Overall Communicative Competence

One of the categories the assessors use to judge the English level of candidates is “Overall
Communicative Competence”. For this criterion, you need to demonstrate your ability to handle a
typical conversation between you as a health professional and the interviewer as a patient. This
means you must lead the conversation based on the roleplay scenario on your card. You must ask
questions clearly to find out the patient’s condition and /or main concern. You must also respond
appropriately to questions from the patient (interviewer).

Do I need to follow the card completely?

No you do not, although it obviously very useful as a guide regarding the direction the consultation
will take. What you need to do is spend 2 or 3 minutes reading the card, as allowed in the exam
format. Use this time carefully to plan your roleplay, and underlining the important parts of the
roleplay. This includes

 Identifying the setting

 Making notes of any important points regarding the patient’s medical history
 Identifying the main concerns of the patient
 Identifying what the task requires you to do

Be patient rather than card focussed

Once you are ready, begin the roleplay in the appropriate manner. The key points is, try to not be
too focussed at this stage on the content of your card. Focus your attention on the patient and
respond to their condition and concerns. There is a danger that if you pay too much attention on
what your card says then you may not respond to what the patient says. If you focus on your card
and not the patient you will find it difficult to have a meaningful conversation with the patient.
Remember, the card is used as a guide only, and once in the roleplay respond as naturally as
possible to the patient and let your instincts take over. If you do this, the task will take its natural
course. Also remember, the interviewer has a role to play as a patient so you need to respond to
their questions.

Another important point is not to talk over the patient. If they interrupt you, you have to allow this
and respond to their question. Although it is expected that you do 75% of the talking, (as it is your
English that is being assessed not the interviewers!) it is not good for you to talk continuously. So
when explaining important points, ask questions to the patient and seek clarification to ensure they
are following what you say.

Talk to the patient rather than at the patient

You need to demonstrate your ability to talk to a real person and show compassion for their
situation.. Remember, although you may have the medical knowledge to advise the patient, always
do this in the context of their unique situation, which is far better than just talking in general or
“from the textbook” The way to do this is to ask questions then respond to the patients comments
based on your medical knowledge. For example if you are dealing with a child who has eczema, and
you may know that there are various factors which can cause this condition such as animal hair,
woollen clothes etc, do not say: Ensure that your child does not come in contact with pets and
avoid using woolen clothes and soaps. This may be correct advice, but is far better to asks
questions to determine the environment of the patient. So you could have a dialogue as follows:

First, as I said, the rash might be related to allergy and irritation, so please avoid things that may
irritate the skin, like soaps.
Have you noticed any itchiness after bathing your son?

Animals hair is another irritant. Do you have a pet? / Does your son come in regular contact with
animals?
In this way, rather than delivering your speech in a monologue, you will be having a meaningful
conversation with the patient, and offering advice based on the specific context of their situation,
rather than just speaking in general terms, which may not be relevant to their situation.

Whose job is it to keep the conversation moving?

It is also important that as a medical professional, you lead in the role play. That means you need
to begin and end the roleplay and if the patient is silent, then you need to fill gaps and not wait for
patient as they may not say anything. It is also important to note that silence in the roleplay is not
a favourable thing from the candidates point of view as it can indicate that you are not in control
of the interview. So always be prepared to keep the conversation moving.

Intelligibility

This refers to how clearly you speak and can be broken down into the following
categories:

 Pronunciation
 Intonation
 Syllable and word stress
 Rhythm

While you are not expected to speak like a native speaker, it is expected that what you
say can be clearly understood. Therefore you need to ensure that you pronounce words
clearly, particularly words specific to a medical consultation.
For all people from non English speaking backgrounds there are some sounds, stress
patterns or rhythm which are difficult. It is important that you identify which aspects of
English are difficult for you and work hard to improve in those areas. Recording your
own speech is a useful starting point.

There are a range of strategies to improve clarity of speech, but it requires dedication
and determination to improve in this area, especially if your speech patterns have
become “ingrained” after many years of English speaking. It is also hard if you are not
living in Australia or another English speaking country. Listed below are some strategies
which can help you improve in this area.

