This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of health services.
IELTS Essay: Health Services
Health services are a basic necessity. However, private companies have made them quite costly for ordinary individuals.
Do the advantages of private health care outweigh its disadvantages?
Today, the cost of basic health services due to privatization has risen dramatically. In my opinion, although this can lead to greater innovation in the medical field, it is a negative burden overall for the average person.
Those who argue in favor of private medical care point out the benefits for medical knowledge generally. There is significant evidence in a wide range of industries as to the efficacy of privatization in driving innovation. The medical field is no different as hospitals in countries such as the United States compete to develop innovative therapies and procedures that can enhance their reputations and generate higher revenues. These efforts in turn encourage the hiring of the brightest medical minds in the world. Without such competition, it is unlikely that many current advances in medical technology would exist at all.
However, these advances do little to alleviate the dramatic financial repercussions for ordinary citizens. In the United States, a person without medical insurance is likely to owe at least thousands for relatively simple procedures such as repairing a broken bone or conducting a simple non-invasive surgical procedure. Contrast this approach with many western European nations that function on a socialized approach to medicine. In these countries, a person is comforted by the knowledge that a trip to the hospital or consultation with a doctor will be largely paid for by the government. The result of this more equal system is that there is little disparity in the care given to the wealthy and less affluent segments of the population.
In conclusion, despite the value of stimulating competition among medical institutions, there would be greater impact in a scheme wherein the individual could receive medical care without incurring excessive expenses. In many countries, this is already the situation.
Analysis
1. Today, the cost of basic health services due to privatization has risen dramatically. 2. In my opinion, although this can lead to greater innovation in the medical field, it is a negative burden overall for the average person.
1. Those who argue in favor of private medical care point out the benefits for medical knowledge generally. 2. There is significant evidence in a wide range of industries as to the efficacy of privatization in driving innovation. 3. The medical field is no different as hospitals in countries such as the United States compete to develop innovative therapies and procedures that can enhance their reputations and generate higher revenues. 4. These efforts in turn encourage the hiring of the brightest medical minds in the world. 5. Without such competition, it is unlikely that many current advances in medical technology would exist at all.
1. However, these advances do little to alleviate the dramatic financial repercussions for ordinary citizens. 2. In the United States, a person without medical insurance is likely to owe at least thousands for relatively simple procedures such as repairing a broken bone or conducting a simple non-invasive surgical procedure. 3. Contrast this approach with many western European nations that function on a socialized approach to medicine. 4. In these countries, a person is comforted by the knowledge that a trip to the hospital or consultation with a doctor will be largely paid for by the government. 5. The result of this more equal system is that there is little disparity in the care given to the wealthy and less affluent segments of the population.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- This essay is a bit long – aim for about 275 words.
1. In conclusion, despite the value of stimulating competition among medical institutions, there would be greater impact in a scheme wherein the individual could receive medical care without incurring excessive expenses. 2. In many countries, this is already the situation.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- 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.
Today, the cost of basic health services due to privatization has risen dramatically. In my opinion, although this can lead to greater innovation in the medical field, it is a negative burden overall for the average person.
Those who argue in favor of private medical care point out the benefits for medical knowledge generally. There is significant evidence in a wide range of industries as to the efficacy of privatization in driving innovation. The medical field is no different as hospitals in countries such as the United States compete to develop innovative therapies and procedures that can enhance their reputations and generate higher revenues. These efforts in turn encourage the hiring of the brightest medical minds in the world. Without such competition, it is unlikely that many current advances in medical technology would exist at all.
However, these advances do little to alleviate the dramatic financial repercussions for ordinary citizens. In the United States, a person without medical insurance is likely to owe at least thousands for relatively simple procedures such as repairing a broken bone or conducting a simple non-invasive surgical procedure. Contrast this approach with many western European nations that function on a socialized approach to medicine. In these countries, a person is comforted by the knowledge that a trip to the hospital or consultation with a doctor will be largely paid for by the government. The result of this more equal system is that there is little disparity in the care given to the wealthy and less affluent segments of the population.
