IELTS Essay: Advice for Medical Problems

by Dave | Jun 6, 2021 | Real Past Tests

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of advice for medical problems and seeing doctors from the real IELTS exam.

Please consider supporting me on Patreon.com/howtodoielts to receive my exclusive IELTS Ebooks – you can even sign up for private live lessons with me!

Dave

IELTS Essay: Advice for Medical Problems

Some people today prefer to get advice for medical problems and do not want to visit a doctor.

Why is this?

Is this a positive or a negative development?

Many individuals today would rather seek out medical advice themselves instead of seeing a licensed professional. In my opinion, this is a result of online convenience and it is a positive development on the whole.

The main cause of this transition is the proliferation of information available on the internet. In the past, an ailing individual had little recourse other than to visit a doctor for tests. Now, there are a variety of question and answer websites as well as diagnosis ones that are free of cost and faster than a trip to a hospital. The slight conveniences of saving some money, time, and effort may not seem decisive, but mass behaviour is often driven by marginal advantages. For instance, posting a question to a forum such as Reddit.com where qualified professions may provide free advice is a powerful incentive to avoid a costly and time-consuming consultation with an experienced doctor.

Though there are risks associated with misdiagnosis, seeking advice online is generally more reliable. Doctors vary in their quality and numerous studies in recent years support the counter-intuitive conclusion that websites actually provide more trustworthy advice. This is a result of the accumulation of many years’ worth of data and the standardizing of detection, prognosis, and treatment. For example, the website WebMD.com allows users to search for their symptoms online, discover a range of possible causes and then decide themselves on the best path forward. This may include a visit to a hospital if further tests are required that can only be conducted in person, but at least the patient has saved time and money at the initial stage of diagnosis.

In conclusion, fewer people today visit doctors because there are cheap, convenient alternatives online and this is largely positive. There are risks that must be guarded against but this change cannot be reversed.

Analysis

1. Many individuals today would rather seek out medical advice themselves instead of seeing a licensed professional. 2. In my opinion, this is a result of online convenience and it is a positive development on the whole.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. The main cause of this transition is the proliferation of information available on the internet. 2. In the past, an ailing individual had little recourse other than to visit a doctor for tests. 3. Now, there are a variety of question and answer websites as well as diagnosis ones that are free of cost and faster than a trip to a hospital. 4. The slight conveniences of saving some money, time, and effort may not seem decisive, but mass behaviour is often driven by marginal advantages. 5. For instance, posting a question to a forum such as Reddit.com where qualified professions may provide free advice is a powerful incentive to avoid a costly and time-consuming consultation with an experienced doctor.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Stay focused on the same main idea.

1. Though there are risks associated with misdiagnosis, seeking advice online is generally more reliable. 2. Doctors vary in their quality and numerous studies in recent years support the counter-intuitive conclusion that websites actually provide more trustworthy advice. 3. This is a result of the accumulation of many years’ worth of data and the standardizing of detection, prognosis, and treatment. 4. For example, the website WebMD.com allows users to search for their symptoms online, discover a range of possible causes and then decide themselves on the best path forward. 5. This may include a visit to a hospital if further tests are required that can only be conducted in person, but at least the patient has saved time and money at the initial stage of diagnosis.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Continue developing it…
5. as fully as possible!

1. In conclusion, fewer people today visit doctors because there are cheap, convenient alternatives online and this is largely positive. 2. There are risks that must be guarded against but this change cannot be reversed.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Many individuals today would rather seek out medical advice themselves instead of seeing a licensed professional. In my opinion, this is a result of online convenience and it is a positive development on the whole.

The main cause of this transition is the proliferation of information available on the internet. In the past, an ailing individual had little recourse other than to visit a doctor for tests. Now, there are a variety of question and answer websites as well as diagnosis ones that are free of cost and faster than a trip to a hospital. The slight conveniences of saving some money, time, and effort may not seem decisive, but mass behaviour is often driven by marginal advantages. For instance, posting a question to a forum such as Reddit.com where qualified professions may provide free advice is a powerful incentive to avoid a costly and time-consuming consultation with an experienced doctor.

