This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of doctors and health and responsibility from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Doctors and Health

Doctors should be responsible for educating their patients about how to improve their health.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some today contend that doctors should be responsible for wide-ranging advice on how their patients can achieve better health. In my opinion, though this is not technically the core job of a doctor, it should nonetheless be considered an essential duty.

Those who argue against this contention point out that doctors have more urgent priorities. Doctors must first of all accurately diagnose patients. This involves asking various questions, performing tests, and a misdiagnosis is a potentially life-altering event in the life of a patient. Once a patient has been diagnosed and the prognosis delivered, doctors must then focus on treatment options. Depending on the severity and the evolution of the illness, the doctor may need to focus intently during this period and possibly seek out a second opinion. If the hypothetical doctor described were also distracted by the mandate to give health advice, there is the small chance that this could hinder their primary duties.

However, these priorities are not always in conflict with the giving of advice that is likely to have more overall impact. Doctors can focus on diagnosis and treatment while also imparting general health advice without allowing these goals to interfere. Moreover, giving advice is more valuable than treatment of disease as it can be a preventative measure. Studies over the last century have repeatedly replicated the finding that prevention of illness through healthy lifestyle choices is the number one driver behind increased longevity and health in the modern world. Although the results of such advice are not as immediately tangible as, for instance, during chemotherapy, they are far more effective in the long-term.

In conclusion, doctors should give their patients advice on how to lead a healthy life in order to prevent the onset of a variety of conditions. In this way, doctors can more faithfully fulfil their Hippocratic oaths.

Analysis

1. Some today contend that doctors should be responsible for wide-ranging advice on how their patients can achieve better health. 2. In my opinion, though this is not technically the core job of a doctor, it should nonetheless be considered an essential duty.

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

1. Those who argue against this contention point out that doctors have more urgent priorities. 2. Doctors must first of all accurately diagnose patients. 3. This involves asking various questions, performing tests, and a misdiagnosis is a potentially life-altering event in the life of a patient. 4. Once a patient has been diagnosed and the prognosis delivered, doctors must then focus on treatment options. 5. Depending on the severity and the evolution of the illness, the doctor may need to focus intently during this period and possibly seek out a second opinion. 6. If the hypothetical doctor described were also distracted by the mandate to give health advice, there is the small chance that this could hinder their primary duties.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Short sentences can make your writing clearer.
6. Use complex and simple sentences.

1. However, these priorities are not always in conflict with the giving of advice that is likely to have more overall impact. 2. Doctors can focus on diagnosis and treatment while also imparting general health advice without allowing these goals to interfere. 3. Moreover, giving advice is more valuable than treatment of disease as it can be a preventative measure. 4. Studies over the last century have repeatedly replicated the finding that prevention of illness through healthy lifestyle choices is the number one driver behind increased longevity and health in the modern world. 5. Although the results of such advice are not as immediately tangible as, for instance, during chemotherapy, they are far more effective in the long-term.

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. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. In conclusion, doctors should give their patients advice on how to lead a healthy life in order to prevent the onset of a variety of conditions. 2. In this way, doctors can more faithfully fulfil their Hippocratic oaths.

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.

Some today contend that doctors should be responsible for wide-ranging advice on how their patients can achieve better health. In my opinion, though this is not technically the core job of a doctor, it should nonetheless be considered an essential duty.

Those who argue against this contention point out that doctors have more urgent priorities. Doctors must first of all accurately diagnose patients. This involves asking various questions, performing tests, and a misdiagnosis is a potentially life-altering event in the life of a patient. Once a patient has been diagnosed and the prognosis delivered, doctors must then focus on treatment options. Depending on the severity and the evolution of the illness, the doctor may need to focus intently during this period and possibly seek out a second opinion. If the hypothetical doctor described were also distracted by the mandate to give health advice, there is the small chance that this could hinder their primary duties.

However, these priorities are not always in conflict with the giving of advice that is likely to have more overall impact. Doctors can focus on diagnosis and treatment while also imparting general health advice without allowing these goals to interfere. Moreover, giving advice is more valuable than treatment of disease as it can be a preventative measure. Studies over the last century have repeatedly replicated the finding that prevention of illness through healthy lifestyle choices is the number one driver behind increased longevity and health in the modern world. Although the results of such advice are not as immediately tangible as, for instance, during chemotherapy, they are far more effective in the long-term.

In conclusion, doctors should give their patients advice on how to lead a healthy life in order to prevent the onset of a variety of conditions. In this way, doctors can more faithfully fulfil their Hippocratic oaths.

Answers

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

contend argue

responsible have a duty for

wide-ranging advice lots of different suggestions

achieve better health feel better

technically in a narrow way

core job main occupation

nonetheless regardless

considered an essential duty thought of as their main work

argue against this contention point people who disagree say

more urgent priorities more pressing issues

first of all accurately diagnose patients initially figure out what the illness is

involves concerns

various questions different questions

performing tests getting results

misdiagnosis incorrect diagnosis of a disease

potentially life-altering event in the life of a patient possible change their lives

prognosis delivered the outlook given

focus on treatment options look closely at how to treat the disease

Depending on considering

severity how bad it is

evolution changes over time

illness disease

focus intently concentrate hard on

possibly seek out a second opinion potentially get advice from other doctors

hypothetical imaginary

described detailed

distracted by neglected by

mandate ordered

small chance little probability

hinder held back

primary duties main jobs

in conflict against each other

giving of advice handing out suggestions

overall impact general effect

diagnosis deciding what the disease is

treatment dealing with a disease or condition

imparting general health advice giving ideas about health

allowing these goals to interfere letting these competing priorities

valuable important

preventative measure stops something from happening

Studies over the last century have repeatedly replicated the finding that research has shown that

