OARS Technique — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ
Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.
Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: A — Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summarising
OARS comprises Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening (also termed reflections), and Summarising. Open questions encourage elaboration; affirmations recognise genuine strengths and efforts; reflections communicate understanding and help explore ambivalence; and summaries draw together important themes and change talk. Option C is incorrect because advice is not the A in OARS; although information or advice may sometimes be offered with permission, motivational interviewing principally uses a guiding rather than directing style. Reframing, assessment, reassurance, signposting and solution-finding may be useful clinical techniques in other contexts, but they do not form the OARS acronym.
Reference: Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Level 4: Developing Motivational Interviewing Practice Skills, learning outcomes section. Current webpage checked 2026. https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/occupational-course-list/level-4-developing-motivational-interviewing-practice-skills-3256/