Listen and Repeat

Find podcasts which have transcripts and read aloud in time with the audio. This will help
you develop rhythm, syllable and word stress as well as fluency. You should do this
regularly and it will also help you improve your listening skills at the same time. Suitable
websites include

 Health Minutes: http://www.abc.net.au/health/minutes/

 The Better Health Channel: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Record your own Speech

This is a very useful technique as you once you listen to your own speech you will be
able to analyse your own strengths and weaknesses and develop your skills accordingly.
So practice the roleplay tasks for your profession with a friend or colleague and record
your roleplay. Then analyse your performance. Remember, practice makes perfect!
Software which allows you to record your voice digitally includes:
• Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
• Pamela for Skype: http://www.pamela.biz/en/

Medical Terminology
Many medical words such as the names of various conditions are long and difficult to
pronounce. A good website which features English and US pronunciation of most
common medical words is:
• http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

Fluency

This is a challenging category especially if you are not using English on a daily basis. If
your speech contains too many hesitations or pauses you will be marked down. To get a
B grade or above in the exam your aim is to speak at an even and controlled speed. If
fluency is a weak area for you, then practicing the scenarios often can help you become
more familiar with the various stages of the roleplay and what expressions are suitable
for each stage. You need to practice roleplay scenarios regularly so that you have the
confidence to respond to the scenario and patient with a reasonable degree of fluency.

How to Increase Fluency

All role plays will be similar in that you are required to do three things:

1. Find out about the patient by taking a brief, specific history (note, there is not
usually enough time to ask general questions so always focus on the situation
at hand)
2. Provide information about the condition
3. Teach the patient how to manage the condition

Depending on the situation, it may be necessary to provide comfort and reassurance to

the patient or even persuade the patient to do something against their wishes in order to
improve their health.

Therefore you can improve fluency be becoming familiar with suitable expressions that
allow you to deal with these situations. In addition, the wider range of vocabulary you
have, then the more fluent you will be able to speak. See functions of language for
examples of how to do this.

Another sources of good spoken language is the website:

 Health Minutes: http://www.abc.net.au/health/minutes/

Look carefully at the vocabulary and expressions used by Norman Swan and try to
incorporate this into your speech. You will be surprised at what it difference it can make
in a relatively short time if you work hard.

How to Decrease Fluency

For some students, lack of fluency is not the problem, but rather rushed speech. If your
speech is rushed or words are joined together in a non-standard manner, then the
patient may not understand you. This is especially important when you are explaining
complex conditions or giving important advice. In such situations, it is necessary to
develop some self awareness so that you can consciously control the speed at which you
deliver information. Technical words, including names of illnesses, medications and
treatment methods, should not be rushed or “lost” within a sentence. A good strategy is
to always ensure that the patient can follow what you say by regularly checking with
them i.e Is that clear?

Appropriateness of Language

Technical Language
In this category, you are basically being tested on your ability to explain medical and
technical jargon commonly used in your profession, into simple, clear language. You can
be guaranteed that if you use technical language, the patient (interviewer) will ask you
to explain what you mean. That does not mean you cannot use some medical
terminology, it just means that you need to be ready to explain it in simple terms to the
patient.

If you need improvement in this category, practice explaining a variety of conditions

common to your profession in simple terms. You may find it useful to record your own
speech and do this on a regular basis. Again, you will find the old adage: “Practice
makes Perfect” is the key to success.

Don’t be too Formal

Although a consultation is a formal situation, it is very common to use casual and natural
expressions when talking to a patient. This will help the patient to feel comfortable and
at ease. This will also make it easier to provide reassurance or comfort if required or
gentle persuasion. Always aim to speak in a friendly, clear and positive voice.

Don’t be too Casual

The roleplay is a formal situation in that you are not friends with the patient. You may
also be dealing with an elderly patient so it may good to speak in a respectful manner.
Some inappropriate expressions if overused include:

 yeah Vs yes
 wanna Vs would like to
 gonna Vs going to

Gender
A common error is incorrect use of pronouns. Him /his when the patient is a female or
her/hers when the patient is a male. If you have difficulties with pronouns, write them
down in large letters on your role-play card as a reminder!

