FSP doctor-to-doctor conversation: presenting the patient
Redaktion · 7 October 2026 · 3 min read
In short
In the doctor-to-doctor conversation you present the patient from your interview to a senior doctor, structured and short, about two minutes, then answer questions on the diagnosis, differential diagnoses and next steps. Many chambers end with medical terms; in Berlin, terms, abbreviations and lab values read aloud bring 5 of the 20 points of this part.
What is this part about?
After the patient interview and the documentation, you talk to the medical members of the panel as you would to a senior colleague. Now medical language is expected, not patient language. The Nordrhein chamber describes it as a ward round: after your presentation two doctors ask questions and may hand you further documents about the patient to assess. The part usually takes about 20 minutes.
How to structure the presentation
- Who: name, age, sex. "Ich möchte Ihnen Herrn … vorstellen, 58 Jahre alt."
- Why: reason for admission and leading symptom with its duration.
- Current history, short: onset, course, accompanying symptoms.
- Previous illnesses, operations, regular medication, allergies.
- Social and family history, where relevant.
- Suspected diagnosis with reasoning and differential diagnoses.
- Planned diagnostics and treatment, next steps.
This order follows the fields of the documentation forms the chambers publish. No chamber prints a fixed order; what they ask for is a structured, concise presentation. Aim for about 90 to 150 seconds, so there is time for questions.
How Berlin marks this part
| Criterion (selection, paraphrased) | Points |
|---|---|
| presents the case fluently and appropriately | up to 2.5 |
| speaks grammatically correctly and clearly | up to 2.5 |
| uses medical terms correctly and to an appropriate extent | up to 2.5 |
| makes clear statements on findings and treatment steps | up to 2.5 |
| answers follow-up questions without language problems | up to 2.5 |
| takes part in a discussion of the case | up to 2.5 |
| translates 5 medical terms into German | up to 2.5 |
| completes 2 abbreviations and reads 3 lab values aloud with numbers and units | up to 2.5 |
Two kinds of follow-up questions
- On your presentation: why this diagnosis? Which differentials? What is the next step? What do you tell the patient?
- On a new document: a lab report, an ECG report, an X-ray report. You read it aloud, with numbers and units, and say what it means.
Reading values aloud sounds easy but is a scored item, explicitly in Berlin, and Sachsen-Anhalt also has you repeat lab values from a phone call. Practise numbers with units: "Hämoglobin 9,8 Gramm pro Deziliter", "CRP 48 Milligramm pro Liter".
The vocabulary list at the end
Many chambers end with medical terms to translate into everyday German or the other way round: Niedersachsen 12 terms in both directions, Sachsen 12, Hamburg 15, Berlin 5 terms plus abbreviations and lab values. In Hessen the vocabulary test is even a separate 20-minute part.
The other parts: patient interview and doctor's letter. How all 17 chambers run the exam and what it costs: FSP exam in Germany: cost and format.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the doctor-to-doctor conversation in the FSP?
Usually about 20 minutes. The patient presentation itself should be short, about 90 to 150 seconds, to leave time for questions.
In what order do I present the patient?
A proven order: the person, reason for admission, current history, previous illnesses and medication, social and family history, suspected diagnosis with reasoning, differentials, diagnostics and treatment.
What is marked in the doctor-to-doctor conversation?
In Berlin eight criteria: fluent presentation, grammar, use of medical terms, clear statements, answering questions, discussion, medical terms, and abbreviations with lab values. Maximum 20, pass at 12.
Do I have to read lab values aloud?
In Berlin yes, three lab values with numbers and units. Other chambers also hand over reports for you to read and interpret.
Sources
- Ärztekammer Berlin: marking sheet "Ärztliches Gespräch" (PDF), checked 5 August 2026
- Ärztekammer Nordrhein: Fachsprachprüfung, checked 5 August 2026
- Ärztekammer Bremen: information sheet on FSP tasks (PDF), checked 5 August 2026
- Ärztekammer Niedersachsen: information sheet FSP (PDF), checked 3 August 2026
- Ärztekammer Hamburg: Fachsprachenprüfung, checked 5 August 2026
- Sächsische Landesärztekammer: Fachsprachenprüfung, checked 5 August 2026
- Ärztekammer Sachsen-Anhalt: Sprachtest, checked 3 August 2026
