How it works
After a short warm-up chat (not assessed), you do two role-plays. For each one, you read a role card and prepare for about 3 minutes, then speak for about 5 minutes. The interlocutor plays the patient, carer or relative, and may show concern, confusion or disagreement.
What's assessed
Two kinds of criteria:
- Language: intelligibility, fluency, appropriateness of language, and resources of grammar and expression.
- Clinical communication: relationship building, understanding and incorporating the patient's perspective, providing structure, and gathering and giving information.
Clinical knowledge isn't scored. Communicating it clearly and kindly is.
A simple structure
- Open warmly: introduce yourself and check the patient's name. Hi, I'm Priya, one of the nurses. Can I confirm your name?
- Find out what they know and feel. What's your understanding of what's happening?
- Explain in plain language, in small chunks. Avoid jargon, or explain it.
- Check understanding. Just so I know I've explained it well, could you tell me what you'll do when you get home?
- Respond to concerns with empathy. I can see this is worrying for you.
- Close: summarise and check for questions.
Useful phrases
| To… | Say… |
|---|---|
| Show empathy | That must be really difficult. · It's completely understandable to feel that way. |
| Ask open questions | Can you tell me a bit more about…? |
| Signpost | First I'll explain…, then we can talk about… |
| Handle disagreement | I hear your concern. Can I explain why we recommend…? |
| Check understanding | Does that make sense so far? |
Practise both roles with a friend, or record yourself with our speaking recorder and listen for jargon and long pauses.