B2IELTS-style · Band 5.5–6.5Speaking30 min

IELTS Speaking: Pharmacies and Medicines

Pharmacies and everyday medicines

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Target: 6.0-6.5 Module 1 of 3 • 10 Mins

IELTS Speaking Parts 2 & 3: Everyday Medicines

Reviewing key vocabulary and facts about medicine.

💡 How to use this lesson

👨‍🏫 For Teachers:

Guide students through Module 1 in 10 minutes to review key vocabulary and build natural speaking patterns.

Check answers together before moving on to the Part 2 and Part 3 speaking cards.

🎓 For Learners:

Read the 10 vocabulary cards first and listen to their pronunciation audio clips.

Next, complete the review tasks, matching exercises, and trivia questions to build your word bank.

📚 Unit Vocabulary Focus (10 Words)

Listen to the correct pronunciation and review the definitions before starting the exercises.

1. ointment /ˈoɪnt.mənt/

Meaning: A smooth medicated cream applied to the skin to heal wounds or soothe soreness.

Listen: ointment
2. capsule /ˈkæp.sjuːl/

Meaning: A small gel container holding medicine to be swallowed whole.

Listen: capsule
3. lozenge /ˈlɒz.ɪndʒ/

Meaning: A small medicated tablet dissolved slowly in the mouth for a sore throat.

Listen: lozenge
4. painkiller /ˈpeɪnˌkɪl.ər/

Meaning: A medicine used to reduce or relieve physical pain.

Listen: painkiller
5. prescription /prɪˈskrɪp.ʃən/

Meaning: An official written note from a doctor authorizing medicine from a pharmacy.

Listen: prescription
6. refill /ˌriːˈfɪl/

Meaning: To obtain a replacement supply of a medicine previously prescribed.

Listen: refill
7. drowsy /ˈdraʊ.zi/

Meaning: Feeling sleepy, often as a side effect of a medicine.

Listen: drowsy
8. chemist /ˈkem.ɪst/

Meaning: A qualified pharmacist or a shop where medicines are sold.

Listen: chemist
9. dispense /dɪˈspens/

Meaning: To prepare and provide medicine to patients according to official directions.

Listen: dispense
10. expiry /ɪkˈspaɪə.ri/

Meaning: The date after which a medicine should no longer be used.

Listen: expiry

✍️ Task 1: Vocabulary Review (Fill in the Blanks)

Type the exact unit word into each blank space below.

1. The doctor gave me a ___ for antibiotics, so I went straight to the pharmacy.

____ (Type your answer...)

2. Be careful driving after taking this pill because it can make you feel ___.

____ (Type your answer...)

3. I bought a box of cough ___ to soothe my painful throat scratchiness.

____ (Type your answer...)

4. The pharmacist told me to swallow the gel ___ with plenty of water.

____ (Type your answer...)

5. Before using any old medicine from your cabinet, always check the ___ date.

____ (Type your answer...)

🔗 Task 2: Collocation Matching (6 Items)

Select the meaning that best describes each everyday pharmacy collocation below.

Collocation 1: refill a prescription

What is the meaning of this collocation?

____ a. Get an extra supply of medication authorized by a medical doctor. ____ b. Hand out official healthcare treatments to patients at a store. ____ c. Experience a strong sense of sleepiness or lack of alertness. ____ d. Inspect the package to see when a remedy becomes unsafe to use.

Collocation 2: dispense medicine

What is the meaning of this collocation?

____ a. Dissolve a small soothing tablet slowly in your mouth. ____ b. Hand out official healthcare treatments to patients at a store. ____ c. Seek expert guidance from a healthcare worker at a store. ____ d. Get an extra supply of medication authorized by a medical doctor.

Collocation 3: feel drowsy

What is the meaning of this collocation?

____ a. Experience a strong sense of sleepiness or lack of alertness. ____ b. Inspect the package to see when a remedy becomes unsafe to use. ____ c. Dissolve a small soothing tablet slowly in your mouth. ____ d. Seek expert guidance from a healthcare worker at a store.