Though there are risks associated with misdiagnosis, seeking advice online is generally more reliable. Doctors vary in their quality and numerous studies in recent years support the counter-intuitive conclusion that websites actually provide more trustworthy advice. This is a result of the accumulation of many years’ worth of data and the standardizing of detection, prognosis, and treatment. For example, the website WebMD.com allows users to search for their symptoms online, discover a range of possible causes and then decide themselves on the best path forward. This may include a visit to a hospital if further tests are required that can only be conducted in person, but at least the patient has saved time and money at the initial stage of diagnosis.

In conclusion, fewer people today visit doctors because there are cheap, convenient alternatives online and this is largely positive. There are risks that must be guarded against but this change cannot be reversed.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

seek out find

medical advice suggestions from doctors

instead of over

licensed professional doctor

online convenience easier to do on a website

positive development on the whole good overall

transition change to

proliferation spread

information available what can be found online

in the past formerly

ailing sick

little recourse other than to no choice but to

tests conducted to find out about your illness

variety many types

question and answer websites forum sites

as well as and

diagnosis identifying what’s wrong

free of cost no charge

trip travelling to a place

slight conveniences minor helps

decisive makes a real difference

mass behaviour how people act

driven by motivated by

marginal advantages small edges

posting putting up online

forum where people can ask and answer questions online

qualified professions doctors

powerful incentive good motivator

avoid stay away from

costly expensive

time-consuming consultation takes up a lot of time

experienced have done the job a long time

risks associated with misdiagnosis dangers related to a mistake in identifying what is wrong

reliable trustworthy

vary change according to

numerous studies in recent years support the counter-intuitive conclusion much research recently shows the unlikely fact that

actually in fact

trustworthy reliable

accumulation adding up

years’ worth a lot of time put into it

data information

standardizing made all the same

detection finding out

prognosis how the illness with continue

treatment medicine

WebMD.com a site with information about illnesses

users people using the site

symptoms the results of an illness

discover find out about

range variety of

possible causes potential sources

decide themselves figure out on their own

best path forward treatment options

conducted done

initial stage early on

convenient alternatives good other options

largely mostly

risks threats

guarded against protected from

reversed changed back

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

siːk aʊt 
ˈmɛdɪkəl ədˈvaɪs 
ɪnˈstɛd ɒv 
ˈlaɪsənst prəˈfɛʃənl
ˈɒnˌlaɪn kənˈviːniəns 
ˈpɒzətɪv dɪˈvɛləpmənt ɒn ðə həʊl
trænˈzɪʃ(ə)n 
prəʊˌlɪfəˈreɪʃən 
ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən əˈveɪləbl 
ɪn ðə pɑːst
ˈeɪlɪŋ 
ˈlɪtl rɪˈkɔːs ˈʌðə ðæn tuː 
tɛsts
vəˈraɪəti 
ˈkwɛsʧən ænd ˈɑːnsə ˈwɛbˌsaɪts 
æz wɛl æz 
ˌdaɪəgˈnəʊsɪs 
friː ɒv kɒst 
trɪp 
slaɪt kənˈviːniənsɪz 
dɪˈsaɪsɪv
mæs bɪˈheɪvjə 
ˈdrɪvn baɪ 
ˈmɑːʤɪnəl ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz
ˈpəʊstɪŋ 
ˈfɔːrəm 
ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd prəˈfɛʃənz 
ˈpaʊəfʊl ɪnˈsɛntɪv 
əˈvɔɪd 
ˈkɒstli 
ˈtaɪmkənˈsjuːmɪŋ ˌkɒnsəlˈteɪʃən 
ɪksˈpɪərɪənst 
rɪsks əˈsəʊʃɪeɪtɪd wɪð mɪs ˌdaɪəgˈnəʊsɪs
rɪˈlaɪəbl
ˈveəri 
ˈnjuːmərəs ˈstʌdiz ɪn ˈriːsnt jɪəz səˈpɔːt ðə ˈkaʊntər-ɪnˈtju(ː)ɪtɪv kənˈkluːʒən 
ˈækʧʊəli 
ˈtrʌstˌwɜːði 
əˌkjuːmjʊˈleɪʃ(ə)n 
jɪəz wɜːθ 
ˈdeɪtə 
ˈstændədaɪzɪŋ 
dɪˈtɛkʃən
prɒgˈnəʊsɪs
ˈtriːtmənt
wɛb ˌɛmˈdiː kɒm 
ˈjuːzəz 
ˈsɪmptəmz 
dɪsˈkʌvə 
reɪnʤ 
ˈpɒsəbl ˈkɔːzɪz 
dɪˈsaɪd ðəmˈsɛlvz 
bɛst pɑːθ ˈfɔːwəd
kənˈdʌktɪd 
ɪˈnɪʃəl steɪʤ 
kənˈviːniənt ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪvz 
ˈlɑːʤli 
rɪsks 
ˈgɑːdɪd əˈgɛnst 
rɪˈvɜːst

