B2IELTS-style · Band 5.5–6.5Speaking30 min

IELTS Speaking: Antibiotics and Public Health

Antibiotics and public health

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How to use this lesson

For the Teacher:

Guide learners through vocabulary and sentence patterns before individual speaking tasks, taking around 10 minutes. Review answers using the automatic feedback check and focus on natural pronunciation.

For the Learner:

First, complete the word review and collocation quiz to build your speaking toolkit. Next, read the sentence patterns aloud and try the fun fact quizzes before moving to Module 2.

Target: 6.0-6.5

Module 1: Build-up

Get comfortable with key medical words and natural speaking structures before answering IELTS prompts.

1. Vocabulary Review

Complete each sentence with the correct word from our unit: bacteria, infection, dose, prescribe, resistant.

1. If you forget to take your morning ____, you should ask the pharmacist when to take the next one.

2. Doctors should only ____ powerful pills when they are truly necessary.

3. Not all ____ are harmful; many kinds actually live inside us and support our digestion.

4. A minor cut can develop into a serious skin ____ if it is not cleaned properly.

5. Overusing pills can cause germs to become ____, meaning standard treatments will no longer work.

2. Matching: Collocations to Meanings

Match each everyday medical pair to its plain explanation.

1. bacterial infection

____ a. forget to take medicine at the scheduled time ____ b. officially authorise curative pills or drugs ____ c. illness triggered by microscopic living germs ____ d. stop responding to standard medical treatment

2. miss a dose

____ a. forget to take medicine at the scheduled time ____ b. failing to keep hands or places clean ____ c. fast spread of sickness across a community ____ d. officially authorise curative pills or drugs

3. prescribe antibiotics

____ a. illness triggered by microscopic living germs ____ b. officially authorise curative pills or drugs ____ c. stop responding to standard medical treatment ____ d. failing to keep hands or places clean

4. become resistant

____ a. fast spread of sickness across a community ____ b. forget to take medicine at the scheduled time ____ c. officially authorise curative pills or drugs ____ d. stop responding to standard medical treatment

5. sudden outbreak

____ a. fast spread of sickness across a community ____ b. failing to keep hands or places clean ____ c. illness triggered by microscopic living germs ____ d. forget to take medicine at the scheduled time

6. poor hygiene

____ a. stop responding to standard medical treatment ____ b. failing to keep hands or places clean ____ c. officially authorise curative pills or drugs ____ d. fast spread of sickness across a community

3. 4 Useful Sentence Patterns for Speaking

Use these time-connector patterns to tell clear stories about being sick and getting treated.

1

Pattern: The moment I felt ill, I...

Why this works: Connects how quickly you acted right after noticing your symptoms.

"The moment I felt ill, I drank a hot cup of lemon tea and stayed in bed."
2

Pattern: No sooner had I... than...

Why this works: Shows two actions happening one immediately after the other.

"No sooner had I swallowed the capsule than my stomach started to settle down."
3

Pattern: By the time we got to the clinic, it was already...

Why this works: Builds a vivid picture of the situation when you arrived.

"By the time we got to the clinic, it was already packed with waiting patients."
4

Pattern: It was only when... that I decided to...

Why this works: Explains the turning point that made you finally seek help.

"It was only when my fever spiked that I decided to phone the local surgery."

4. Fun Facts: Test Your Knowledge

Make a guess first, then check the verified answer and source.

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Fun Fact 1: A Lucky Laboratory Accident

In what year did Alexander Fleming notice the bacteria-killing green mould in his laboratory?

____ 1828 ____ 1928 ____ 1968
Answer & Source (open after you choose)

The Nobel Prize organisation confirms that Fleming spotted the mould that led to penicillin in 1928.

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Fun Fact 2: Modern Drug Resistance

How many infections per year in the United States are caused by drug-resistant bacteria and fungi?

____ 0.28 million ____ 2.8 million ____ 28 million
Answer & Source (open after you choose)

The US CDC estimated that antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi cause more than 2.8 million infections a year in the United States.

Target: 6.0-6.5

Module 2: Long Turn (Part 2)

Take one minute to organise your thoughts, then speak for one and a half to two minutes about taking medicine.

Candidate Task Card 1 min prep • 90-120s talk

Describe a time when you or someone you know was ill and had to take medicine.

