Skim this the morning of the test. The whole method, the templates, and the clock, in one place.
The DECIDE method
Define the dilemma and who is affected.
Examine perspectives and options against principles (honesty, fairness, safety, confidentiality, responsibility, respect for people’s choices).
Choose a concrete action and justify it.
Deal with thE consequences and follow-up.
Five steps: (1) name the dilemma and stakeholders, (2) consider perspectives, (3) weigh against principles, (4) decide and justify, (5) consequences and follow-up.
Templates by question type
Action (“what would you do?”): “The conflict here is between X and Y, which affects [stakeholders]. [The other side] may [perspective]. I would [action], because [principle]. Afterward I would [consequence or follow-up].”
Considerations (“what should they weigh?”): “They should consider [stakeholders], [competing perspectives], [principles in tension], and [consequences]. On balance, [what should guide the decision].”
Opinion or ethics (“do you agree?”): “Usually [position], because [reason]. But [hard case], where [competing value] outweighs it. So my view is [clear, qualified position], and the test is [usable principle].”
Personal experience (“describe a time”): “[Brief, specific situation.] I [what I did]. [Outcome.] What I learned is [reflection, or what I would do differently].”
Professional role (“as a future clinician”): Run the action template, with principles led by safety and welfare, honesty, confidentiality, staying in scope, and getting help.
The strong-answer checklist
Named the real dilemma, not a simpler one.
Named the stakeholders, including the easy-to-miss one.
Granted at least one other perspective.
Decided clearly and gave a reason.
Treated the people with empathy and respect.
Noted a consequence or follow-up.
Stayed specific to this scenario.
Answered every part.
Avoid
Never deciding. Seeing one side. No justification. Moralizing. Generic or templated. Ignoring stakeholders. No consequences. Vagueness. Running out of time on the second question. Performing instead of answering.
The clock
Typed: 3.5 minutes for 2 questions. Read both first (about 15 to 20 seconds). Split the rest evenly. A complete answer to both beats a perfect answer to one.
Video: about 1 minute spoken per question. Find the dilemma in the reflection, then four beats: issue, perspective, decision and reason, consequence.