In conclusion, despite the value of stimulating competition among medical institutions, there would be greater impact in a scheme wherein the individual could receive medical care without incurring excessive expenses. In many countries, this is already the situation.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
Here are the synonyms for each line:
- the cost of basic health services: the price of primary healthcare
- due to: because of
- privatization: the transfer to private ownership/control
- risen dramatically: increased significantly
- lead to greater innovation in the medical field: result in enhanced creativity in the healthcare sector
- negative burden overall: adverse impact overall
- average person: typical individual
- Those who argue in favor of: Advocates for
- medical care: healthcare
- benefits for medical knowledge generally: advantages for medical expertise in general
- There is significant evidence in: Substantial proof exists in
- a wide range of industries as to: numerous sectors regarding
- efficacy: effectiveness
- driving innovation: propelling innovation
- compete to develop innovative therapies: vie to create groundbreaking treatments
- procedures: medical procedures
- enhance their reputations: bolster their reputations
- generate higher revenues: produce increased revenues
- These efforts: These endeavors
- in turn encourage: subsequently promote
- hiring: employing
- brightest medical minds in the world: most brilliant medical professionals globally
- Without such competition: In the absence of such competition
- many current advances in: numerous present advancements in
- exist: have
- do little to alleviate: provide limited relief for
- the dramatic financial repercussions: the significant financial consequences
- for ordinary citizens: for regular individuals
- owe: require
- relatively simple procedures: moderately straightforward treatments
- repairing: mending
- conducting a simple non-invasive surgical procedure: performing a basic non-invasive surgical operation
- Contrast this approach with: Compare this method to
- function on a socialized approach to medicine: operate under a socialized healthcare system
- comforted by the knowledge: reassured by the awareness
- consultation: medical consultation
- largely paid for by the government: mostly funded by the government
- The result of this more equal system is: As a consequence of this fairer system,
- little disparity: minimal difference
- care given: healthcare provided
- less affluent segments of the population: economically disadvantaged sections of society
- despite the value of stimulating competition among medical institutions: notwithstanding the importance of fostering competition among medical establishments
- there would be greater impact in a scheme wherein: there would be a more significant effect in a setup where
- receive medical care without incurring excessive expenses: obtain healthcare without incurring exorbitant costs
- situation: circumstance
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ðə kɒst ɒv ˈbeɪsɪk hɛlθ ˈsɜːvɪsɪz
djuː tuː
ˌpraɪvətaɪˈzeɪʃᵊn
ˈrɪzᵊn drəˈmætɪkᵊli
liːd tuː ˈɡreɪtər ˌɪnəˈveɪʃᵊn ɪn ðə ˈmɛdɪkᵊl fiːld
ˈnɛɡətɪv ˈbɜːdᵊn ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl
ˈævᵊrɪʤ ˈpɜːsᵊn
ðəʊz huː ˈɑːɡjuː ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
ˈmɛdɪkᵊl keə
ˈbɛnɪfɪts fɔː ˈmɛdɪkᵊl ˈnɒlɪʤ ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊli
ðeər ɪz sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊnt ˈɛvɪdᵊns ɪn
ə waɪd reɪnʤ ɒv ˈɪndəstriz æz tuː
