Jobins Training · Free OET Practice
Radiography: practise your professional communication.
One full Writing task and one paired Speaking role play, with models, reasoning and a second attempt.
No registrationOriginal practiceModels explainedWriting · Full-length task
Responding to a patient after an interrupted MRI
Attempt the task before opening the model. Use the five-minute reading period to study the notes and task without writing or marking them; write your letter during the following 40 minutes.
Jobins Training · Original OET practice
- WRITING SUB-TEST:
- RADIOGRAPHY
- TIME ALLOWED:
- READING TIME: 5 MINUTES
WRITING TIME: 40 MINUTES
Read the case notes and complete the writing task below.
Notes:
Assume that today’s date is 6 November 2026.
Ms Clara Bennett, aged 42, attended the MRI department where you are the Senior Radiographer.
- Hospital:
- Westbridge General Hospital, 40 Hospital Road, Westbridge
PATIENT DETAILS:
- Name:
- Clara Bennett (Ms)
- Date of birth:
- 17 Oct 1984 (42 years)
- Residence:
- 5 Hazel Terrace, Westbridge
- Occupation:
- Teacher; telephone contact difficult during lessons
- Referrer:
- Dr Anil Rao, spinal clinic
- Investigation:
- Routine lumbar-spine MRI; persistent symptoms
- Appointment:
- 02 Nov 2026, 2 pm
- Written enquiry:
- 04 Nov 2026; reply requested
Relevant background:
First MRI; previous ultrasound tolerated.
No previous sedation request recorded.
No new clinical information supplied today.
Written preparation information sent 15 Oct.
Patient confirms receipt.
Claustrophobia response: "not sure".
No previous experience inside MRI scanner.
Preparation – 02 Nov 2026:
Safety screening completed on attendance.
No contraindication identified from screening.
Jewellery and metal belongings removed.
Hearing protection provided; call device demonstrated.
Need to remain still explained.
Staff contact during scanning explained.
Examination explained; consent obtained.
No contrast injection planned.
Appointment – 02 Nov 2026:
Department delayed 25 minutes.
Earlier examination required additional time.
Patient updated in waiting area.
Concerned about later school collection.
During positioning: confined feeling; increasing anxiety.
Staff paused and spoke with patient.
Willingness to continue checked.
Brief attempt agreed by patient.
Call device used; patient requested stop.
Examination outcome – 02 Nov 2026:
Table brought out; examination discontinued.
No diagnostic image series obtained.
Settled with staff support.
No injury or new physical symptoms documented.
Further attempt that afternoon declined.
Left with friend; no sedative given.
Referring clinic informed of incomplete examination.
No report answering clinical question possible.
Patient enquiry – 04 Nov 2026:
Embarrassed; feels she wasted staff time.
Questions why important scan was not continued.
Asks whether results will still be available.
Unsure whether another appointment is automatic.
Requests explanation of available support.
Asks about open scanner and relaxation medicine.
Written response preferred during teaching term.
Agreed response – 06 Nov 2026:
Acknowledge distress and appointment delay.
Explain stopping respected her request.
Usable images needed to answer clinical question.
No diagnostic images; no conclusions about symptoms.
Dr Rao's clinic already notified.
Offer pre-appointment discussion with MRI team.
Familiarisation visit available if helpful.
Explain staff communication and call device.
Discuss hearing protection and comfort measures.
Support-person attendance subject to safety screening.
Further plan:
Scanner/alternative investigation requires radiologist/referrer review.
Options not automatically interchangeable.
Relaxation medicine requires referrer's assessment/prescription.
Referrer to explain preparation, escort and driving arrangements.
Booking team awaits agreed plan.
No replacement date allocated.
Request preferred contact times from patient.
New/worsening symptoms: contact treating clinician.
Clinical urgency cannot be reassessed through this letter.
Writing Task:
Using the case notes, write a reply to Ms Clara Bennett, 5 Hazel Terrace, Westbridge. Address her concerns about the interrupted MRI, explain the outcome of the appointment and describe the available support and next steps. Use language suitable for a patient.
In your answer:
- Develop the relevant notes into complete sentences.
- Write in paragraphs rather than note form.
- Use an appropriate letter layout.
The body of your letter should be approximately 180–200 words.
After your attempt: identify the recipient, the purpose, three essential facts and two details you deliberately left out. Then compare your decisions below.
Reveal the model letter
6 November 2026
Ms Clara Bennett
5 Hazel Terrace
Westbridge
Dear Ms Bennett,
Re: Ms Clara Bennett | DOB: 17 October 1984
Thank you for writing about your MRI appointment on 2 November. I am sorry that the delay and feeling confined caused distress. You did not waste our time, and we would like to help you consider the next steps.
When you used the call device and asked to stop, staff brought you out and ended the examination. Continuing depended on your agreement and obtaining usable images. No diagnostic image series was completed, so the examination cannot explain your symptoms. Dr Rao's clinic has been informed.
We can discuss your concerns before another appointment and arrange a familiarisation visit if helpful. During scanning, staff can communicate with you, and you can use the call device for assistance. We can also discuss a support person's attendance, subject to safety screening.
A different scanner or investigation needs clinical review. If medicine to help you relax is considered, your referring clinician must assess its suitability and explain preparation, escort and driving arrangements. These options and a replacement date are not yet confirmed. Please send convenient contact times so we can agree a plan. If your symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop, contact your treating clinician.
Yours sincerely,
Senior Radiographer
Model body: 191 words using a space-separated editorial count. This is one possible response; it is not an officially scored letter or a sentence template to memorise.
Why these details were selected
What the reader needs
- Acknowledge both delay and distress without blame or unsupported admissions.
- Explain consent, no diagnostic images and communication with referrer.
