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Medical Assessments

Qualified Bilingual Staff Practice Test

You have been registered to take the Qualified Bilingual Staff (QBS) assessment. This test evaluates medical staff members’ ability to communicate directly with target-language patients in simple and routine encounters. You will need access to a telephone and a computer at the same time for the QBS test.

This Test has Four (4) Sections:

Sections 2, 3, and 4 are completed by phone and do not require any materials on your computer.

Section 1

Section 1 of the QBS assessment is a sight-translation task of 10 sentences. The sentences will appear on your computer screen and you will provide the sight translations over the phone.

Section 2

Section 2 is a customer-service dialogue. You will have 40 seconds to interpret each interaction into the target language.

Section 3

Section 3 Medical Terminology. This section will be a series of 40 words. You will have 8 seconds to render each word into the other language.

Section 4

Section 4 Diagnosis & Instructions: This section will be a dialog between a healthcare provider and a patient. You will have 19 seconds to render each interaction into the other language.

Here are some important things to remember when taking the test:

  • Once you begin the assessment, it cannot be stopped. If for any reason you are disconnected, you have 3 minutes to call back and resume your test.
  • You will not be able to call back during the first section of the test (sight translation). If for some reason you are not able to complete that section, do not continue with the test, and contact your organization immediately.
  • Make sure that you select a quiet location where you will not be interrupted while you are taking the assessment. External noises may affect the quality of the recording, thereby impacting your score.
  • Be sure you have closed any programs that may interfere with your assessment, such as instant messaging programs.
  • If you experience any difficulties while taking the assessment, please contact the person who assigned the assessment to you.
  • Every part of the test will be recorded. All of the information recorded will remain confidential.
  • Respond to each task with a clear and loud voice so that the system will be able to recognize your voice.
  • Please remember that this assessment is confidential and no information about this assessment should be shared or discussed. By entering your access code into the IVR system, you are automatically agreeing to the confidentiality of this assessment and the following honor statement: “I do hereby certify on my honor that I will take the test by myself and will derive no assistance during the time of the examination from any source whatsoever. I will also keep the content of the assessment confidential and will not share with peers, coworkers, or third parties.”
  • We recommend that you have the following items with you as you prepare to take the assessment: a bottle of water, a notepad and pencil, and tissue.

Taking the Test:

  • Follow the instructions on the document “QBS take the test instructions” attached to the notification email sent to you.
  • Go to www.altatesting.com to access the testing site, click the link “Have a test code instead”, and enter your access code. Click Log in and the system will verify your code.
  • Dial the phone number that you see on the screen and enter the access code also displayed on the screen.

Sample QBS Test

Below is a sample QBS test with 4 sections. Each section is shorter than the actual ones you will have on your test. The underlined words or sentences are the objective scoring units.

We recommend you first listen to the recording, then look at the script below and answer the prompts. Sample answers are at the end of each section. You can then listen to the recording again, pausing after each prompt to respond.

If you have additional questions, please call us at 1-888-465-4648 or email us at [email protected]

Section 1: Sight Translation

This section of the QBS test is a short sight-translation. You must translate five sentences into the target language. You will have two and a half minutes total to review the sentences and provide the translations. For this sample test, use the sentences in the script. For the actual test, you will log in to the ALTA portal to view the sentences and provide translations by phone.

Remember, in the actual test, there will be a larger number of sentences.

  • Wash your hands carefully with soap and warm water before using the eye drop medicine.
  • Look up to the ceiling with both eyes.
  • Tilt your head back and pull your lower lid down with one hand.
  • Put one drop inside your lower lid. Gently close your eye.
  • Throw away the drops when you have finished the course of treatment.

Sample answers:

  • Lávese las manos cuidadosamente con jabón y agua tibia antes de usar el colirio.
  • Mire hacia el techo con ambos ojos.
  • Incline la cabeza hacia atrás y baje el párpado inferior con una mano.
  • Eche una gota dentro de su párpado inferior. Cierre los ojos con cuidado.
  • Deseche las gotas cuando haya terminado el curso del tratamiento.

Section 2: Customer Service

This section will be a dialogue. You will have 40 seconds to render each interaction into the other language. Note that this dialogue is much shorter than the one on the actual test.

