Linguistic criteria (each out of 6)
- Intelligibility
- Fluency
- Appropriateness of Language
- Resources of Grammar and Expression
OET Physiotherapy Speaking
OET Speaking Role-Play Cards for Physiotherapists (With Model Answers)
These OET Speaking role-play cards for physiotherapists 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 physiotherapists 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 physiotherapists?
The Speaking sub-test is the same format for every profession, but the role-plays are written for your profession. As a physiotherapist you play yourself, talking to a patient, relative or carer in a realistic rehabilitation 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 Physiotherapy 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: Acute low back pain: patient wants a scan and bed rest
Candidate card
Setting: Outpatient physiotherapy department
Physiotherapist. Ms Hannah Brooks, aged 39, was referred by her GP with low back pain that started a week ago after she lifted heavy boxes while moving house. Your assessment found no signs of a serious cause. She is worried and has been resting in bed.
Task:
- Find out what she is most worried about and what she expects from today.
- Explain that this type of back pain usually improves within a few weeks.
- Explain why a scan is not needed at the moment.
- Explain why staying active is better than bed rest, and introduce simple home exercises.
- Describe the warning signs that need urgent medical attention.
Interlocutor card
Setting: Outpatient physiotherapy department
Patient. You hurt your back lifting boxes a week ago. You think you have "slipped a disc" and want a scan. You have been lying in bed most of the time because moving hurts, and you are worried about returning to your office job.
Task:
- Say you are sure something has slipped and ask for a scan.
- Say you have been resting in bed because moving makes it worse.
- Ask when you can go back to work.
- Agree to the plan if the physiotherapist explains it clearly.
Card 2: After a knee replacement: patient wants to stop the exercises
Candidate card
Setting: Patient's home, community physiotherapy visit
Physiotherapist. You are visiting Mr Robert Hale, aged 71, three weeks after a right total knee replacement. He is walking with a frame. His knee bend has improved more slowly than expected, and he tells you he has stopped some of his exercises.
Task:
- Find out why he has stopped the exercises.
- Explain why regular exercises matter for knee movement after the operation.
- Suggest ways to make the exercises more manageable, including doing them when his prescribed painkillers are working.
- Explain why he should keep using the walking frame for now.
- Explain which symptoms he should report urgently.
Interlocutor card
Setting: Patient's home, community physiotherapy visit
Patient. You had a knee replacement three weeks ago. The exercises are painful, so you stopped the bending exercises. You want to walk without the frame because it makes you feel old, and your granddaughter's wedding is in six weeks.
Task:
- Say the exercises hurt too much and you thought rest would help the knee heal.
- Say you want to get rid of the frame because it makes you feel old.
- Mention the wedding and that you want to walk normally by then.
- Agree to the plan if the physiotherapist explains the reasons and offers help.
Practice material written by OET with Dr Hesham. It is not an official OET test card.
Model role-play: acute low back pain
This is a condensed model performance for Card 1. Notice how the physiotherapist explores the request for a scan instead of dismissing it, explains in plain language and safety-nets before closing.
Physiotherapist: Hello, Ms Brooks. I'm Jordan, the physiotherapist. Thanks for coming in. How are you feeling today?
Patient: Not great. My back's really sore, and I'm sure something has slipped. I was hoping to get a scan.
Physiotherapist: I can hear you're worried, and that's understandable when the pain is this strong. Can I ask what you think is going on, and what you were hoping we'd do today?
Patient: I think it's a slipped disc. I just want to know what's wrong before I make it worse.
Physiotherapist: That makes sense. From what you've told me and from the examination, this looks like what we call simple low back pain. It's very common and it can be very painful, but it isn't caused by damage that needs a scan, and most people improve a lot within a few weeks.
Patient: But how can you be sure without a scan?
Physiotherapist: That's a fair question. A scan is useful when there are warning signs of something more serious, and you don't have any of those. Scans also often show changes that many people without any pain have too, which can be worrying without changing the treatment. If anything changes, we'll look at it again.
Patient: OK. I've been in bed most of the week because moving hurts.
Physiotherapist: Thank you for telling me. Resting for a day or two is fine, but staying in bed longer tends to make the back stiffer and recovery slower. Gentle movement is one of the best things you can do. Would it be all right if I showed you a couple of simple exercises?
Patient: As long as they don't make it worse.
Physiotherapist: They might feel a little uncomfortable at first, but that doesn't mean you're causing harm. Lie on your back with your knees bent and gently rock your knees from side to side ten times. Then, little and often, take short walks around the house and make them a bit longer each day.
Patient: And when can I go back to work?
Physiotherapist: Getting back to your normal activities, including work, as soon as you can actually helps recovery. You might start with shorter days or regular breaks from sitting, if your employer can arrange that. How do you feel about that?
Patient: I could ask my manager about breaks.
Physiotherapist: Great. There's one important thing. If you notice numbness around your bottom or genitals, changes to your bladder or bowel control, or increasing weakness in your legs, please go to A&E straight away. Those problems are rare, but they need urgent attention.
Patient: OK, I'll remember that.
Physiotherapist: Just to check I've explained things clearly, could you tell me what you'll do over the next few days?
Patient: Keep moving, do the exercises and short walks, try to get back to work, and go to A&E if I get numbness or bladder problems.
Physiotherapist: Exactly. So, to sum up: no scan for now, stay as active as you can, do the exercises every day, and we'll see you again in two weeks. Any other questions?
Patient: No, I feel a bit better about it now.
Physiotherapist: I'm glad. I'll give you a leaflet with the exercises so you have them at home.
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 Physiotherapy 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 physiotherapists make in OET Speaking
These are the habits that most often pull a role-play below Grade B.
- Explaining anatomy in detail before finding out what the patient is worried about.
- Using terms such as "non-specific", "range of motion" or "proprioception" without explaining them.
- Dismissing a request for a scan instead of explaining why it is not needed now.
- Demonstrating exercises without checking that the patient can and will do them at home.
- Arguing when a patient wants to stop the exercises instead of exploring the reason and negotiating.
- Forgetting to safety-net with the warning signs that need urgent attention.
- Running out of time before summarising and checking understanding.
How should you practise with these cards?
Use Card 1 to study the model and Card 2 to test yourself. Card 2 needs negotiation: link the exercises to the goal the patient cares about.
- 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 Physiotherapy Speaking FAQ
More exam questions are answered on the full OET FAQ page.
Is there a Physiotherapy version of OET Speaking?
Yes. Physiotherapy is one of the 12 OET professions, and the Speaking role-plays are written for physiotherapists, so you play yourself talking to a patient, relative or carer. Listening and Reading are the same for every profession.
Are these official OET Physiotherapy 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.
Do I need a lot of clinical detail for OET Speaking?
No. The role-plays use situations you already know from practice. Marks come from how you communicate: building rapport, finding out the patient's concerns, explaining clearly and checking understanding.
What Speaking score do physiotherapists need?
It depends on the regulator. The HCPC in the UK uses a total-score rule of 1400 with no sub-test below 300, 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 physiotherapy 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.