- Practical support and distinction between available discussion and unconfirmed clinical/booking decisions.
What can be omitted or condensed
- DOB belongs in the reference line, not repeatedly in the explanation.
- Jewellery, prior ultrasound and every appointment timestamp can be omitted.
Accuracy traps
- No completed diagnostic series means no reassuring normal result.
- Do not guarantee an open scanner, sedation, appointment or alternative test.
- Do not use this routine response instead of assessment of new symptoms.
Accuracy repair: a fresh exercise
A draft says: Your scan was normal, and an open scanner is now booked.
Correct it using the case notes before opening the answer.
Check the repaired sentence
No diagnostic image series was obtained, and no replacement appointment has been allocated.
The correction preserves what is known, what has happened and what remains outstanding. Compare the changed words with the relevant dated note.
Review the six Writing criteria
| Criterion | Use it to review your attempt |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Can the reader identify the action or explanation needed from the opening? |
| Content | Are essential facts accurate, including dates, status and remaining needs? |
| Conciseness and clarity | Have you selected and combined information without losing necessary meaning? |
| Genre and style | Does the wording suit this recipient’s role and knowledge? |
| Organisation and layout | Do paragraphs help the reader locate the problem, evidence and next step? |
| Language | Are grammar, vocabulary, spelling and sentence links clear and accurate? |
Choose one factual correction and one language improvement for a second draft. This checklist is for learning; it does not calculate an OET grade.
Speaking · One paired role play
Practise the professional conversation
Use 3 minutes to prepare the professional card, then about 5 minutes for the conversation. The candidate stays in the professional role. A partner plays the patient, parent or animal owner. This is one role play; the OET Speaking sub-test contains two.
Read only your own card before starting. The partner should open their card privately and reveal information in response to the conversation. These cards are a separate scenario from the Writing case.
Candidate card · Radiographer
Setting: MRI department: preparation discussion
You meet Theo, aged 40, before a planned knee MRI. Safety screening is still to be completed. He feels anxious about the enclosed space and wants assurance that he can stop. The requested study is planned without contrast. You can explain the procedure, hearing protection, communication and safety screening. Sedation, a different scanner or another investigation would require further clinical arrangements and cannot be promised today.
Tasks
- Explore Theo’s specific fear and any previous experience of enclosed spaces or scanning.
- Explain the broad scanning process, need to remain still and protection from scanner noise in plain language.
- Describe communication with staff and the call device, including what happens if he needs to stop.
- Explain why safety screening is required even if he feels well; invite disclosure of implants or possible metal exposure.
- Discuss realistic support options, check understanding and willingness to proceed; escalate concerns before positioning if needed.
Partner card — Patient only
Role-player card · Patient
You are Theo, 40. You once panicked in a crowded lift. You imagine that staff will lock you in the scanner and be unable to hear you. You have no known implant but have not understood why repeated safety questions matter. You would like a chance to discuss the plan before deciding.
- Say: “What if I panic and nobody hears me?”
- If asked about experience, explain the lift incident.
- Ask whether the loud noise means dangerous X-rays are being used.
- When safety screening is explained, ask why it is necessary if this is only a knee scan.
- If given a clear explanation, describe how you will contact staff; decide whether you are ready to continue, without pressure.
Respond naturally to what is asked. Do not give every detail at once or create an unrelated medical quiz. If the explanation is unclear, ask for clarification.
Review selected exchanges and explanations
These are selected teaching exchanges, not a full five-minute transcript. Compare how the response changes with the concern. Several different responses could work.
Patient: “What if nobody hears me?”
Radiographer: “That sounds like the part worrying you most. We can hear and speak with you during the scan, and I will show you the call device before we start. If you need us to stop, tell us so we can help you safely.”
Why this helps: Provides a concrete control mechanism instead of promising that panic cannot happen.
Patient: “Is the noise from X-rays?”
Radiographer: “MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves, not X-rays. It can be noisy while taking pictures, so we provide hearing protection. The magnetic field is also why the safety questions are important.”
Why this helps: Connects an accurate explanation to the safety process.
Patient: “Can I decide after we talk?”
Radiographer: “Yes. Let us complete the safety discussion and work through your concerns before positioning you. If further support is needed, we can discuss the next arrangements with the team rather than rush you.”
Why this helps: Respects ongoing consent and avoids guaranteeing unarranged alternatives.
Repeat with a changed response
Partner mentions an implant but does not know its model. Pause the routine preparation, follow the MRI safety process and seek the necessary information; do not infer safety from the patient having had a previous scan.
Keep your professional role, listen to the changed information and adapt the next step. Do not repeat a memorised answer when the situation has changed.
Review all nine Speaking criteria
| Criterion | Use it to review your attempt |
|---|---|
| Intelligibility | Can your partner follow your speech without repeated effort? |
| Fluency | Can you keep the exchange moving while allowing natural pauses? |
| Appropriateness of language | Does the register and explanation suit this person? |
| Resources of grammar and expression | Can you express time, uncertainty, reasons and choices accurately? |
| Relationship building | Do you show attention to the person’s particular concern? |
| Understanding and incorporating the patient’s perspective | Does the plan respond to their priorities and constraints? |
| Providing structure | Do you signal changes of topic and explain information in manageable stages? |
| Information gathering | Do you ask, listen and clarify rather than assume? |
| Information giving | Do you explain clearly and check what the person has understood? |
Ask your partner for one example of something clear and one moment that needed clarification. If you record yourself on your own device, review only with everyone’s agreement. The website does not record speech or generate an OET score.
Format and clinical background references
Exam format: OET test handbook. These original cases were written for language practice after reviewing official task formats. The following sources inform clinical plausibility; the fictional patient records are not copied from them.