What is graded in this part
The doctor–patient conversation is the part where most points are lost – not because of missing vocabulary but because of medical jargon and gaps. The patient (an examiner) answers the way real patients do: vaguely, at length, sometimes with a question of their own. Your task is to turn that into a complete history in twenty minutes.
Three things decide it:
- Completeness. Every area comes up – including those that seem “irrelevant” for the case. Substance use, allergies and social history are the ones missing most often in exam reports.
- Plain language. Every medical term you do not translate for the patient is noted. „Ist Ihnen übel?“ instead of „Haben Sie Nausea?“.
- Conversation management. Start open („Was führt Sie zu uns?“ – what brings you here?), then ask targeted questions. Address worries. At the end, summarise and say what happens next.
The order that always works
Greeting and personal data (1–2 min.)
Introduce yourself with name and role, offer a seat, ask for the patient’s name, age, height and weight. Keep it short – this is the frame, not the content.
Current complaints (5–7 min.)
Open opening question, then pain or leading symptom systematically: Where? Since when? How severe (0–10)? What does it feel like? What makes it worse, what relieves it? Plus accompanying symptoms.
Review of systems (2 min.)
Appetite, weight, sleep, bowel movements, urination, fever, night sweats – for women, menstruation.
Previous illnesses, operations, medication, allergies (3 min.)
Chronic diseases, previous operations, regular medication with dose, allergies and intolerances.
Substance use (1 min.)
Smoking (how much, since when), alcohol (how much, how often), drugs – asked neutrally, without judgement.
Family and social history (2 min.)
Illnesses in the family, occupation, marital status, living situation, stress factors.
Closing (1–2 min.)
Summarise, answer the patient’s open questions, explain the next step: examination, blood test, ultrasound.
The questions by area – with phrases
History questions by area
Choose an area. The sentences come from our phrase training — this is how doctors in German hospitals really ask.
The first impression – and the data that must appear at the top of the report form.
Begrüßung & Vorstellung
Guten Tag! Ich bin der diensthabende Arzt auf dieser Station.
Good afternoon! I'm the doctor on duty on this ward.
Ich bin heute für Sie zuständig.
I'm the one responsible for you today.
Ich würde gerne mit Ihnen das Aufnahmegespräch führen.
I'd like to conduct the admission interview with you.
Bevor ich auf Ihre aktuellen Beschwerden eingehe, würde ich Ihnen gerne noch ein paar Fragen zu Ihrer Person stellen.
Before I get into your current complaints, I'd like to ask you a few questions about yourself first.
Ich würde Ihnen gerne noch ein paar Fragen zu Ihren persönlichen Daten stellen.
I'd like to ask you a few more questions about your personal details.
Ja, gerne. Bitte nehmen Sie Platz. Ich bin der diensthabende Arzt auf dieser Station.
Yes, of course. Please take a seat. I am the doctor on duty on this ward.
Ich werde Ihnen zuerst ein paar Fragen zu Ihrer Person stellen und dann direkt zu Ihren Beschwerden kommen.
Persönliche Daten
Wie heißen Sie?
What is your name?
Wie ist Ihr Vorname, und wie ist Ihr Nachname?
What's your first name, and what's your last name?
Könnten Sie mir bitte Ihren Vor- und Nachnamen langsam buchstabieren?
Could you please spell your first and last name slowly for me?
Wie alt sind Sie, und wann genau sind Sie geboren?
How old are you, and exactly when were you born?
Wie groß sind Sie, und wie viel wiegen Sie zurzeit?
How tall are you, and how much do you currently weigh?
Wie ist der Name Ihres Hausarztes?
What is the name of your family doctor?
Sind Sie gesetzlich oder privat versichert?
Do you have statutory or private health insurance?
Wie alt sind Sie?
Wann genau sind Sie geboren?
Wie groß sind Sie?
Wie viel wiegen Sie zurzeit?
Plain language: the same thing, said differently
The rule is simple: talk to the patient as if they were your neighbour. Every medical term has an everyday form – and often a short detour is enough: instead of „Haben Sie Dyspnoe?“ you ask „Bekommen Sie schlecht Luft?“. The examiners listen closely for this, because it is the skill needed every day in clinical work.
| What you think (medical term) | What you say (plain language) |
|---|---|
| Nausea, Emesis | Ist Ihnen übel? Haben Sie erbrochen? |
| Dyspnoe | Bekommen Sie schlecht Luft? |
| Miktion, Defäkation | Wie ist das Wasserlassen? Wie ist der Stuhlgang? |
| Thorakale Schmerzen | Haben Sie Schmerzen in der Brust? |
| Inappetenz | Haben Sie weniger Appetit als sonst? |
| Nykturie | Müssen Sie nachts zur Toilette? |
| Appendizitis | eine Entzündung des Blinddarms |
| Hypertonie | ein zu hoher Blutdruck |
| Analgetikum | ein Schmerzmittel |
| Sonografie | eine Ultraschalluntersuchung |
Fill the gap: which word is missing?
Five sentences from the phrase training. Each is missing a word that matters grammatically – a question word, a modal verb, the subjunctive. Type it in; small typos are allowed.
When the patient asks back
The examiner-patient deliberately asks questions that break the pattern: „Ist das etwas Schlimmes?“ (Is it something serious?), „Muss ich im Krankenhaus bleiben?“ (Do I have to stay in hospital?), „Kann ich morgen arbeiten?“ (Can I work tomorrow?). Ignoring them is one of the surest ways to lose points. The answer needs three parts: acknowledge the worry, give an honest assessment, name the next step.
Ich verstehe, dass Sie sich Sorgen machen.
I understand that you are worried.
Das tut mir leid zu hören.
I am sorry to hear that.
Das kann ich Ihnen zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt noch nicht sicher sagen.
I cannot tell you that for certain at this point.
Dafür benötigen wir zunächst weitere Untersuchungen, um die genaue Ursache Ihrer Beschwerden festzustellen.
For that, we first need further examinations to find out the exact cause of your symptoms.
Ob eine Operation nötig ist, kann ich erst nach den Untersuchungen beurteilen.
I can only judge whether an operation is necessary after the examinations.
Ob Sie im Krankenhaus bleiben müssen, hängt von den Untersuchungsergebnissen ab.
Whether you need to stay in hospital depends on the test results.
Sobald die Ergebnisse vorliegen, besprechen wir gemeinsam das weitere Vorgehen.
As soon as the results are available, we will discuss the next steps together.
Diese Angaben sind wichtig für die Einschätzung Ihrer Beschwerden.
This information is important for assessing your symptoms.
Frequently asked questions about the history-taking
Do I have to examine the patient physically?
No. The FSP tests the conversation; you only announce the physical examination at the end („Ich würde Sie jetzt gerne untersuchen“ – I would like to examine you now). The findings, if any, are given to you by the examiners.
Formal or informal address (Sie or du)?
Always the formal „Sie“ – even with young patients, even if the patient addresses you informally. Use the name: „Herr Wagner“, „Frau Müller“.
What do I do if the patient talks a lot?
Interrupt politely and steer: „Das ist wichtig, darauf komme ich gleich zurück. Zuerst möchte ich wissen …“ (That is important, I will come back to it. First I would like to know …). That is conversation management and is graded positively.
May I read questions from a list?
Notes yes, reading no. Anyone reading questions aloud does not respond to the answers – and the examiners notice that immediately. Learn the structure by heart, not the sentences.
What is the best way to practise the conversation?
Out loud, in real time, with a counterpart who answers unpredictably. In FSPkurs a talking AI patient takes that role – with a history form that counts live which areas you have covered, and grading by FSP criteria.