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many individuals today would rather s__________t m_______________e themselves i______________f seeing a l_____________________l. In my opinion, this is a result of o_______________________e and it is a p_________________________________e.

The main cause of this t_____________n is the p________________n of i_____________________e on the internet. I_____________t, an a________g individual had l_________________________o visit a doctor for t_____s. Now, there are a v_______y of q_____________________________s a______________s d____________s ones that are f____________t and faster than a t____p to a hospital. The s_______________________s of saving some money, time, and effort may not seem d____________e, but m_______________r is often d____________y m____________________s. For instance, p__________g a question to a f________m such as Reddit.com where q___________________s may provide free advice is a p_____________________e to a________d a c_______y and t______________________________n with an e_____________d doctor.

Though there are r____________________h m______________s, seeking advice online is generally more r___________e. Doctors v_____y in their quality and n________________s i___________________s s____________________________n that websites a_____________y provide more t_______________y advice. This is a result of the a________________n of many y_____________h of d_____a and the s_______________g of d____________n, p____________s, and t_____________t. For example, the website W_____________m allows u_______s to search for their s____________s online, d____________r a r________e of p_______________s and then d_____________________s on the b__________________d. This may include a visit to a hospital if further tests are required that can only be c____________d in person, but at least the patient has saved time and money at the i_______________e of diagnosis.

In conclusion, fewer people today visit doctors because there are cheap, c________________________s online and this is l_______y positive. There are r______s that must be g__________________t but this change cannot be r_____________d.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/just-doctor-ordered-study-reveals-accuracy-self-diagnosing-online#:~:text=The%20online%20checkers%20provided%20the,57%20percent%20of%20the%20time.

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Health

1. How can people improve their physical health?
2. What about their mental health?
3. In what ways can teachers encourage students to do sports?
4. What is the role of doctors in raising health awareness?
5. Can social media also play a role?

Writing Practice

Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Governments should spend more money on medical research and less on researching the environment.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Essay: Traditional Ideas and Young people

by Dave | Jun 3, 2021 | Real Past Tests

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the traditional ideas and how helpful they are for young people in the future from the real IELTS exam.

Please consider supporting me on Patreon.com/howtodoielts to receive my exclusive IELTS Ebooks – you can even sign up for private live lessons with me!

Dave

IELTS Essay: Traditional Ideas and Young People

Traditional ideas from older people about the way to live and behave are not helpful to young people and their futures.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many are of the belief that past traditions now hold little future value for young people. In my opinion, there are still important lessons young people can learn from their cultural heritage.

Supporters of this contention argue that the changing world has make old ways of life irrelevant. This is especially the case as technology has hastened cultural and economic upheaval. In the past, an individual’s grandparents might be able to give worthwhile advice related to how to behave at work and manage their relationships. This is now less true than ever before because of the advent of social media apps, dating websites, remote working and the loss of traditional career paths. The growth of the internet has had a further globalising effect that erodes the uniqueness of cultures. For example, recent women’s empowerment movements have occurred simultaneously globally, often in conflict with the traditional values of individual nations.

Nonetheless, tradition serves as an increasingly important guide in a world with few fixed values. As the world has become more secular, religious values have declined but cultural traditions remain intact. A standout example of this would be the strong familial ties in Asian nations such as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam. Children in these nations are expected to listen to the advice of their parents, maintain cultural traditions, and behave within certain ethical bounds. Without these customs to guide their behaviour, young people would be at the mercy of the values espoused in popular media. However, by following mores from the past, young people will have a foundation to judge their present and future actions.

In conclusion, despite the decreasing relevance of tradition in the modern world, it still holds an important place as a basis for ethical behaviour. Young people must therefore temper their desire to reform with a skeptical reverence for the past.