number one driver main cause

increased longevity living longer

modern world contemporary world

results effects

immediately tangible physically apparent

chemotherapy treatment for cancer

far more effective in the long-term better over a long time

in order to so that

onset beginning

variety of conditions different illnesses

In this way so

faithfully fulfil truly satisfy

Hippocratic oaths the promise doctors make to help patients

Pronunciation

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

kənˈtɛnd 
rɪsˈpɒnsəbl 
waɪd-ˈreɪnʤɪŋ ədˈvaɪs 
əˈʧiːv ˈbɛtə hɛlθ
ˈtɛknɪkəli 
kɔː ʤɒb
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs 
kənˈsɪdəd ən ɪˈsɛnʃəl ˈdjuːti
ˈɑːgjuː əˈgɛnst ðɪs kənˈtɛnʃən pɔɪnt 
mɔːr ˈɜːʤənt praɪˈɒrɪtiz
fɜːst ɒv ɔːl ˈækjʊrɪtli ˈdaɪəgnəʊz ˈpeɪʃənts 
ɪnˈvɒlvz 
ˈveərɪəs ˈkwɛsʧənz
pəˈfɔːmɪŋ tɛsts
mɪs ˌdaɪəgˈnəʊsɪs 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəli laɪf-ˈɔːltərɪŋ ɪˈvɛnt ɪn ðə laɪf ɒv ə ˈpeɪʃənt
prɒgˈnəʊsɪs dɪˈlɪvəd 
ˈfəʊkəs ɒn ˈtriːtmənt ˈɒpʃənz
dɪˈpɛndɪŋ ɒn 
sɪˈvɛrɪti 
ˌiːvəˈluːʃən 
ˈɪlnɪs
ˈfəʊkəs ɪnˈtɛntli 
ˈpɒsəbli siːk aʊt ə ˈsɛkənd əˈpɪnjən
ˌhaɪpəʊˈθɛtɪkəl 
dɪsˈkraɪbd 
dɪsˈtræktɪd baɪ 
ˈmændeɪt 
smɔːl ʧɑːns 
ˈhaɪndə 
ˈpraɪməri ˈdjuːtiz
ɪn ˈkɒnflɪkt 
ˈgɪvɪŋ ɒv ədˈvaɪs 
ˈəʊvərɔːl ˈɪmpækt
ˌdaɪəgˈnəʊsɪs 
ˈtriːtmənt 
ɪmˈpɑːtɪŋ ˈʤɛnərəl hɛlθ ədˈvaɪs 
əˈlaʊɪŋ ðiːz gəʊlz tuː ˌɪntəˈfɪə
ˈvæljʊəbl 
preventative ˈmɛʒə
ˈstʌdiz ˈəʊvə ðə lɑːst ˈsɛnʧʊri hæv rɪˈpiːtɪd ˈrɛplɪkeɪtɪd ðə ˈfaɪndɪŋ ðæt 
ˈnʌmbə wʌn ˈdraɪvə 
ɪnˈkriːst lɒnˈʤɛvɪti 
ˈmɒdən wɜːld
rɪˈzʌlts 
ɪˈmiːdiətli ˈtænʤəbl 
ˌkɛməʊˈθɛrəpi
fɑː mɔːr ɪˈfɛktɪv ɪn ðə ˈlɒŋtɜːm
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː 
ˈɒnsɛt 
vəˈraɪəti ɒv kənˈdɪʃənz
ɪn ðɪs weɪ
ˈfeɪθfʊli fʊlˈfɪl 
ˌhɪpəˈkrætɪk əʊðz

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:

Some today c________d that doctors should be r_____________e for w________________e on how their patients can a______________h. In my opinion, though this is not t________________y the c______b of a doctor, it should n____________s be c_____________________y.

Those who a_____________________________t out that doctors have m___________________s. Doctors must f_________________________________s. This i________s asking v____________s, p______________s, and a m___________s is a p________________________________________t. Once a patient has been diagnosed and the p_______________d, doctors must then f____________________________s. D_____________n the s__________y and the e________n of the i______s, the doctor may need to f_______________y during this period and p______________________________n. If the h__________l doctor d_________d were also d___________y the m________e to give health advice, there is the s_________e that this could h_____r their p_________s.

However, these priorities are not always i__________t with the g_____________e that is likely to have more o____________t. Doctors can focus on d__________s and t__________t while also i________________e without a_________________________________e. Moreover, giving advice is more v________e than treatment of disease as it can be a p_______________e. S______________________________________________________________t prevention of illness through healthy lifestyle choices is the n_____________r behind i_____________y and health in the m_______________d. Although the r______s of such advice are not as i________________e as, for instance, during c______________y, they are f_______________________________m.

In conclusion, doctors should give their patients advice on how to lead a healthy life i_____________o prevent the o____t of a v______________________s. _____________y, doctors can more f_____________l their H_______________s.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

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

https://www.healthline.com/

Speaking Practice

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

Health

1. How often do people in your country go to the doctor?
2. Are doctors always trustworthy?
3. How will hospitals change in the future?
4. Is traditional medicine an important part of your culture?
5. What makes a person healthy?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Many doctors recommend that older people exercise regularly, but most patients do not follow an exercise routine.

Why do you think this happens?

How can people be encouraged to exercise regularly?

IELTS Essay: Doctors’ Recommendations