Linguistic criteria (each out of 6)
- Intelligibility
- Fluency
- Appropriateness of Language
- Resources of Grammar and Expression
OET Pharmacy Speaking
OET Speaking Role-Play Cards for Pharmacists (With Model Answers)
These OET Speaking role-play cards for pharmacists give you two realistic practice cards, a model role-play with notes on what earns marks, useful phrases for each stage and the mistakes that cost pharmacists a B. Prepare for 3 minutes, speak for 5, then compare.
20 minApproximate length of the Speaking sub-test
3 minPreparation time for each role-play card
2Profession-specific role-plays, about 5 minutes each
How does OET Speaking work for pharmacists?
The Speaking sub-test is the same format for every profession, but the role-plays are written for your profession. As a pharmacist you play yourself, talking to a patient, customer or carer in a realistic pharmacy situation.
Timing: about 20 minutes
The Speaking sub-test takes about 20 minutes in total. It opens with a short warm-up conversation, which is not assessed.
Two role-plays
You complete two profession-specific role-plays. For each one you get 3 minutes to prepare from your card, and the role-play itself lasts about 5 minutes.
The interlocutor
The interlocutor plays the patient, a relative or a carer from their own card. They may be anxious, reluctant or upset, so you have to respond to them, not recite a script.
Two assessors
Your performance is recorded and assessed by two assessors against four linguistic criteria and five clinical communication criteria.
How is OET Speaking marked?
Two sets of criteria are used. The linguistic criteria look at how you speak; the clinical communication criteria look at how you manage the conversation with the patient.
Clinical communication criteria (each out of 3)
- Relationship-building
- Understanding and incorporating the patient's perspective
- Providing structure
- Information-gathering
- Information-giving
What Grade B looks like
OET states that Grade B means predominantly scores of 5 out of 6 on each linguistic criterion and 2 out of 3 on the clinical communication criteria. Source: OET Speaking guide.
Two OET Pharmacy role-play cards to practise
Each card has two halves: the candidate card you would see in the test and the interlocutor card the examiner uses. Read only the candidate card first, prepare for 3 minutes and ask a partner to play the patient.
Card 1: Patient starting a new preventer inhaler
Candidate card
Setting: Community pharmacy, consultation room
Pharmacist. Mr Daniel Morris, aged 34, has brought in a new prescription for a preventer inhaler (beclometasone, two puffs twice a day) to use alongside his blue reliever inhaler. His GP started it because he has been using his reliever most days. He seems unsure about the new inhaler.
Task:
- Find out what the patient understands about the new inhaler and what concerns him.
- Explain the difference between the reliever and the preventer, and why the preventer is used every day.
- Explain how to reduce side effects and check his inhaler technique.
- Respond to his concern about taking steroids.
- Explain when he should see his GP and when to seek urgent help.
Interlocutor card
Setting: Community pharmacy, consultation room
Patient. You have had asthma since childhood and use your blue inhaler most days. Your GP has added a brown preventer inhaler. You feel fine most of the time and do not see why you need another inhaler. A colleague told you that steroids make you put on weight.
Task:
- Say you only need the blue inhaler when you are short of breath, so you are not sure why you need another one.
- Mention that you might use the new inhaler only when you feel unwell.
- Ask whether the steroids will make you put on weight.
- Agree to use it twice a day if the pharmacist explains clearly.
Card 2: Customer asking for more codeine painkillers
Candidate card
Setting: Community pharmacy, medicines counter
Pharmacist. A 45-year-old customer, Mr Ken Walsh, asks to buy the largest pack of an over-the-counter codeine and paracetamol painkiller. He tells you he has been taking it for his back for about six weeks and it no longer seems to work.
Task:
- Find out how long, how often and how much he has been taking.
- Explain why over-the-counter codeine is only for short-term use.
- Explain why you cannot sell it for this purpose, and suggest safer options.
- Advise him to see his GP about the ongoing back pain.
- Explain which symptoms need urgent medical attention.
Interlocutor card
Setting: Community pharmacy, medicines counter
Customer. You hurt your back at work about six weeks ago. You have been buying codeine painkillers from different pharmacies and sometimes take more than the pack says, because they no longer help. You are busy and do not want to see a doctor.
Task:
- Ask for the biggest pack and say you know what you are doing.
- When asked, admit that you sometimes take an extra dose.
- Become frustrated when the pharmacist will not sell it, and say you have no time for a GP.
- Accept the advice if the pharmacist is respectful and explains the risks.
Practice material written by OET with Dr Hesham. It is not an official OET test card.
Model role-play: patient starting a new preventer inhaler
This is a condensed model performance for Card 1. Notice how the pharmacist finds out how the inhalers are used first, responds to the steroid worry and checks understanding before closing.
Pharmacist: Hello, Mr Morris. I'm Alex, one of the pharmacists here. Thanks for coming into the consultation room. Is it all right if we spend a few minutes on your new inhaler?
Patient: Sure, but I'm not really sure why I need it. I've already got my blue one.
Pharmacist: That's a fair question. Before I explain, could you tell me how often you're using the blue inhaler at the moment?
Patient: Most days, to be honest. Usually when I walk to work, and sometimes at night.
Pharmacist: Thank you, that's really helpful. The blue inhaler is a reliever: it opens your airways quickly when you're wheezy, but it doesn't treat the swelling inside them. The new brown inhaler is a preventer. It calms that swelling slowly, so over time you should need the blue one much less.