Analysis

1. Many are of the belief that past traditions now hold little future value for young people. 2. In my opinion, there are still important lessons young people can learn from their cultural heritage.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Supporters of this contention argue that the changing world has make old ways of life irrelevant. 2. This is especially the case as technology has hastened cultural and economic upheaval. 3. In the past, an individual’s grandparents might be able to give worthwhile advice related to how to behave at work and manage their relationships. 4. This is now less true than ever before because of the advent of social media apps, dating websites, remote working and the loss of traditional career paths. 5. The growth of the internet has had a further globalising effect that erodes the uniqueness of cultures. 6. For example, recent women’s empowerment movements have occurred simultaneously globally, often in conflict with the traditional values of individual nations.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Stay focused on the same main idea.
6. If you haven’t included an example, add one at the end.

1. Nonetheless, tradition serves as an increasingly important guide in a world with few fixed values. 2. As the world has become more secular, religious values have declined but cultural traditions remain intact. 3. A standout example of this would be the strong familial ties in Asian nations such as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam. 4. Children in these nations are expected to listen to the advice of their parents, maintain cultural traditions, and behave within certain ethical bounds. 5. Without these customs to guide their behaviour, young people would be at the mercy of the values espoused in popular media. 6. However, by following mores from the past, young people will have a foundation to judge their present and future actions.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Continue developing it…
5. as fully as possible!
6. Relate it back to the overall topic.

1. In conclusion, despite the decreasing relevance of tradition in the modern world, it still holds an important place as a basis for ethical behaviour. 2. Young people must therefore temper their desire to reform with a skeptical reverence for the past.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Many are of the belief that past traditions now hold little future value for young people. In my opinion, there are still important lessons young people can learn from their cultural heritage.

Supporters of this contention argue that the changing world has make old ways of life irrelevant. This is especially the case as technology has hastened cultural and economic upheaval. In the past, an individual’s grandparents might be able to give worthwhile advice related to how to behave at work and manage their relationships. This is now less true than ever before because of the advent of social media apps, dating websites, remote working and the loss of traditional career paths. The growth of the internet has had a further globalising effect that erodes the uniqueness of cultures. For example, recent women’s empowerment movements have occurred simultaneously globally, often in conflict with the traditional values of individual nations.

Nonetheless, tradition serves as an increasingly important guide in a world with few fixed values. As the world has become more secular, religious values have declined but cultural traditions remain intact. A standout example of this would be the strong familial ties in Asian nations such as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam. Children in these nations are expected to listen to the advice of their parents, maintain cultural traditions, and behave within certain ethical bounds. Without these customs to guide their behaviour, young people would be at the mercy of the values espoused in popular media. However, by following mores from the past, young people will have a foundation to judge their present and future actions.

In conclusion, despite the decreasing relevance of tradition in the modern world, it still holds an important place as a basis for ethical behaviour. Young people must therefore temper their desire to reform with a skeptical reverence for the past.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

of the belief think

past traditions customs from the past

hold little future value won’t help later

important lessons meaningful teaching

cultural heritage history and traditions of a people

supporters those in favour of

contention argument

irrelevant no longer important

especially the case in particular true

hastened cultural and economic upheaval sped up the changes in society

worthwhile valuable

manage deal with

This is now less true than ever before now not as much the case

advent beginning

social media apps TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snap, etc.

