FSP Cheat Sheet: 50 Essential German Phrases
for the Arzt-Patienten-Gespräch (Doctor-Patient Consultation)
Published by LanguageTest.in | Updated June 2026 | Reading time: 7 minutes
The Arzt-Patienten-Gespräch (doctor-patient consultation) is the most heavily weighted component of the German Fachsprachenprüfung (FSP). Examiners are not just listening to see whether you speak German — they are assessing whether you communicate like a German doctor: structured, empathetic, thorough, and clear.
The 50 phrases below are the building blocks of a high-scoring FSP consultation. They are organised by consultation stage so you can learn them in sequence. Master these, and the structural foundation of your Arzt-Patienten-Gespräch is complete.
*How to use this cheat sheet: Don't memorise phrases in isolation. Practise linking them into a flowing consultation. Your goal is to use them so naturally that the examiner hears a doctor — not a candidate reciting sentences.*
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1. Opening the Consultation (Begrüßung und Eröffnung)
2. Taking the History — Anamnese (Symptom Exploration)
3. Past Medical History, Medications & Allergies (Vorgeschichte)
Drill these phrases in real FSP-style consultations at — timed Arzt-Patienten-Gespräch simulations with feedback on medical German fluency and clinical completeness.
4. Explaining a Diagnosis (Diagnose erläutern)
5. Discussing Treatment & Counselling (Therapiegespräch)
6. Empathy & Rapport Phrases (Einfühlungsvermögen)
7. Closing the Consultation (Abschluss)
How to Use These Phrases in Practice
Knowing these 50 phrases is necessary but not sufficient. The FSP rewards natural, connected communication — not recitation. Here is how to move from knowing to using:
- Connect phrases into sequences: Practice the Opening (phrases 1–6) as a single uninterrupted 2-minute flow. Then add the Anamnese block. Build the full consultation section by section.
- Record yourself: Run a timed 20-minute consultation using a sample case card. Listen back for hesitation, missing phrases, and unnatural transitions.
- Vary your closings: Examiners notice if every consultation closes with identical sentences. Vary phrases 44–50 across practice sessions.
- Prioritise empathy phrases: Phrases 38–43 are the most commonly omitted by international doctors. Build a habit of inserting at least two per consultation.
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*FSP pass insight: Examiners report that candidates who use structured empathy phrases (38–43) and consistently check understanding (phrases 30, 48) score significantly higher on the Kommunikation criterion — even when their German grammar is imperfect elsewhere.*
Drill these phrases in real FSP-style consultations at — timed Arzt-Patienten-Gespräch simulations with feedback on medical German fluency and clinical completeness.
References & Further Reading
- 1Bundesärztekammer. (2026). FSP-Kriterien und Bewertungsraster. bundesaerztekammer.de
- 1Goethe-Institut. (2024). Deutsch für den Arztberuf — Kommunikation in der Arzt-Patienten-Beziehung. goethe.de
- 1Schritte plus Neu Medizin (Hueber Verlag). (2022). Hueber Medical German Series.