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IELTS Health Vocabulary Guide

Pierre describes a time when he had a heavy cold for about two weeks. His symptoms included a blocked nose, sore throat, and general feelings of being unwell. Though the illness lasted around two weeks, he felt over the worst after a few days and returned to work. He finds it better to stay active when ill to keep his mind off his symptoms, though his family gets frustrated with him lying on the couch. The illness did not seriously affect his life.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
42 views3 pages

IELTS Health Vocabulary Guide

Pierre describes a time when he had a heavy cold for about two weeks. His symptoms included a blocked nose, sore throat, and general feelings of being unwell. Though the illness lasted around two weeks, he felt over the worst after a few days and returned to work. He finds it better to stay active when ill to keep his mind off his symptoms, though his family gets frustrated with him lying on the couch. The illness did not seriously affect his life.

Uploaded by

Yasemen Karaman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

IELTS Health Vocabulary

Part 1-style questions

Examiner: Have you got a relation you’re particularly fond of?


Sinita: Yes … my granddad … he’s 94 years old but generally he’s as fit as a
fiddle … we’re very close and see each other a lot … whenever he goes down with
a cold or is under the weather I make a point of visiting him …

Examiner: Do you do any sport?


Jon: Yes … I’m keen on skateboarding … but I haven’t done it for a while … I had
a bad fall recently and pulled a muscle and had a few cuts and bruises … but
I’m on the mend and hope to be doing it again soon …

Examiner: Is there anything you’re particularly afraid of?


Davide: The dentist … I hate going to the dentist … I only ever go if I have a
toothache so it usually means I have to have a filling or even have a tooth out …
I really don’t like it …

Part 2-style task

Describe a time when you were ill. You should say:

 when this was


 what your symptoms were
 how long the illness lasted

and say how it affected your life at the time.

Pierre:  This is a tricky one really as I’m usually quite healthy … I’ve never been
seriously ill … like everyone else I sometimes get a few aches and pains or catch
a cold … I can remember a few months ago I had to have time off work with a
heavy cold … I had the usual symptoms … a blocked nose … sore throat … it
lasted quite a while … about 2 weeks I think though I didn’t have that much time
off work … for a few days I remember feeling poorly but I was over the worst of
it after a few days and went back to work … I always find it’s better to be active
when you feel ill as it keeps your mind off your symptoms … I think my family get
a little fed up with me when I’m ill though … I tend to feel sorry for myself and lie
on the sofa all day as if I’m at death’s door … but as I said earlier … on this
occasion it was nothing serious and didn’t really cause me any problems …

Part 3-style questions

Examiner: What costs are involved when you are ill in your country?
Anya: Well … people have to pay prescription charges which can be quite
expensive … but fortunately general healthcare is free … unless you want to go
private of course and then  you can pay a fortune for your treatment …

Examiner: In your experience are people too quick to take time off work when
they’re ill?
Alicia: Yes .. I’ve got friends who have a day off work if they wake up with
a runny nose … and in most cases they seem to make a speedy recovery after
they’ve phoned in sick …

Examiner: Do women pay more attention to their health than men?


Julie: I think so yes … women are more likely to see their GP for a check-up if
they’re concerned about something … men tend to avoid facing up to any health
problems they have … my dad always seems to have a very chesty cough but
refuses to go to make an appointment to see the doctor …

Definitions

 aches and pains: minor pains that continue over a period of time
 to be a bit off colour: to feel a little ill
 to be at death’s door: (informal) to be very ill indeed
 to be on the mend: to be recovering after an illness
 to be over the worst: to have got through the most serious or
uncomfortable stage of an illness
 to be under the weather: (informal) to not feel well
 a blocked nose: when the nose has excess fluid due to a cold
 to catch a cold: to get a cold
 a check-up: a physical examination by a doctor
 a chesty cough: a cough caused by congestion around the lungs
 cuts and bruises: minor injuries
 to feel poorly: to feel ill
 as fit as a fiddle: to be very healthy
 to go down with a cold: to become ill
 to go private: to choose to be treated by commercial healthcare rather
than by services offered by the state
 GP: General Practitioner (family doctor)
 to have a filling: to have a tooth repaired
 to have a tooth out: to have a tooth removed
 a heavy cold: a bad cold
 to make an appointment: to arrange a time to see the doctor
 to make a speedy recovery: to recover quickly from an illness
 to phone in sick: to call work to explain you won’t be attending work due to
illness
 prescription charges: money the patient pays for medicine authorised by a
doctor
 to pull a muscle: to strain a muscle
 a runny nose: a nose that has liquid coming out of it
 a sore throat: inflammation that causes pain when swallowing

