Level: B1 (OET Medicine)
Duration: 50 minutes
Skills: Listening & Speaking
Theme: Patient consultations – history taking
Real-life Scenario: GP with new patient reporting multiple symptoms
New Skills
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- ✅Form and use history-taking questions to elicit relevant patient information.
- ✅Describe symptoms accurately using severity (e.g., mild, severe) and frequency (e.g., intermittent, persistent) language.
- ✅Identify key details from patient consultation recordings (OET-style Part A listening).
| Concept | Definition | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| tingling | slight prickling feeling | “There’s tingling in my calves.” | وخز |
| swelling | enlargement of a body part due to fluid | “There is swelling around the knee joint.” | تورم |
| stiffness | difficulty moving a joint | “I wake up with stiffness in my neck.” | تيبس |
| radiating pain | pain spreading from one area to another | “The pain is radiating down my leg.” | ألم ممتد |
| persistent | not going away | “The swelling is persistent despite treatment.” | مستمر |
| onset | the start of a symptom | “The onset was about a month ago.” | بداية |
| nausea | feeling you might vomit | “I had nausea after the medication.” | غثيان |
| intermittent | happening sometimes, not all the time | “The pain is intermittent—it comes and goes.” | متقطع |
| chronic | lasting a long time | “I’ve had chronic back pain for over a year.” | مزمن |
| acute | sudden and severe | “It started as acute pain after lifting a suitcase.” | حاد |
Watch a short video clip of a doctor asking history-taking questions. Was this a good history taking? Why?
Today we’ll try to do a better job as a practitioner.
Display & Elicit Meaning
- Which of these describe when a symptom started?”
onset, acute, chronic - Which describe how often a symptom occurs?
persistent, intermittent - Which describe type/location of pain?
radiating pain, stiffness, swelling, tingling - Which describe other sensations?
nausea, intermittent, onset
Grammar & Functional Language for History-Taking
- When questions (onset)
- “When did the pain start?” (Past simple)
- “How long have you had it?” (Present perfect)
- Frequency questions
- “How often do you get the symptoms?”
- “Are they constant or intermittent?”
- Severity questions
- “On a scale from 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?”
- “Would you say it’s mild, moderate, or severe?”
- Type/Spread questions
- “Does the pain stay in one place or does it radiate?”
- “Where exactly do you feel the tingling?”
Medical History Form
Pronunciation Focus
- Stress patterns:
- acute (/əˈkjuːt/) → stress on 2nd syllable
- chronic (/ˈkrɒn.ɪk/) → stress on 1st syllable
- persistent (/pəˈsɪs.tənt/) → stress on 2nd syllable
- Practice intonation for empathy in history-taking:
- Falling tone for factual questions (“When did it start?”)
- Rising tone for showing interest/concern (“Does it hurt a lot?”)
Listening Model (OET )
You will hear a doctor taking a history. Listen for when the symptoms started, how severe they are, and any related issues.
First Listening: Listen and look for the following:
- Background
- Symptoms (onset, severity, frequency)
- Associated symptoms
- Lifestyle/diet factors
- Treatments tried
Pause after “After meals, I’ve always tended to get heartburn…”
Here the patient is giving history. This is past simple (‘I’ve always tended to…’) combined with present perfect for ongoing condition.”
Second listening: Now listen again and fill in the blanks
Controlled Dialogue Modelling
Teacher plays doctor, student plays patient:
- Doctor: “When did the nausea start?” / “How long have you had it?”(onset)
Patient: “About a year ago, after my symptoms got worse.” - Doctor: “Is it constant or intermittent?” / “How often do you get the symptoms?” (Frequency)
Patient: “It’s unpredictable — some days worse than others.” - Doctor: “On a scale from 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?” / “Would you say it’s mild, moderate, or severe?” (Severity)
Patient: “It’s unpredictable — some days worse than others.” - Doctor: “Does the pain stay in one place or does it radiate?” / “Where exactly do you feel the tingling?” (Type/Spread)
Patient: “It’s unpredictable — some days worse than others.”
Watch the interactive video and answer the questions
Tip: OET often uses synonyms instead of repeating glossary words exactly — this is key for test success.
Conduct a full patient history. Use glossary terms, correct grammar, and empathetic intonation.
Role-play Card 1
Case 1: Migraine & Neck Stiffness
38-year-old office worker.
Main Complaint: Leg tingling.
Onset: Chronic, after a car accident.
Frequency: Intermittent, about 4 times in the last week.
Associated Symptoms: Nausea, acute headaches.
Lifestyle/Diet: Drinks 4 cups of coffee/day, skips breakfast.
Treatment Tried: Took ibuprofen, minimal relief.
Role-play Card 2
Case 2: Lower Back Pain Radiating to Leg
You are a warehouse worker.
Main Complaint: Lower back pain radiating to right leg.
Onset: 2 weeks ago after lifting heavy box.
Frequency: Persistent, worse at night.
Associated Symptoms: Stiffness in right foot, occasional swelling.
Lifestyle/Diet: Works long shifts, no regular exercise.
Treatment Tried: Used heat pad, temporary relief.
Checklist
Category 1 – Linguistic (Max: 5 points)
☐ Used at least 5 glossary words correctly.
☐ Asked clear and grammatically correct questions.
☐ Spoke fluently without long pauses.
☐ Pronounced medical terms clearly.
☐ Used correct tense for onset and duration.
Category 2 – Clinical Communication (Max: 5 points)
☐ Started consultation politely and professionally.
☐ Asked follow-up questions to clarify patient’s answers.
☐ Showed empathy (tone of voice, supportive words).
☐ Summarised key points back to the patient.
☐ Describe symptoms accurately using severity (e.g., mild, severe) and frequency (e.g., intermittent, persistent) language..
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