General Practitioner Oral Examination Workbook

— Gulf Licensing Edition

by S J Macartney · Empire English Online

The complete oral examination workbook for internationally trained GPs preparing for Gulf licensing.

You know general medicine. The examination is testing your English — your ability to explain what you know clearly, under pressure, in a second language, to an examiner who may not give you time to think.

This workbook gives you the words, the sentences, and the structure at the level you can actually use on the day.

What's inside

70 clinical cases across 6 sections, each with a full clinical scenario, five examiner questions, eight key vocabulary terms with plain-English definitions, five ready-to-use clinical phrases, and three complete model answers at A2, B1, and B2 level.

300 model answers written in realistic spoken English — not the formal written English of a textbook. The kind of English a real non-native speaker can produce under oral examination pressure.

107 rapid-fire viva questions covering all major GP topic areas, with concise examiner-ready answers in bold. Ideal for the final days before your exam.

5 follow-up questions per case — this is where most candidates lose marks. They answer the opening question well but cannot sustain the conversation. Every case in this book trains you to keep going.

Examiner notes for every case — key clinical points the examiner is listening for, written from an examiner's perspective.

The six sections

Section 1 — Primary Care (Cases 1–20) Uncontrolled Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes, Acute Chest Pain, Asthma, UTI in Pregnancy, Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Depression, Paediatric Fever, Contraception Counselling, Appendicitis, COPD Exacerbation, Anaemia, Hypothyroidism, Eczema in a Child, Acute Otitis Media, Low Back Pain, Obesity, Erectile Dysfunction, Migraine, Ethics — Confidentiality and the Duty to Disclose

Section 2 — Common Presentations (Cases 21–40) Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, Stroke and TIA, DVT, Acute Kidney Injury, Liver Disease, Sepsis, Headache Differential Diagnosis, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Chronic Pain, Insomnia, Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, Alcohol Dependence, Smoking Cessation, Palliative Care, Breaking Bad News, Advance Care Planning, Ethics — Capacity and Consent

Section 3 — Chronic Disease Management (Cases 41–50) Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Chronic Kidney Disease, Heart Failure Follow-Up, Type 1 Diabetes, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Dementia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Section 4 — Preventive & Holistic Care (Cases 51–55) Cardiovascular Risk and Statins, Cancer Screening, Childhood Immunisation, Menopause and HRT, Lifestyle Medicine and Metabolic Syndrome

Section 5 — Communication & Ethics (Cases 56–65) Consent for Surgery, Managing a Complaint, The Angry Patient, HIV Disclosure and Confidentiality, Child Safeguarding, Mental Health Act, Fitness to Drive, Capacity in the Elderly, Cultural Sensitivity, End-of-Life Decisions

Section 6 — Practical Procedures & Referrals (Cases 66–70) Referral to Secondary Care, Medication Review, Interpreting Investigations, Managing Polypharmacy, The Complex Multi-Morbid Patient

The three answer levels

Every single case is answered three times.

A2 · Foundation — 25–65 words. Simple, clear sentences. Everyday vocabulary. You answer the question directly without complex grammar. If your English is basic, start here.

B1 · Independent — 80–135 words. Clear and direct. Some medical terms. You explain your reasoning. Most candidates who read this book will be aiming for this level. If you can say the B1 answer fluently, you will pass.

B2 · Upper Independent — 110–270 words. More complete. You demonstrate clinical reasoning in depth. You name classifications, explain mechanisms, discuss alternatives. Only aim for this level if you are already a confident English speaker.

How to use this book

Six steps per case: find your level → read the scenario → study the vocabulary table → read your target answer aloud → practise without looking → work through the follow-up questions. Most candidates read silently. This book is designed to be spoken aloud.

Accepted for

DHA · DOH · MOHAP · SCFHS · Prometric

This workbook is designed for internationally trained General Practitioners applying for licensing in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. It is accepted preparation material for DHA (Dubai Health Authority), DOH (Department of Health Abu Dhabi), MOHAP (Ministry of Health and Prevention), SCFHS (Saudi Commission for Health Specialties), and Prometric oral assessments.

What this book is not

This is an English language examination preparation resource, not a clinical textbook. The model answers are written for English language practice purposes. They are designed to help non-native English speakers express clinical knowledge clearly under oral examination conditions. This publication is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in association with any licensing authority.

About the author

S J Macartney is the founder of Empire English Online and a materials writer with over 15 years of international English language teaching experience. The Empire Medical English Series is used by Gulf licensing candidates across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the wider Gulf region.

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