Common questions

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Personal experiences and perceptions significantly impact behavior towards seeking medical help. Davide avoids visiting the dentist unless necessary, due to his fear and anticipation of needing fillings or extractions . In contrast, Pierre believes in remaining active during illness to distract from symptoms, though he acknowledges feeling sorry for himself during a cold. Julie's observation that men, represented by her father, often avoid doctors despite symptoms also highlights how personal and cultural perceptions influence health-seeking behaviors .

The document emphasizes 'being active' during illness through Pierre's strategy to keep his mind off symptoms by staying engaged in activities. He notes that even when feeling poorly, remaining active helps manage illness better than complete rest. This approach suggests a belief that mental engagement can aid physical recovery and reduce perceived severity of symptoms .

Anya outlines that the financial implications of illness in her country include prescription charges, which can be expensive. General healthcare is free; however, opting for private healthcare can be costly, potentially requiring a considerable financial investment for treatment .

Social relationships are portrayed as integral to health and wellbeing. Sinita's close relationship with her granddad involves regular visits, especially when he is ill, indicating that familial bonds play a crucial role in providing care and emotional support . This illustrates the reciprocal nature of social relationships in maintaining health and how these connections are perceived as essential for wellbeing and recovery.

The emotional and psychological experiences of illness in the document are characterized by discomfort and vulnerability. Pierre describes how he feels sorry for himself and seeks sympathy from his family during illness, while Davide expresses fear and reluctance towards dental visits . These narratives reflect common emotional responses such as self-pity and anxiety, highlighting the psychological challenges often accompanying physical illnesses.

The document portrays varied responses to health issues based on severity. Minor health issues like colds are depicted as manageable through self-care and activity, as Pierre exhibits . Conversely, severe issues elicit stronger responses such as avoidance, shown by Davide's aversion to dentists for anything beyond tooth pain, suggesting both practical and psychological factors influence how individuals address health concerns depending on their perceived seriousness .

The document suggests a mixed attitude towards healthcare services. Prescription charges are seen as a burden, yet they are a necessary aspect of accessing medication. In Anya's experience, while general healthcare is freely available, there is an option for private treatment, which is significantly more expensive, suggesting a tiered perception of healthcare efficiency and luxury. This duality indicates a cultural acceptance of healthcare as both a community service and a personal investment .

The document reflects that personal attitudes towards minor illnesses often lead to absenteeism. Alicia mentions that some people, such as her friends, take days off for minor symptoms like a runny nose, yet recover quickly after reporting in sick. This suggests that workplace norms and attitudes can encourage taking time off even for minor ailments, potentially affecting productivity and perceptions of illness severity .

The document illustrates a positive relationship between age and fitness through Sinita's description of her 94-year-old granddad as 'fit as a fiddle,' suggesting that health and activity can be maintained regardless of age . This challenges stereotypes of inevitable decline with age and implies that perceptions of health can remain positive and proactive across the lifespan, promoting an emphasis on active health maintenance in older age.

The document suggests that women tend to be more proactive in seeking healthcare compared to men. Julie notes that women are more likely to visit their General Practitioner (GP) for a check-up if they have health concerns. In contrast, men often avoid addressing their health issues, exemplified by Julie's father, who has a persistent chesty cough but avoids seeing a doctor. This indicates a gendered perception that influences how health issues are acknowledged and managed .

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