only briefly, since the card focuses on restriction and follow-up. Confirm he knows the dog goes home with pain relief and a protective cone, and invite questions. Spend your time on the exercise plan, where the risk lies.
Sources
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