Resources of Grammar and Expression

This relates to how accurately you speak. To achieve a B score you will need to
demonstrate good grammatical control in your speech. You can improve your grammar
and sentence structure by writing out dialogues for for various scenarios common to
your profession and have them checked by your teacher or a native speaker friend. See
functions of language for examples of how to form suitable sentences.
Below are a list of common errors which you should study carefully so that you can avoid
them in your own speech.

Incorrect Correct
 I will now explain you what caused  I will now explain what caused your
your condition. condition.
 I will now explain to you what
caused your condition.
Explanation: Explain cannot be followed by  I will tell you what caused your
pronoun such as you or me. condition.

 I concern about your drinking habit.  I am concerned about your drinking

habit. (adjective)
Explanation: concern needs to be used as  I have a concern about your drinking
either an adjective or noun habit. (noun)

 I recommend she should start her  I recommend she start her

vaccination program as soon as vaccination program as soon as
possible possible.

Explanation: recommend and should have

similar meaning so these words should not
be used together.
 I recommend you need to lose  I recommend (that) you lose weight.
weight

Explanation: as above recommend and need

have similar meaning
 I suggest you to take the medication  I suggest that you take the
as prescribed by your pharmacist. medication as prescribed by your
pharmacist.
Explanation: The expression suggest is not  I suggest you take the medication as
followed infinitive forms with to prescribed by your pharmacist.
 I suggest taking the medication as
prescribed by your pharmacist.

 I strongly advice that you brush your  I strongly advise that you brush your
teeth twice a day. teeth twice a day. (adjective)
 My advice is to brush your teeth
Explanation: advice is a noun, advise is the twice a day. (noun)
verb
 Let me give you some advices.  Let me give you some advice.

Explanation: advice is an uncountable noun

so cannot be used in the plural form
 Some of our staffs were on leave.  Some of our staff was absent.
 Some members of our staff were
Explanation: staff is an uncountable noun so absent.
cannot be used in the plural form.
 I have many experience  I have many years of experience
 I have a lot of experience
Explanation: experience is this sense an
uncountable noun so cannot be used in the
plural form
 there is a serious reaction in few  There is serious reaction in
children

Explanation: experience is this sense an

uncountable noun so cannot be used in the
plural form
  The condition will recover itself over  The condition should resolve itself
time. over time.
 Your daughter will recover over time.
Explanation: incorrect word
 We don't know what cause of this  We don't know what the cause of
problem. this problem is. (noun)
 We don't know what caused this
Explanation:incorrect sentence structure problem. (verb)
and word form
 Your condition have worsened.  Your condition has worsened.

Explanation: verb subject agreement is

incorrect.
 You should to increase your intake of  You should increase your intake of
fruit and vegetables fruit and vegetables

Explanation: should is a modal verb and

cannot be followed an infinitive form
 It will helps a lot.  It will help a lot

Explanation: do not conjugate the verb after

will
 You might be painful  You might have pain (noun)
 The gum might be painful (adjective)
Explanation: Incorrect sentence structure
 He is very expert.  He is an expert in the field.
 He has a lot of expertise in the field.
Explanation: expert is a noun so cannot be
modified.
 You are getting fits for 3 times?  You have had fits on 3 occasions?
 You have had 3 episodes of fits?
Explanation: Incorrect sentence structure
 The side effects are very minimum.  The side effects are very minimal
(adjective)
Explanation: minimum is a noun, adjective
form required.
 How should I call you?  How should I address you?
 What should I call you?
Explanation:Incorrect sentence structure

Resources of Grammar and Expression

This relates to how accurately you speak. To achieve a B score you will need to
demonstrate good grammatical control in your speech. You can improve your grammar
and sentence structure by writing out dialogues for for various scenarios common to
your profession and have them checked by your teacher or a native speaker friend. See
functions of language for examples of how to form suitable sentences.
Below are a list of common errors which you should study carefully so that you can avoid
them in your own speech.
 Incorrect Correct
 I will now explain you what caused  I will now explain what caused your
your condition. condition.
 I will now explain to you what
Explanation: Explain cannot be followed by caused your condition.
pronoun such as you or me.  I will tell you what caused your
condition.