remote working working from home

loss of traditional career paths normal jobs going away

growth development

further globalising effect countries becoming more similar

erodes disappears

uniqueness special

recent women’s empowerment movements feminist reforms in recent years

occurred simultaneously globally happened at the same time all over the world

in conflict with fighting

traditional values beliefs from the past

individual nations singular countries

nonetheless regardless of

tradition serves as customs are

increasingly more and more

guide help

few fixed values not many set beliefs

secular non-religious

religious values morals from God

remain intact stay alive

standout example good instance

strong familial ties good relationships in families

expected to will likely

maintain keep

behave within certain ethical bounds follow rules

customs traditions

guide someone to follow

at the mercy of vulnerable to

espoused propagated

mores customs

foundation basis

judge form an opinion of

present and future actions right now and later

decreasing relevance becoming less important

important place key area

basis foundation

temper weaken

desire wanting to

reform changes

skeptical reverence wary level of respect

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ɒv ðə bɪˈliːf 
pɑːst trəˈdɪʃənz 
həʊld ˈlɪtl ˈfjuːʧə ˈvæljuː 
ɪmˈpɔːtənt ˈlɛsnz 
ˈkʌlʧərəl ˈhɛrɪtɪʤ
səˈpɔːtəz 
kənˈtɛnʃən 
ɪˈrɛlɪvənt
ɪsˈpɛʃəli ðə keɪs 
ˈheɪsnd ˈkʌlʧərəl ænd ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ʌpˈhiːvəl
ˈwɜːθˈwaɪl 
ˈmænɪʤ
ðɪs ɪz naʊ lɛs truː ðæn ˈɛvə bɪˈfɔː
ˈædvənt 
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə æps
rɪˈməʊt ˈwɜːkɪŋ 
lɒs ɒv trəˈdɪʃənl kəˈrɪə pɑːðz
grəʊθ 
ˈfɜːðə ˌgləʊb(ə)laɪˈzing ɪˈfɛkt 
ɪˈrəʊdz 
juːˈniːknəs 
ˈriːsnt ˈwɪmɪnz ɪmˈpaʊəmənt ˈmuːvmənts 
əˈkɜːd ˌsɪməlˈteɪniəsli ˈgləʊbəli
ɪn ˈkɒnflɪkt wɪð 
trəˈdɪʃənl ˈvæljuːz 
ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl ˈneɪʃənz
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
trəˈdɪʃən sɜːvz æz 
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli 
gaɪd 
fjuː fɪkst ˈvæljuːz
ˈsɛkjʊlə
rɪˈlɪʤəs ˈvæljuːz 
rɪˈmeɪn ɪnˈtækt
ˈstændaʊt ɪgˈzɑːmpl 
strɒŋ ˈfæmɪliel taɪz
ɪksˈpɛktɪd tuː 
meɪnˈteɪn 
bɪˈheɪv wɪˈðɪn ˈsɜːtn ˈɛθɪkəl baʊndz
ˈkʌstəmz 
gaɪd 
æt ðə ˈmɜːsi ɒv 
ɪsˈpaʊzd 
ˈməʊriːz 
faʊnˈdeɪʃən 
ˈʤʌʤ 
ˈprɛznt ænd ˈfjuːʧər ˈækʃ(ə)nz
diːˈkriːsɪŋ ˈrɛlɪvəns 
ɪmˈpɔːtənt pleɪs 
ˈbeɪsɪs 
ˈtɛmpə 
dɪˈzaɪə 
ˌriːˈfɔːm 
ˈskɛptɪkəl ˈrəvərəns 

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many are o______________f that p_________________s now h____________________e for young people. In my opinion, there are still i_______________________s young people can learn from their c__________________e.

S________________s of this c____________n argue that the changing world has make old ways of life i________________t. This is e________________e as technology has h__________________________________l. In the past, an individual’s grandparents might be able to give w_____________e advice related to how to behave at work and m___________e their relationships. T____________________________________e because of the a________t of s__________________s, dating websites, r________________g and the l_________________________________s. The a_________t of the internet has had a f______________________________t that e_________s the u__________________s of cultures. For example, r__________________________________s have o_________________________________y, often i_________________h the t______________________s of i_____________________s.

N________________s, t___________________s an i_______________y important g__________e in a world with f___________________s. As the world has become more s_____________r, r________________s have declined but cultural traditions r________________t. A s__________________e of this would be the s______________________s in Asian nations such as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam. Children in these nations are e____________o listen to the advice of their parents, m_____________n cultural traditions, and b_________________________s. Without these c________s to g_______e their behaviour, young people would be a________________f the values e____________d in popular media. However, by following m_______s from the past, young people will have a f_____________n to j_______e their p______________________s.

In conclusion, despite the d_________________________e of tradition in the modern world, it still holds an i_____________________e as a b_______s for ethical behaviour. Young people must therefore t_________r their d________e to r__________m with a s______________________e for the past.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/09/america-without-family-god-or-patriotism/597382/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Food

1. Do people in your country often eat together?
2. Why are family meals less common today?
3. Is this a positive or negative development?
4. Are there any holidays in your country centred around food?
5. Are international foods a threat to the traditional culture of your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Some think the current generation should take steps to protect the environment for the next generation.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?