OET Speaking for Doctors: How to Handle the Role-Plays

OET Speaking takes about 20 minutes. After a short warm-up conversation, you take part in two role-plays. In each one you are the doctor and an interlocutor plays the patient or a relative. Before each role-play, you get a role card and about three minutes to prepare. Each role-play lasts about five minutes.

What is assessed

You are assessed on two things. The first is language: how intelligible and fluent you are, whether your language suits the situation, and the range and accuracy of your grammar and vocabulary. The second is clinical communication: how well you build a relationship, understand the patient's perspective, structure the conversation, gather information and give information. Strong English alone is not enough; you also have to communicate like a good clinician.

Use the preparation time

Read the card carefully. Underline the tasks, such as "explain the diagnosis" or "reassure the patient about the treatment". Then plan a simple structure:

1. Open: greet the patient, introduce yourself and say what you will discuss.
2. Explore: ask what the patient already knows or fears.
3. Explain: give information in small chunks, in plain language.
4. Check: ask whether the patient has understood and has questions.
5. Plan and close: agree the next steps and summarise.

Speak in plain language

A patient is not a colleague. Replace terms like "hypertension" with "high blood pressure" or explain them straight away. Avoid long sentences. A good rule is to give one idea, then pause for a response.

Show empathy in words

Examiners listen for how you respond to feelings. Useful phrases include:

• "I can see that this has been worrying you."
• "That must have been very frightening."
• "I understand why you feel that way."
• "Please tell me more about what concerns you most."

Check understanding and invite questions

Do not ask "Do you understand?" Instead say, "Could you tell me in your own words what we have agreed, so that I know I have explained it clearly?" Close by inviting questions: "Is there anything else you would like to ask?"

Handling difficult role-plays

Some cards involve an anxious, angry or reluctant patient. In these cases, listen first and acknowledge the emotion before giving information. For example, if a patient is angry about waiting, begin with "I'm sorry that you had to wait so long" before explaining the plan. Never argue.

How to practise

1. Practise out loud. Reading model answers silently does not build fluency.
2. Record yourself, listen back and note unclear words, long pauses and jargon.
3. Compare with a model answer and notice its structure and the phrases it uses.
4. Cover a range of topics: new diagnoses, treatment advice, bad news, lifestyle advice and discharge planning.

Ready to practise? OET Practice for Doctors has full listening and reading tests in the real format, writing letters with model answers and speaking role-plays. Try the free listening test to see how it works.

Practise for the OET on HighYield

Put this into practice with HighYield OET Practice for doctors, a full practice area built around the real exam. Start with the free listening test, then work through every sub-test:

• OET Listening practice tests: Parts A, B and C with audio
• OET Reading practice tests: Parts A, B and C with answers and evidence
• OET Writing tasks: referral letters with model answers and scoring
• OET Speaking role-plays: doctor role-plays to rehearse out loud