  • Good morning, my name is Susan, how can I help you today?
  • Buenos días, no me estoy sintiendo muy bien y me gustaría ver al doctor hoy.
  • I am sorry about that. Could you tell me more on what is going on?
  • Pues no lo sé. He estado vomitando desde esta mañana y me duele el estómago.
  • Doctor Smith is booked today but Katie our nurse practitioner can see you this afternoon if you want. Does 2 pm work for you? What is your name and date of birth?
  • Mi nombre es Julia García y mi fecha de nacimiento es 10 de septiembre de 1990. He sido paciente del Doctor Smith por varios años. ¿Usted cree que yo pueda venir a la oficina esta mañana?
  • Let me check. Maybe the nurse would be able to see you just before lunch. Would it be possible for you to be at the office around 11:30 am?
  • Claro. Muchas gracias por ayudarme a conseguir que me viera antes.
  • You are welcome. See you at 11:30 am.

 

Sample answers

  • Buenos días, mi nombre es Susan. ¿Cómo le puedo ayudar en el día de hoy?
  • Good morning, I am not feeling well and would like to see the doctor today.
  • Lo siento mucho. ¿Me pudiera explicar mejor que le sucede?
  • I do not know. I have been vomiting since this morning and my stomach hurts.
  • La agenda del doctor Smith está llena para hoy, pero Katie, nuestra enfermera practicante, puede verla esta tarde si lo prefiere. ¿Le parece bien a las 2 pm? ¿Cuál es su nombre y fecha de nacimiento?
  • My name is Julia Garcia and my date of birth is September 10, 1990. I have been a patient of Doctor Smith for several years. Would it be possible for me to come to the office this morning?
  • Déjeme verificar. Tal vez la enfermera pueda verla justo antes del almuerzo. ¿A usted le sería posible estar en la oficina alrededor de las 11:30 am?
  • Sure. Thank you very much for being able to getting me in earlier.
  • De nada. Hasta las 11:30.

Section 3: Medical Terminology

This section will be a series of 10 words. You will have 8 seconds to render each word into the other language. Remember, in the actual test, there will be a larger number of words.

  • Conjunctivitis
  • Sangramiento
  • Heartburn
  • Erupción
  • Pain reliever
  • Fiebre
  • Nostrils
  • Tendinitis
  • Medical history
  • Contraindicaciones

 

Sample answers

  • Conjuntivitis
  • Bleeding
  • Acidez
  • Rash
  • Analgésico
  • Fever
  • Fosas nasales
  • Tendonitis
  • Historia clínica
  • Contraindications

Section 4: Diagnosis and Instructions

This section will be a dialogue between an advice nurse and a patient. You will have 19 seconds to render each interaction into the other language. Note that this dialogue is much shorter than the one on the actual test.

  • Good morning, this is Barbara, Doctor Ford’s nurse. How can I help you?
  • Hola. Mi number es Mercedes Tavarez. Ayer tuve una cita con el doctor Ford. Me recomendó un medicamento para el dolor de espalda, pero no me hace efecto. No pude dormir anoche.
  • I see that Dr. Ford asked you to take Acetaminophen every 4 hours. Which dosage did you take?
  • La que tenía en casa. Déjame revisar. En la caja dice 325 mg.
  • You should try a stronger one, especially for the night. Go to the pharmacy and ask for Acetaminophen 500 mg and you can take two at bedtime. It should help.
  • Muchas gracias. Definitivamente me hace falta poder dormir.
  • Sure. I understand. Call us back if it does not get better.

 

Sample answers:

  • Buenos días, soy Barbara, la enfermera del doctor Ford. ¿Como puedo ayudarle?
  • My name is Mercedes Tavarez. I saw Dr. Ford yesterday. He recommended some medicine for my back pain but it does not work. I could not sleep last night.
  • Veo que el Dr. Ford le indicó que tomara acetaminofén cada 4 horas. ¿Qué dosis usted tomó?
  • The one that I had home. Let me check. It says 325 mg on the box.
  • Debe probar una más fuerte, especialmente por la noche. Vaya a la farmacia y pida acetaminofén 500 mg y puede tomar dos a la hora de acostarse. Eso debe ayudarle.
  • Thank you very much. I definitely need to be able to sleep.
  • Por supuesto. Entiendo. Llámenos si no mejora.

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