 I concern about your drinking habit.  I am concerned about your drinking

habit. (adjective)
Explanation: concern needs to be used as  I have a concern about your drinking
either an adjective or noun habit. (noun)

 I recommend she should start her  I recommend she start her

vaccination program as soon as vaccination program as soon as
possible possible.

Explanation: recommend and should have

similar meaning so these words should not
be used together.
 I recommend you need to lose  I recommend (that) you lose weight.
weight

Explanation: as above recommend and need

have similar meaning
 I suggest you to take the medication  I suggest that you take the
as prescribed by your pharmacist. medication as prescribed by your
pharmacist.
Explanation: The expression suggest is not  I suggest you take the medication as
followed infinitive forms with to prescribed by your pharmacist.
 I suggest taking the medication as
prescribed by your pharmacist.

 I strongly advice that you brush your  I strongly advise that you brush your
teeth twice a day. teeth twice a day. (adjective)
 My advice is to brush your teeth
Explanation: advice is a noun, advise is the twice a day. (noun)
verb
 Let me give you some advices.  Let me give you some advice.

Explanation: advice is an uncountable noun

so cannot be used in the plural form
 Some of our staffs were on leave.  Some of our staff was absent.
 Some members of our staff were
Explanation: staff is an uncountable noun so absent.
cannot be used in the plural form.
 I have many experience  I have many years of experience
 I have a lot of experience
Explanation: experience is this sense an
uncountable noun so cannot be used in the
plural form
  there is a serious reaction in few  There is serious reaction in
children

Explanation: experience is this sense an

uncountable noun so cannot be used in the
plural form
 The condition will recover itself over  The condition should resolve itself
time. over time.
 Your daughter will recover over time.
Explanation: incorrect word
 We don't know what cause of this  We don't know what the cause of
problem. this problem is. (noun)
 We don't know what caused this
Explanation:incorrect sentence structure problem. (verb)
and word form
 Your condition have worsened.  Your condition has worsened.

Explanation: verb subject agreement is

incorrect.
 You should to increase your intake of  You should increase your intake of
fruit and vegetables fruit and vegetables

Explanation: should is a modal verb and

cannot be followed an infinitive form
 It will helps a lot.  It will help a lot

Explanation: do not conjugate the verb after

will
 You might be painful  You might have pain (noun)
 The gum might be painful (adjective)
Explanation: Incorrect sentence structure
 He is very expert.  He is an expert in the field.
 He has a lot of expertise in the field.
Explanation: expert is a noun so cannot be
modified.
 You are getting fits for 3 times?  You have had fits on 3 occasions?
 You have had 3 episodes of fits?
Explanation: Incorrect sentence structure
 The side effects are very minimum.  The side effects are very minimal
(adjective)
Explanation: minimum is a noun, adjective
form required.
 How should I call you?  How should I address you?
 What should I call you?
Explanation:Incorrect sentence structure

Speaking Sub-Test Overview

The speaking sub-test consists of two roleplay scenarios. The interviewer will take the
part of the patient and the candidate takes his/her professional role as a doctor. The
interview is usually about 20 minutes long and structured as follows:
 1. Identification check (not assessed)
2. Brief chat regarding the candidate’s medical career (not assessed)
3. The first roleplay including 2/3 minute preparation time and 5-6 minute
roleplay (assessed)
4. The second roleplay including 2/3 minute preparation time and 5-6 minute
roleplay (assessed)

During the preparation time you must read the roleplay card handed to you and you can
make notes on the card or underline key words. You may ask questions to interviewer if
there is anything you are unsure about, especially vocabulary. This is important because
if you misunderstand the situation it could effect how you approach the task.