ˈɛfɪkəsi
ˌpraɪvətaɪˈzeɪʃᵊn
ˈdraɪvɪŋ ˌɪnəˈveɪʃᵊn
kəmˈpiːt tuː dɪˈvɛləp ˈɪnəvətɪv ˈθɛrəpiz
prəˈsiːʤəz
ɪnˈhɑːns ðeə ˌrɛpjəˈteɪʃᵊnz
ˈʤɛnəreɪt ˈhaɪə ˈrɛvənjuːz
ðiːz ˈɛfəts
ɪn tɜːn ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ
ˈhaɪərɪŋ
ˈbraɪtɪst ˈmɛdɪkᵊl maɪndz ɪn ðə wɜːld
wɪˈðaʊt sʌʧ ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃᵊn, ɪt ɪz ʌnˈlaɪkli
ˈmɛni ˈkʌrᵊnt ədˈvɑːnsɪz ɪn ˈmɛdɪkᵊl tɛkˈnɒləʤi
ɪɡˈzɪst
duː ˈlɪtᵊl tuː əˈliːvieɪt
ðə drəˈmætɪk faɪˈnænʃᵊl ˌriːpɜːˈkʌʃᵊnz
fɔːr ˈɔːdᵊnᵊri ˈsɪtɪzᵊnz
əʊ
ˈrɛlətɪvli ˈsɪmpᵊl prəˈsiːʤəz
rɪˈpeərɪŋ
kənˈdʌktɪŋ ə ˈsɪmpᵊl nɒn-ɪnˈveɪsɪv ˈsɜːʤɪkᵊl prəˈsiːʤə
ˈkɒntrɑːst ðɪs əˈprəʊʧ wɪð
ˈfʌŋkʃᵊn ɒn ə ˈsəʊʃᵊlaɪzd əˈprəʊʧ tuː ˈmɛdsᵊn
ˈkʌmfətɪd baɪ ðə ˈnɒlɪʤ
ˌkɒnsəlˈteɪʃᵊn
ˈlɑːʤli peɪd fɔː baɪ ðə ˈɡʌvᵊnmənt
ðə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv ðɪs mɔːr ˈiːkwəl ˈsɪstəm ɪz
ˈlɪtᵊl dɪˈspærəti
keə ˈɡɪvᵊn
lɛs ˈæfluənt ˈsɛɡmənts ɒv ðə ˌpɒpjəˈleɪʃᵊn
dɪˈspaɪt ðə ˈvæljuː ɒv ˈstɪmjəleɪtɪŋ ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃᵊn əˈmʌŋ ˈmɛdɪkᵊl ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃᵊnz
ðeə wʊd biː ˈɡreɪtər ˈɪmpækt ɪn ə skiːm weərˈɪn
rɪˈsiːv ˈmɛdɪkᵊl keə wɪˈðaʊt ɪnˈkɜːrɪŋ ɪkˈsɛsɪv ɪkˈspɛnsɪz
ˌsɪʧuˈeɪʃᵊn
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:
Today, t_________________________s d_____o p_______________n has r_________________y. In my opinion, although this can l__________________________________________d, it is a n__________________l for the a_________n.
T__________________________f private m________e point out the b____________________________y. T_____________________________________________________________________o the e_______y of p__________n in d___________n. The medical field is no different as hospitals in countries such as the United States c_______________________________s and p_________-s that can e_________________________s and g_________________________s. T________________________e the h_____g of the b_________________________________________d. W______________________n, it is unlikely that m_____________________n medical technology would e______-t at all.
However, these advances d____________________________________________________________________________s. In the United States, a person without medical insurance is likely to o___e at least thousands for r_________________s such as r___________g a broken bone or c___________________________________________e. C______________________h many western European nations that f________________________________________e. In these countries, a person is c_______________________e that a trip to the hospital or c___________n with a doctor will be l____________________________t. T____________________________s that there is l__________________y in the c_________n to the wealthy and l__________________________n.
In conclusion, d___________________f s_____________________________________________s, t_________________________________________________________n the individual could r_____________________________________________s. In many countries, this is already the s_________n.
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.proclinical.com/blogs/2021-6/the-top-10-medical-advances-in-history
Speaking Practice
Health
Question 1: Do you have any unhealthy habits?
Question 2: In what ways do you try to stay healthy?
Question 3: Do you do any sports?
Question 4: Do you think more about your health now than when you were younger?
Writing Practice
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?
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