Patient: So I can just use it when I feel bad?
Pharmacist: I can see why you'd think that, but the preventer works differently. It only works if you take it every day, two puffs in the morning and two at night, even when you feel well. It usually takes a couple of weeks to feel the full benefit. Does that make sense?
Patient: I suppose. But a colleague said steroids make you put on weight. I don't want that.
Pharmacist: That's a really common worry, and I'm glad you mentioned it. The steroid in this inhaler goes straight to your lungs in a small dose, so it's very different from steroid tablets, and weight gain isn't something we'd expect. The most common side effects are a sore mouth or a hoarse voice, and you can reduce those by rinsing your mouth with water and spitting it out after each dose.
Patient: Oh, OK. That's not as bad as I thought.
Pharmacist: Would you mind showing me how you usually use your blue inhaler, so we can check the technique for both?
Patient: I just press it and breathe in.
Pharmacist: Let's make it as effective as possible. Shake it, breathe out gently, then press once as you start a slow, deep breath in, and hold your breath for about ten seconds. Wait about thirty seconds before the second puff.
Patient: Right. Slow breath, then hold it.
Pharmacist: Exactly. One more important thing: if you're still needing the blue inhaler three or more times a week after a few weeks, or you're waking at night with your asthma, please book a review with your GP. And if the blue inhaler isn't helping, or you're too breathless to speak in full sentences, that's an emergency, so call for an ambulance straight away.
Patient: OK. That's good to know.
Pharmacist: Just so I know I've explained it clearly, could you tell me how you'll use the new inhaler?
Patient: Two puffs in the morning and two at night, every day, even when I'm fine, and rinse my mouth afterwards.
Pharmacist: Perfect. So, to sum up: the preventer every day, the blue one only when you need it, and see your GP if you're using the blue one often. Do you have any other questions?
Patient: No, that's clear. Thanks.
Pharmacist: You're welcome. I'll give you a leaflet, and we'll check in with you in a couple of weeks to see how you're getting on.
Practice material written by OET with Dr Hesham. It is not an official OET test card. Each tag shows the clinical communication criterion a move supports.
Useful phrases for OET Pharmacy role-plays
Learn these as building blocks, not as a script. Adapt the wording to the patient in front of you.
Opening and rapport
- Hello, my name is … and I'm … . How would you like me to call you?
- Is it all right if we talk about … today?
- Before we start, is there anything you'd particularly like to cover?
Gathering information
- Could you tell me a bit more about …?
- What do you already know about …?
- How has this been affecting your day-to-day life?
Explaining in lay language
- In simple terms, this means …
- Let me explain what that involves.
- The main thing to remember is …
Responding to concerns
- That's completely understandable.
- It sounds as though you're worried about … . Is that right?
- I can see why you'd feel that way. Let's look at what we can do.
Checking understanding
- Just so I know I've explained it clearly, could you tell me how you'll …?
- Does that make sense so far?
- Is there anything you'd like me to go over again?
Closing
- So, to sum up: …
- Do you have any other questions?
- If you notice …, please contact … straight away.
Common mistakes pharmacists make in OET Speaking
These are the habits that most often pull a role-play below Grade B.
- Explaining the medicine before finding out what the patient already knows or believes about it.
- Using terms such as "corticosteroid", "bronchodilator" or "contraindicated" without explaining them.
- Refusing a sale abruptly without explaining why or offering a safe alternative.
- Ignoring a worry such as weight gain or addiction and simply repeating the instructions.
- Forgetting to check inhaler or device technique when it is part of the task.
- Giving no safety-netting advice about when to see a GP or seek urgent help.
- Closing without checking understanding or summarising the plan.
How should you practise with these cards?
Use Card 1 to study the model and Card 2 to test yourself. Card 2 is harder because you must say no politely and still keep the customer on side.
- Set a timer for 3 minutes and plan Card 2 before you read any model answer: decide how you will open, which questions you will ask and how you will close.
- Ask a friend or colleague to read the interlocutor card and react naturally, including the emotional cue.
- Record yourself for 5 minutes, then listen back against the two sets of criteria. Mark where you checked understanding and where you responded to a concern.
- Repeat the same card a day later with a different reaction from your partner, so you practise responding rather than memorising.
OET Pharmacy Speaking FAQ
More exam questions are answered on the full OET FAQ page.
Is there a Pharmacy version of OET Speaking?
Yes. Pharmacy is one of the 12 OET professions, and the Speaking role-plays are written for pharmacists, so you play yourself talking to a patient, customer or carer. Listening and Reading are the same for every profession.
Are these official OET Pharmacy role-play cards?
No. They are practice cards written by OET with Dr Hesham in the style of the test. Official sample tests are available from OET.
Can I refuse a sale in an OET Speaking role-play?
Yes, if the situation calls for it. Explain the reason in plain language, acknowledge how the customer feels and offer a safe alternative, such as seeing their GP. A respectful, well-explained refusal shows strong clinical communication.
What Speaking score do pharmacists need?
It depends on the regulator. The GPhC asks for B (350) in all four sub-tests in one sitting, and Ahpra asks for 360 in Speaking for tests taken from 23 April 2026. Check the OET score requirements guide for your regulator.
Next step
Practise your pharmacy role-plays with live feedback
A private 1:1 Speaking session covers different OET cards and ends with detailed feedback on what to change before the real test.