Generally, if the interviewer is a male then the patient will be a male and if the
interviewer is a female then the patient will be a female. You can use the interviewer's
name to address them with if you like, or simply refer to them as Sir/Madam. Whatever
you feel more comfortable with.

The interviewer may also take the role of a parent or carer of the patient i.e if the
patient is a child, or has a serious illness.

Roleplay Structure
The roleplay scenarios are based on real situations you are likely to encounter in you
work as a nurse in Australia. There are a variety of possible settings for the roleplay
including:

 Suburban Health Clinic

 Community Health Centre
 Nursing Home
 Hospital Ward
 Hospital Emergency Department
 School

A typical roleplay structure is as follows:

 Brief introduction dependent on the task.

 Ask questions to help you assess the situation.
 Respond carefully to what concerns the patient has.
 Provide an explanation of the condition & respond to further questions and
concerns of the patient.
 Provide advice and reassurance as required.
 Short simple concluding sentence.
You only have 5-6 minutes to complete the roleplay so it is important to follow the task
closely and not spend too long on any one section. If the roleplay lasts more than 6
minutes the interviewer may signal you to end the roleplay. This could be a problem if
you have not finished key aspects of the task

Stage 1: Introductions and Opening Questions

Introductions are a very important part of the role-play as they allow you to start the
conversation in a positive way and in line with requirements of the roleplay card.
Therefore the first thing to do is read the card very carefully looking for information
which will help you, as a health professional, determine how to approach the patient or
carer.
Important factors to consider

 Identify the setting such as Hospital Ward, Community Clinic, School or Large
Company. This will signify the relationship you have with the patient or carer.
 Identify the patient, male, female, parent of child etc. Note, in the exam,
most cards are not gender specific, so that if the interviewer is a male the
patient will be a male and if the interviewer is a female, then the patient will
be a female.
 Is it the first time to meet the patient or are they a regular patient of yours
 For example if you know the patient is a good idea to begin with a familiar
tone such as
o Hi Jane, how can I help you today? Rather than.
o Hello I am Naomi, Kate your Nurse. How may I address you?
It is very important to start the roleplay in a confident manner. Here are some standard
ways to begin the conversation.

At a clinic or health centre

 Good morning Madam, I’m Kate your Nurse . What brings you here today?
 Good morning Sir. I’m Kate your Nurse today. Tell me why you have come
here.
 Good morning John, please sit down. I’m Kate your nurse. What seem to be
the problem?
 Hello Steven, you’re here to have your stiches removed, aren’t you.
 Good morning Patricia, you’ve brought your daughter along I see. What seems
to be the problem?

At a nursing home or hospital ward

 Hello Maria, how are you feeling today?

 Hello John, you are looking better today. How do you feel?
 Good morning, Madam. I’m Jane, the nurse who will take care of your
daughter during her hospitalization.

Taking the patient history

Once you have made the initial introduction, you will need to ask some questions to
determine the exact nature of the patient’s problem or concern. Some of this information
will be given to you on your card, but it is a good idea to ask the basic questions anyway
as forms the basis of your consultation. Just remember, however, to keep your line of
questions quite narrow and specific to the patient’s condition as you have only 5~6
minutes to complete your task so there is no time for a general history.

Asking questions about the patient’s medical problem

 Have you ever had a serious illness in the past?

 Are you allergic to anything?
 How long have you been feeling this way?
 Have you ever been in hospital before?

Asking questions about the patient’s social history

  Will anybody be at home to look after you when you are discharged?
 Do your family live close by?
 Do you have any friends or neighbours who can help you?
 Is there anything you need help with at home, such as cooking meals, or
cleaning the house ?

Stage 2: The Main Body

Once you have taken the history to a satisfactory level it is time to move to the second
stage of the roleplay which is often an explanation about a certain condition or method
of treatment. This may take up to a third of the roleplay (1-2 minutes) so it essential
that you do it in a clear and well organised manner as outlined below:

Informing the patient

 Based on my examination you are suffering from…….