Collocation 4: consult a chemist

What is the meaning of this collocation?

____ a. Hand out official healthcare treatments to patients at a store. ____ b. Get an extra supply of medication authorized by a medical doctor. ____ c. Seek expert guidance from a healthcare worker at a store. ____ d. Experience a strong sense of sleepiness or lack of alertness.

Collocation 5: take a lozenge

What is the meaning of this collocation?

____ a. Seek expert guidance from a healthcare worker at a store. ____ b. Inspect the package to see when a remedy becomes unsafe to use. ____ c. Get an extra supply of medication authorized by a medical doctor. ____ d. Dissolve a small soothing tablet slowly in your mouth.

Collocation 6: check the expiry date

What is the meaning of this collocation?

____ a. Inspect the package to see when a remedy becomes unsafe to use. ____ b. Hand out official healthcare treatments to patients at a store. ____ c. Experience a strong sense of sleepiness or lack of alertness. ____ d. Dissolve a small soothing tablet slowly in your mouth.

🗣️ 4 Useful Sentence Patterns for Speaking

Use these natural structures when telling personal stories or answering advice questions in Parts 2 & 3.

Pattern 1

"I took it ... a day"

Why this works: Clearly states the frequency of taking medicine in a speaking narrative.

"The pharmacist told me to swallow the capsule, so I took it twice a day after meals."
Pattern 2

"You should do that at least ..."

Why this works: Offers strong, practical recommendation language for Part 3 advice questions.

"Drink some warm water with honey. You should do that at least twice a day."
Pattern 3

"The chemist suggested I try..."

Why this works: Great for introducing expert advice when recounting an illness story.

"The chemist suggested I try a soothing lozenge to quiet my coughing."
Pattern 4

"It made me feel a bit..."

Why this works: Naturally describes personal side effects or reactions to medicine.

"I stopped taking the liquid syrup because it made me feel a bit drowsy during work."

🎲 Task 3: Guess the Number (WHO Medicine Facts)

Test your general health knowledge by selecting the correct official statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Fact 1

According to WHO, how many medicines were included in its first Model List of Essential Medicines in 1977?

____ a. 20 medicines ____ b. 200 medicines ____ c. 2,000 medicines
Fact 2

According to WHO data, how many countries currently have national lists of essential medicines based on the WHO Model List?

____ a. 15 countries ____ b. 150 countries ____ c. 1,500 countries
Target: 6.0-6.5 Module 2 of 3 • 2-Min Talk

Module 2: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Task

Practicing a personal story about feeling unwell.

📋

Candidate Task Card

Describe a time when you felt unwell and had to look after yourself.

You should say:

  • what was wrong
  • what you took or did to feel better
  • who helped you
  • and explain how long it took before you felt well again.
⏱️

Step 1: Preparation Time

Take 1 minute to think and note down your key ideas.

⏱️ Prep Timer: 1 Minute

🎙️ Step 2: Record Your Response 90 - 120 Seconds

Speak clearly into your microphone. Respond fully to all parts of the card.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

AI Assessment Criteria:

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation
💡 Model Answer & Useful Expressions Click to reveal ▼

"Well, to be honest, I remember a time a while back when I came down with a nasty cold. I was staying alone at my apartment, and suddenly my head was spinning and I felt completely under the weather. My throat was sore, and I had a mild fever. Nobody was around to cook for me, so I had to manage on my own. I didn't have much energy, but I walked down to the local chemist and described my symptoms to the pharmacist. I bought some hot lemon powder for drinks, and I popped a couple of painkillers to get rid of the headache. A neighbour saw me in the shop and kindly brought me a bowl of warm soup that evening, which was really nice. I spent the next few days in bed, drinking lots of water and resting. It wasn't much fun, to be honest. It took me nearly a week before I was properly better and ready to get back to my normal routine."

