The candidate card
Setting
Veterinary clinic
Candidate
You are a veterinarian. Mrs Tamsin Bhattarai, aged 72, has brought in her 14-year-old female Golden Retriever, who has advanced osteoarthritis and chronic kidney disease and is on pain relief chosen to suit her kidney condition, a kidney-support diet and an appetite stimulant. Over the past fortnight the dog has stopped being able to stand without help and is eating very little; today she has lost weight, has muscle wasting in her back legs and early pressure sores on her hips, and you want to reassess her pain, nausea and kidney function today before agreeing a plan. Mrs Bhattarai has asked for 'stronger tablets'.
Task (interlocutor: owner)
- Find out how the dog has been managing at home (eating, any other symptoms, moving, toileting, the things she still enjoys)
- Explain why increasing her tablets alone will not reverse her underlying diseases (kidney risks of some medicines, the need to reassess her pain and other symptoms)
- Raise the subject of her quality of life sensitively, including euthanasia as an option if her comfort cannot be maintained, and respond to Mrs Bhattarai's distress
- Agree a safe plan for the next day or two (e.g. treatment today, practical care at home, an early review, when to call the clinic urgently)
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 the last fortnight has been for both of them: eating, moving, toileting, and what the dog still enjoys. Her answers give you the evidence for the quality-of-life talk and let her feel heard first.
- Address the tablets honestly: more medicine alone will not reverse the underlying diseases, and some medicines carry kidney risks. Say you want to reassess pain, nausea and kidney function today, so the no is paired with an action.
- Raise quality of life gently, using what she has told you and today's findings: weight loss, muscle wasting and early pressure sores. Introduce euthanasia as an option if comfort cannot be maintained. Let today's reassessment guide the urgency; do not promise the decision can wait if suffering cannot be relieved.
- Respond to her distress before moving on: pause, name the feeling, and do not rush to fix it. The trap is jumping to the plan while she is upset. Let her lead on how much she wants to discuss.
- Agree the next day or two: today's treatment, practical home care, an early review, and the urgent triggers as one list (see the FAQ). Finish by checking she knows who to phone and what happens next.
Phrases to adapt
Use your own words; these show the register, not lines to memorise.
- I can see how much you love her, and how hard this is to talk about.
- What does a good day look like for her now?
- I want to check her pain and kidneys today before we decide anything.
- Let us assess her comfort today and talk through the options, including euthanasia if we cannot relieve her suffering.
Medical words in plain English
| Term | How you might say it to the patient |
|---|---|
| chronic kidney disease | Her kidneys have been losing their ability to filter waste for some time. |
| muscle wasting | The muscles in her back legs have become thinner and weaker. |
| euthanasia | A peaceful, painless end to her life, chosen to prevent suffering. |
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
- Exercise restriction after cruciate ligament surgery Veterinary clinic
- Puppy vaccination and early socialisation Veterinary clinic
- Starting insulin for a newly diagnosed diabetic cat Veterinary clinic
All sets: nurses, doctors, other professions. Your profession's guide: OET Veterinary Science.
Questions about this role-play
What urgent triggers should I give for phoning the clinic?
Give them as one list: collapse or being unresponsive, unable to rise at all, refusing all food and water, repeated vomiting, pain that is not controlled (crying, panting, restlessness), and difficulty breathing. Tell her to phone immediately or attend an emergency vet if any occur, even out of hours.
How do I introduce euthanasia without it sounding like giving up?
Link it to her comfort. Say you will keep working to keep the dog comfortable, and that if that cannot be achieved, euthanasia is an option to consider so she does not suffer. Use the word clearly, check how much she wants to discuss, and do not set a date.
What if she keeps insisting on stronger tablets?
Explain you are not refusing to help, but that stronger tablets could harm the kidneys and will not reverse the diseases. Offer the reassessment of pain, nausea and kidney function today, and an early review so you can adjust treatment based on findings.
Sources
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