 The blood test results indicate that your child has………
 The tests show that it is probably a condition known as……

Describing the condition

Make sure your explanation is clear and well organised. Patient with burns example:

Let me explain the three kinds of burns:

Third degree, which is very serious…..
Second degree, which is less serious but can be painful and result in scarring
And first degree, which your son has, is only superficial and does not leave scarring………..
Is that clear?....Good. Now, the dressing only needs to be on for a few days and the cut
will heal.

Do you know anything about this condition? No? Okay I will explain it to you.
It is a condition caused by….
The symptoms include…….
The best treatment is to…….
It is highly contagious so you need to…

Try not to talk continuously. Stop from time to time to check if the patient understands
your explanation.

 Is that clear?
 Do you understand so far?
 Do you have any questions?

Reassuring the patient

 It’s nothing to get alarmed about. It’s just a routine check.

 There really is nothing to worry about. The burns are only minor and your son
will completely recover.
 Let me reassure you, the home care services are excellent and will help you
manage your condition, provide meals if needed and even make you a cup of
tea.
Persuading the patient

 If you return to work you run the risk of doing further damage to you health.
 As I said, if you follow my advice and keep the wound clean, it will completely
heal, free of infection. However if you do not follow my advice, and allow the
wound to get dirty again, then infection may occur.
 The doctor has said that it is very important to take all your medications.
 According to the doctor you are ready to leave hospital today.

Stage 3: Concluding the Roleplay

This can be a difficult part for some people. The important thing to remember is to make
the closing sentence short and concise. Here are some examples of how to do this:

At a clinic or health centre

 Is there anything else you would like to ask me?.......Okay take care now Mr
Jones.
 Thanks for coming to see me today. Goodbye.
 Please come and see me again in a week.
 Here are some brochures to help you understand the treatment procedure.
Please come again if you have any problems with the medication.
 I would like to see your child again in two months time. Take care now.

At a nursing home or hospital ward

 I’ll come back in an hour to check on you.

 I’ll come back and check on your condition later today.
 If your condition/situation gets worse, please let me know.
 If you need me again, just press the buzzer.

Useful Website

 English Med is a useful website which contains some sample conversations &
transcripts between a health professional (usually a doctor) and a patient.

Dos and Don'ts

There are many ways to successfully approach the speaking task. Below
are a list of simple points to remember to help you succeed on the day.

Dos Don'ts
Do read the roleplay card carefully Don't plan what you are going to say
and ask the interviewer if you are in advance. React to the scenario on
unsure of any of the words or your roleplay card and plan your role
expressions in the task. accordingly.
Do react to what the interviewer (as Don't plan what you are going to say
patient) asks or says and respond in advance. React to the scenario on
accordingly. This is much more your roleplay card and plan your role
important than simply following the accordingly.
tasks on the card.
Do focus on the patient and respond Don't be card focussed at the
to their questions and concerns. expense of the patient. It is much
more important to respond to the
patient in a natural and caring
manner (where required).
Do take charge of the roleplay. You Don't wait for the interviewer to lead
are a medical professional and the roleplay. They may not!!
should act accordingly by leading the This is your job.
roleplay. This means you must start
and conclude the roleplay, and if the
patient is quite or silent, then it is
your responsibility to keep the
conversation moving.
Do utilise the allowed 2~3 minutes Don't rush through your card in 30
to identify the key points on your seconds and say you are ready to
card including: start! You may miss some important
details.
 the setting
 whether you know the patient,
or if it's the first time to meet
 the main topic of conversation
& relevant background
information
 task requirements