Key Phrases & Notes:
• came down with a nasty cold: started feeling sick with a cold
• under the weather: not feeling healthy or well
• popped a couple of painkillers: took some medicine quickly for pain
• get back to my normal routine: return to everyday life after being ill
Target: 6.0-6.5 Module 3 of 3 • Discussion Questions

Module 3: IELTS Speaking Part 3

Discussing medicine and health responsibilities.

Question 1

Why do some people ask a pharmacist for advice instead of going to a doctor with a small problem?

Record your spoken answer (aim for 30-45 seconds):

[Bài tập luyện nói]

AI Assessment Criteria:

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation
💡 Model Answer & Useful Expressions Click to reveal ▼

"Well, to be honest, it's mainly about saving a bit of time. Going to a doctor usually means waiting for an appointment or sitting in a busy waiting room for hours. If someone just has a mild throat tickle or a headache, they can pop into a local pharmacy on their way home. The chemist can quickly recommend an over-the-counter remedy like a lozenge or cream. So, um, I've always felt that people choose pharmacists for small health issues because it's convenient and gives them quick peace of mind."

Why this works & Useful phrases:

• save a bit of time: save time by avoiding long waits
• pop into a local pharmacy: visit a pharmacy quickly and informally
• over-the-counter remedy: medicine bought without a doctor's prescription
• peace of mind: feeling calm and confident about minor symptoms
Question 2

Should shops be allowed to sell strong painkillers without any advice?

Record your spoken answer (aim for 30-45 seconds):

[Bài tập luyện nói]

AI Assessment Criteria:

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation
💡 Model Answer & Useful Expressions Click to reveal ▼

"Personally, I don't think shops should sell strong painkillers without any advice. I mean, pills like that can cause real stomach trouble or side effects if you take too many. When you buy them at a supermarket checkout, nobody checks if you're taking another medication that might react badly with it. If a chemist dispenses them, they can warn you about the dosage and prevent health risks. So, um, keeping strong medicines behind the counter is much safer for everyone. That's just how I see it."

Why this works & Useful phrases:

• cause real stomach trouble: lead to severe discomfort in the stomach
• react badly with: produce harmful effects when mixed with another drug
• prevent health risks: stop potential medical dangers or side effects
• behind the counter: stored safely so only a pharmacist can hand it to you
Question 3

Why do so many people forget to take their medicine at the right time?

Record your spoken answer (aim for 30-45 seconds):

[Bài tập luyện nói]

AI Assessment Criteria:

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation
💡 Model Answer & Useful Expressions Click to reveal ▼

"I think the main reason is that people simply have a lot on their mind during a hectic day. When you're busy with work or running after kids, taking a pill in the middle of the afternoon is easy to overlook. Also, some medicines need to be taken with food, so if you skip lunch, you delay taking the capsule. My friend once missed his pills for a few days just because he changed his daily routine. So, um, daily distractions are usually the biggest reason why people forget."

Why this works & Useful phrases:

• have a lot on their mind: be busy or preoccupied with many responsibilities
• easy to overlook: simple to forget or miss doing
• changed his daily routine: altered regular habits or schedule
Question 4

Would a phone reminder or a box with days on it be more useful for an older person?

Record your spoken answer (aim for 30-45 seconds):

[Bài tập luyện nói]

AI Assessment Criteria:

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation
💡 Model Answer & Useful Expressions Click to reveal ▼

"Well, to be honest, I'd go for the second option. A plastic pill box with marked days is much clearer for an older person. Smartphone apps can be confusing, especially if someone isn't used to small screens or notifications. With a physical box sitting on the kitchen table, my grandmother can see at a glance whether she's taken her morning capsule or not. So, um, having that visual physical layout helps keep things simple and prevents taking a double dose by accident."

Why this works & Useful phrases:

• I'd go for the second option: clear, natural phrase to select a choice
• see at a glance: check and understand something immediately
• keep things simple: make something easy to manage without difficulty
• by accident: unintentionally or without meaning to

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