You should say:

  • • what the problem was
  • • what medicine was taken
  • • how long it took to get better
  • • and explain how you felt about the treatment.
⏱️ Preparation timer: Use 1 minute now to jot down quick notes for each bullet point above. 01:00

Record Your Response (90-120 seconds)

Click record and answer all bullet points. Speak continuously until the timer finishes.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Sample Answer & Helpful Phrases (unlock after recording) ▼

Well, to be honest, I can remember a time when my brother had a really bad chest infection. It happened a couple of winters ago, and, um, he was coughing non-stop and running a high temperature. My mum made him an appointment right away. The doctor examined him and decided to prescribe some antibiotics, along with a soothing cough syrup to help him sleep at night. He had to take two pills every single day for a whole week, after meals. Within three or four days, he started to bounce back, though the doctor insisted he must finish the entire course so the sickness wouldn't return. Personally, I felt really relieved that the medicine worked so quickly, but it also made me realise how important it is not to mess around with prescription drugs. Seeing him perk up after just a few days was such a relief for everyone in our house.

Useful Phrases & Plain Notes:

running a high temperature

having a fever that makes your body feel hot

prescribe some antibiotics

officially order medicine to treat a bacterial infection

bounce back

recover quickly and feel active and healthy again

finish the entire course

take all the medicine until the full prescription is done

Target: 6.0-6.5

Module 3: Discussion (Part 3)

Give your opinion on broader issues around healthcare, medicine, and community safety.

1 Discussion Question

Why do some people stop taking medicine as soon as they feel better?

Share your thoughts out loud. Aim for three to four sentences with reasons and a short example.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Sample Answer & Helpful Phrases (unlock after recording) ▼

Well, to be honest, I think a lot of people mistakenly assume they are cured the minute their fever drops. Like, my cousin stopped taking his throat tablets halfway through because he felt fine, and, um, the bug came right back. Many patients also dislike dealing with uncomfortable side effects like tiredness or nausea, so they want to quit as early as possible. On top of that, once folks are back on their feet and back at work, it is simply easy to forget to take their daily pills.

Useful Phrases & Plain Notes:

assume they are cured

wrongly believe the illness has completely gone

side effects

unpleasant secondary reactions caused by a medicine

back on their feet

recovered enough to walk around and do normal tasks

forget to take

not remember to do something you have to do every day

2 Discussion Question

Should doctors be the only people who can give out antibiotics?

Take a clear position and explain why strict rules around these medicines protect the public.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Sample Answer & Helpful Phrases (unlock after recording) ▼

Yes, definitely. I think trained doctors should always be the gatekeepers because antibiotics are such potent medications. Ordinary patients cannot tell whether an illness comes from a simple virus or harmful bacteria. In my area, some neighbours used to pick up strong pills over the counter for a minor winter cold, which, um, is useless and eventually creates superbugs. Doctors know the exact doses needed, so having strict medical oversight makes good sense to keep all of us healthy and safe.

Useful Phrases & Plain Notes:

potent medications

very powerful drugs that require careful handling

over the counter

bought directly in a shop without a written prescription

creates superbugs

causes germs to adapt so common drugs no longer work

makes good sense

is a sensible and practical course of action

3 Discussion Question

How can schools and workplaces stop illnesses from spreading?

Suggest practical day-to-day steps that managers and teachers can enforce.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Sample Answer & Helpful Phrases (unlock after recording) ▼

Well, um, I think basic everyday hygiene habits make the biggest difference. Workplaces and classrooms should install hand-cleaning stations and encourage everyone to wipe down shared surfaces like desks and keyboards frequently. More importantly, managers must allow staff to stay home when they catch something nasty. A colleague of mine once came to work coughing constantly, and half our office caught it two days later. Providing proper sick leave and opening windows for fresh air can truly stop germs in their tracks.

Useful Phrases & Plain Notes:

wipe down shared surfaces

clean tables and equipment that many people touch

catch something nasty

become infected with an unpleasant illness or bug

stop germs in their tracks

prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading any further

4 Discussion Question

Who should do more to protect public health: governments or ordinary people?

Weigh up the duty of national authorities against personal responsibility in your community.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Sample Answer & Helpful Phrases (unlock after recording) ▼

Well, to be honest, I believe both sides have to work together, though the authorities probably take more responsibility. Governments have the money to fund modern hospitals and organize informative public awareness campaigns. For instance, my local town puts up bright signs reminding people about washing their hands during flu season. Even so, individuals must also do their part by washing regularly and staying home when sick. Good health policies cannot work unless citizens actively follow through on simple advice every day.

Useful Phrases & Plain Notes:

take more responsibility

do a bigger share of the work and be responsible for more

public awareness campaigns

programmes aimed at teaching the public about health rules

do their part

fulfil personal duties to help the larger group succeed

follow through

put instructions into practice continuously over time

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