Do refer to your card occasionally Don't try to memorise the whole

during the exam, especially if you card. You can refer to it as required
are unsure of what to say. during the roleplay.
Do be prepared to discuss matters Don't feel you must complete every
which are not on your card. The aspect of your task. Remember it is
patient's card usually contains a guide only and you will not be
information which is not on your penalised if you do not complete
card. every detail of your card.
Do look at the patient during the Don't look at you card only and read
roleplay. Although only your speech it while the patient is talking as you
is recorded, your communication will must listen carefully to what they
be more effective if you have eye the patient says so that you can
contact with the interviewer. respond appropriately.
Do stay focussed on the task at Don't spend too much time on
hand. You only have 5-6 minutes to unrelated matters such as a detailed
complete the task! medical history as you do not have
 time for this.
Do practise as many tasks as Don't ignore the task requirements
possible with a partner to ensure and say what you think based on
you are familiar with the speaking your medical knowledge. Remember
test. Remember it is very different it is a test of English language ability
to IELTS and requires different and not a place to demonstrate your
language skills, such as the ability to medical knowledge.
persuade, convince and reassure.
Do act confidently and speak with a Don't show how nervous you are as
positive voice. If you are unsure of this can negatively affect your
the details of the condition, it is okay result. Lots of practice is the best
to make it up! Remember it is a test way to overcome nerves.
of English not your medical
knowledge.
Do slow down your speech when Don't use a lot of medical jargon and
using unfamiliar words such as technical words. You need to use
names of medications or treatment layman’s language to describe the
procedures. Always be prepared to condition.
explain the meaning of any medical
terminology you use.
Do regularly check that the patient Don't speak in a continuously in a
understands your explanations. Ask monologue.You are taking part in a
questions such as: 2 way conversation.

 Is that clear?
 Can you do that?

Do stop speaking if the patient Definitely do not talk over the

wants to interrupt you. You must patient. You will be penalised for
respond to the patient. this!
Correct a grammatical or vocabulary Don't rush your sentences as you
mistake immediately if you are are more likely to make an error.
aware that you have made one. Try to remain clam and in control.
(Native speakers certainly do this!)
Do be aware of the gender of your Don't be too stressed if you make a
patient and if you say he instead of gender error, 1 or 2 slips is
she, try to correct it. acceptable but more than this may
be penalised.

Possible Roleplay Topics

There is a wide range of possible roleplay tasks. You can prepare by being familiar with
common scenarios. It is common for there to be some conflict between what the patient
wants to hear and what the doctor has to say. Therefore your role, as a medical
professional will be to clearly explain the condition, reassure the patient where required
and at times persuade the patient to follow a certain course of action which they may
not want to do. You will be assessed on how well you are able to meet these
requirements. Below is a list of topics which commonly appear in the exam.

 Alzheimer's disease
 Asthma
 Broken Bone
 Burns
 Chicken Pox
 Cholesterol
 Complaint against hospital staff/procedure
 Diabetes
 Discharge of an aged patient
 Eczema
 Epilepsy
 Fear of surgery
 Head Lice
 Infection
 Immunisation
 Jaundice
 Medication change
 Myocardial Infarction
 Palliative care
 Poor nutrition
 Post surgery activity
 Pneumonia
 Urinary track infection

Ask yourself the question, do you feel confident dealing with these situations? If not you
can prepare for the speaking test by researching common medical conditions such as
those above and writing out possible dialogues between you and the patient. A useful
website which explains common conditions in layman's language is The Better Health
Channel.

Speaking Course

OET Online offers an online speaking course to existing students and it is

done using skype. The course will provide you with the opportunity to
practise a variety of common scenarios and in the process gradually
improve your speaking skills and test taking strategies. As a result you
will be able to approach the speaking test prepared and with confidence.
After each task you will receive detailed advice on your performance, with
a focus on the following areas:

 Overall communicative effectiveness

 Grammar & Expression
 Pronunciation & clarity of speech
 Fluency
 Appropriateness of language

Homework and targeted practice on your weak areas will also be included
in the course, depending on your needs.
There are 2 course options:
  Short course consisting of 2 separate I hour lessons with 3~4
different role-play scenarios per lesson, depending on your level
and how much feedback is required and what skills are practiced:
Fee $120
 Full course consisting of 4 separate 1 hour lessons with 3~4
different role-play scenarios per lesson, depending on your level
and how much feedback is required and what skills are
practiced:Fee $240

All you need is to have is skype installed on your computer.

Please contact Steve if you would like tuition in this area:

 skype: steve.macphail
 Email: [email protected]