IELTS Speaking: How to Discuss Healthcare Topics Like a Pro

Levi Cheptora

Sat, 07 Jun 2025

Introduction
The IELTS Speaking test can be daunting for any candidate, but for medical and healthcare professionals, discussing topics related to their field can present a unique set of challenges. While you may be familiar with healthcare concepts, expressing them in English in a structured, coherent, and fluent manner requires practice and strategy. This blog post will walk you through how to effectively discuss healthcare topics in IELTS Speaking, providing invaluable tips, strategies, and online resources to help you speak like a pro.

Overview of the IELTS Speaking Test

The IELTS Speaking test lasts around 11–14 minutes and is divided into three parts:

• Part 1: Introduction and interview (4–5 minutes) – You’ll be asked questions about yourself, your work, and general topics.
• Part 2: Long turn (3–4 minutes) – You’ll be given a topic card and asked to speak for 1–2 minutes on that topic after 1 minute of preparation.
• Part 3: Discussion (4–5 minutes) – The examiner will ask further questions related to the topic in Part 2, leading to a more abstract discussion.

When healthcare professionals are tasked with discussing medical topics during the IELTS Speaking exam, the conversation often leans toward issues related to healthcare systems, patient care, medical advancements, and ethical issues. While your medical knowledge is an advantage, you’ll need to align it with the expectations of IELTS assessment criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.

Common Healthcare-Related IELTS Speaking Topics

IELTS Speaking topics in the healthcare sector often focus on broader, globally relevant issues. Here are some examples:

• Patient care and healthcare services
• The role of technology in medicine
• Public health concerns (e.g., obesity, smoking, pandemics)
• The ethical implications of medical research
• Healthcare systems and access to healthcare
• The doctor-patient relationship
• Advances in medical treatments and technologies
• Mental health awareness and challenges

Being familiar with these themes gives you an advantage in the exam. However, practice and preparation are key to ensuring you can discuss these topics fluently, coherently, and confidently.

Strategies for Discussing Healthcare Topics Like a Pro

1. Understand the Question

In Part 2 and Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking test, healthcare topics might require you to express your opinions, explain processes, or predict future trends in medicine. Carefully listen to the examiner’s question and ensure that you understand what is being asked. If you’re unsure, politely ask for clarification or for the examiner to repeat the question.

2. Leverage Your Expertise (but Keep It Simple)

As a healthcare professional, you likely have a deep understanding of medical topics. While this knowledge is beneficial, be mindful of using overly technical language that the examiner might not understand. Your goal is to communicate ideas clearly, not to impress with jargon. For example:

• Instead of saying "cardiopulmonary resuscitation," use "CPR" and briefly explain what it is.
• Instead of "ischemic heart disease," say "heart disease caused by blocked blood vessels."

Use simple language to explain complex concepts, demonstrating your ability to convey information to a layperson, which is a valuable communication skill.

3. Organize Your Thoughts with Fluency and Coherence

Your fluency and coherence score depends on how well you can organize your ideas and keep speaking without too many hesitations. When discussing healthcare topics:

• Use transitional phrases to organize your ideas: "First of all…", "Additionally…", "On the other hand…", "In conclusion…".
• Use examples to support your points: For example, “In my experience as a nurse, I have seen how early diagnosis of cancer improves patient outcomes.”
• Practice storytelling for Part 2: When given a cue card topic like "Describe a health issue you or someone you know had," practice organizing your response into a clear beginning, middle, and end. Make sure you stay within the 1–2 minute timeframe.

4. Enhance Your Lexical Resource

The lexical resource criterion assesses your vocabulary range and accuracy. Healthcare topics require you to have a well-rounded vocabulary in medical and health-related fields, but also in general English. Focus on:

• Medical vocabulary and paraphrasing: For example, use terms like "treatment," "diagnosis," "therapy," "rehabilitation," but also be able to paraphrase them. Instead of repeating “treatment” multiple times, use alternatives like “care,” “intervention,” or “procedure.”
• Collocations and phrases: Practice using healthcare collocations like "provide care," "diagnose a condition," "prescribe medication," or "undergo surgery."
• Synonyms: Have synonyms ready for common terms. For example, instead of constantly saying "healthcare system," you can alternate with "medical infrastructure" or "health services."

5. Build a Strong Argument (Critical Thinking)

In Part 3, you’ll often be asked to express and justify your opinions or discuss hypothetical scenarios. Here’s how to handle these questions:

• State your opinion clearly: "In my opinion, public health initiatives should focus more on preventive care rather than just treatment."
• Justify your point with examples or evidence: "For instance, I’ve noticed that campaigns encouraging exercise and healthy eating have reduced rates of obesity in my country."
• Acknowledge alternative views: "However, some argue that increased funding for hospitals is more important. While this is crucial, I still believe prevention should be a priority."

6. Improve Pronunciation and Intonation

Even if you’re a non-native speaker, clear pronunciation is essential. Pay attention to:

• Medical terms: Practice pronouncing terms you’ll commonly use in healthcare discussions.
• Stress and intonation: Focus on stressing important words in your sentences. For example, “It is essential for patients to receive timely treatment.”

You don’t need to sound like a native speaker, but you should aim for clarity and accuracy in your speech.

Example IELTS Speaking Responses for Healthcare Topics

Part 2: Sample Cue Card Topic

Cue Card: Describe a health problem that someone you know had. You should say:

• What the health problem was
• How it affected them
• What they did to improve the situation

Sample Answer:
One of my close friends recently experienced a health issue related to hypertension, or high blood pressure. It developed gradually due to a combination of stress from work and a sedentary lifestyle. At first, they didn’t notice any symptoms, but after routine check-ups, the doctor identified that their blood pressure was quite high. The doctor recommended several lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet, as well as prescribed medication to help manage the condition. Over time, with these adjustments, their blood pressure improved significantly, and they’ve been able to maintain a healthier lifestyle since.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

Question: Do you think medical advancements have improved healthcare outcomes?
Sample Answer:
Yes, medical advancements have significantly improved healthcare outcomes in many areas. For example, the development of new imaging technologies like MRI and CT scans allows doctors to diagnose conditions more accurately and at an earlier stage, leading to better treatment outcomes. Additionally, the creation of vaccines and improved surgical techniques has led to a decrease in mortality rates from once-deadly diseases. That said, access to these advancements remains unequal in some parts of the world, and efforts must be made to ensure that all populations benefit from these innovations.

Online Resources for Further Preparation

1. British Council’s IELTS Preparation
   Offers sample questions, practice tests, and tips for each section of the IELTS exam.

2. IELTS Liz
   Provides free lessons, tips, model answers, and practice materials for all parts of the IELTS Speaking test.

3. Cambridge English: IELTS Speaking Practice
   Cambridge’s website includes practice speaking materials and study guides, along with healthcare-related examples.

4. IELTS Simon
   Offers clear advice on preparing for IELTS Speaking, including advanced lessons on discussing complex topics such as healthcare.

5. FluentU
   A great resource for improving general and medical English through real-world videos, making it easier to improve listening and speaking skills.

6. Road to IELTS
   A preparation course with interactive exercises, mock exams, and feedback tailored to healthcare professionals.

Final Thoughts

Discussing healthcare topics in IELTS Speaking doesn’t have to be difficult if you follow a systematic approach. Focus on building a strong healthcare vocabulary, organizing your responses clearly, and practicing critical thinking. By leveraging your medical knowledge and breaking down complex concepts into simple, clear language, you’ll be able to excel in IELTS Speaking and achieve the band score you need for your professional advancement.