In the OET speaking sub-test, nurses complete two role-plays of about five minutes each, with an interlocutor playing the patient or relative. Assessors score both your language and your clinical communication. Many candidates know the English but lose marks by not showing empathy, not involving the patient or not checking understanding. Here’s a practice role-play with a model answer.
This is an original practice card, not an official OET task. See oet.com for official samples.
How OET speaking is assessed
Linguistic criteria
- Intelligibility
- Fluency
- Appropriateness of language
- Resources of grammar and expression
Clinical communication criteria
- Relationship building: greeting, empathy, non-judgemental attitude.
- Understanding and incorporating the patient’s perspective: eliciting ideas, concerns and expectations.
- Providing structure: signposting, logical order.
- Information gathering: open questions, active listening, summarising.
- Information giving: checking what the patient already knows, giving information in chunks, checking understanding.
Practice role-play card
Setting: Surgical ward
Nurse: You’re talking to a 58-year-old patient who had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) yesterday. The patient is due to go home today but is refusing to get out of bed because of pain and fear.
Task:
- Find out why the patient doesn’t want to get out of bed.
- Acknowledge the patient’s concerns about pain.
- Explain the importance of early mobilisation (preventing blood clots, chest infection, constipation, speeding recovery).
- Reassure the patient that pain relief can be given before walking.
- Suggest a plan: analgesia first, then a short walk with your support.
- Persuade the patient to try.
Model dialogue
Nurse: Good morning. My name is Ada, and I’m the nurse looking after you today. Could you confirm your name and date of birth for me, please?
Patient: James Brown, 14th of March 1968.
Nurse: Thank you, Mr Brown. How are you feeling this morning?
Patient: Not great. I’m sore, and I don’t want to move.
Nurse: I’m sorry to hear you’re sore. That sounds really uncomfortable. Would you mind telling me a bit more about what’s worrying you about getting up?
Patient: Every time I move, it hurts around my stomach and shoulder. I’m scared I’ll damage the stitches.
Nurse: That’s completely understandable. Many people feel the same way after surgery. Can I ask, have you had any pain relief this morning?
Patient: No, I didn’t want to bother anyone.
Nurse: You’re not bothering anyone at all. Managing your pain is an important part of my job. The shoulder pain you mentioned is actually quite common after keyhole surgery. It’s caused by the gas we use during the operation, and moving around usually helps it settle.
Patient: Really? I thought something had gone wrong.
Nurse: No, it’s a normal part of recovery. Is it all right if I explain why getting out of bed is so helpful at this stage?
Patient: Okay.
Nurse: When we stay in bed for long periods after surgery, there’s a higher risk of developing blood clots in the legs and chest infections. Walking also helps your bowels start working again and can reduce that shoulder pain. Overall, people who move early tend to recover faster and go home sooner. Does that make sense so far?
Patient: I suppose so, but what about my stitches?
Nurse: That’s a very good question. The wounds from keyhole surgery are small, and they’re designed to cope with normal movement like walking. I’ll show you how to support your tummy with a pillow when you stand up, which makes it feel more comfortable.
Patient: I’m still worried it’s going to hurt.
Nurse: I understand. So here’s what I suggest: I’ll give you some pain relief now, as your doctor has prescribed. We’ll wait about 30 minutes for it to work. Then I’ll help you sit on the edge of the bed first, and if you feel okay, we’ll take just a few steps together. We’ll go at your pace, and we can stop whenever you need to. How does that sound?
Patient: That sounds manageable, I think.
Nurse: Great. Just to make sure I’ve explained everything clearly, could you tell me in your own words why it’s important to get up today?
Patient: To stop blood clots and chest infections, and to help me recover and go home.
Nurse: Exactly, well done. Is there anything else worrying you?
Patient: No, I feel better now.
Nurse: I’m glad. I’ll get your pain relief now and come back in half an hour. If you need anything before then, just press the call bell.
Why this role-play scores well
- Relationship building: introduces self, confirms identity, uses the patient’s name, shows empathy (“That sounds really uncomfortable”).
- Patient’s perspective: asks what’s worrying him and addresses his specific fear about the stitches.
- Structure: signposts with “Is it all right if I explain…” and “So here’s what I suggest…”
- Information gathering: open questions and follow-up about analgesia.
- Information giving: explains in plain language (no jargon like “DVT” or “atelectasis”), chunks information and uses teach-back to check understanding.
- Negotiation: persuades without pressure and offers control (“We’ll go at your pace”).
Useful OET speaking phrases for nurses
Opening
- Hello, my name is… and I’ll be looking after you today.
- What would you like to talk about today? / How can I help?
Empathy
- I can see this is worrying you.
- That must be very difficult.
- It’s completely normal to feel that way.
Exploring concerns
- What’s worrying you most about…?
- Have you had any thoughts about what might be causing it?
- What were you hoping we could do today?
Signposting
- If it’s okay with you, I’d like to explain…
- First, I’ll explain… and then we can talk about…
Checking understanding
- Does that make sense?
- Just to make sure I’ve explained it clearly, could you tell me…?
- Do you have any questions so far?
Closing
- Is there anything else you’d like to ask?
- I’ll come back to check on you in…
Common mistakes
- Lecturing for long stretches without letting the patient speak.
- Using medical jargon.
- Ignoring the patient’s emotions and going straight to information.
- Forgetting to complete all the tasks on the card.
- Arguing with an angry patient instead of acknowledging their feelings.