Body &Mind
Symptoms · advice · remedies · seeing the doctor
Your level · You are here
Get Talking · Section 1
5 minStart the conversation
When were you last properly ill? How did you describe it to people?
What's a home remedy from your country that English-speakers don't know?
At what point do you decide to actually see a doctor?
Grammar · Section 2
8–10 minDescribing symptoms + giving health advice (should / ought to / had better / why don't you…)
- TWO grammar systems work together here.
- (1) DESCRIBING SYMPTOMS: use 'I've got + noun' for ongoing conditions ('I've got a headache / a sore throat / a cough'), 'I feel + adjective' for general states ('I feel dizzy / sick / shattered'), and 'It hurts when I…' for triggered pain ('It hurts when I swallow').
- Notice the PRESENT PERFECT for duration ('I've had this cough for three days').
- (2) GIVING ADVICE — three levels of strength: 'You SHOULD see a doctor' (general advice), 'You OUGHT TO get some rest' (similar to should, slightly softer), 'You'd BETTER take that seriously' (urgent — implies consequences if you don't), and the soft offer 'Why don't you try…?' At the doctor's, use indirect questions: 'Could you tell me what's wrong?' and conditional politeness: 'I was wondering if you could…'
I've had a sore throat for three days and it hurts when I swallow.
You should probably see a doctor — it's been a week now.
You'd better take that seriously, those aren't normal symptoms.
Why don't you try honey and lemon before bed?
I was wondering if you could write me a prescription.
Question 1.Which is most natural?
Question 2.Strongest advice form:
Question 3.Best at the doctor's:
Question 4.How long? → use:
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
4.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.Pick the most natural opener at a doctor's appointment.
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to learn
Symptom
a sign of an illness (cough, fever, etc.)
In context
"The main symptom was a really sore throat."
Now try it yourself
List three symptoms of a cold versus three symptoms of flu.
Come down with
start to get an illness
In context
"I think I'm coming down with something — I feel awful."
Now try it yourself
Describe the last time you came down with something.
Run a temperature
have a fever
In context
"She was running a temperature of 38.5."
Now try it yourself
Say what number you'd consider 'running a temperature' in your country.
Painkiller
medicine that reduces pain (paracetamol, ibuprofen)
In context
"Take a painkiller and get some sleep."
Now try it yourself
Name your go-to painkiller and when you take it.
Prescription
written authorisation for medicine from a doctor
In context
"He gave me a prescription for antibiotics."
Now try it yourself
Describe how prescriptions work in your country.
Get over (an illness)
recover from
In context
"It took me a week to get over the flu."
Now try it yourself
Describe how long it usually takes you to get over a bad cold.
Knackered / wiped out
completely exhausted
In context
"I'm absolutely wiped out — I'll see how I feel tomorrow."
Now try it yourself
Use both to describe yourself after a tough week.
GP / family doctor
general practitioner (UK)
In context
"I'll book in with my GP tomorrow morning."
Now try it yourself
Explain what 'GP' means to someone who's never been to the UK.
Pick at least three words from above and use each one in a sentence about your real life. Say each one aloud before you write.
Ask your teacher (or a partner) a question that uses one of today's words. They reply using a different word.
Rank today's words from most to least useful for you this week. Defend your top choice.
Finish: "Honestly, I'd say…" using one of today's words.
Tip: aim to reuse at least two of these words later in the Speaking and Writing tasks.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minStressing the symptom word, softening the modal
When you describe symptoms, the STRESS lands on the symptom itself, not the verb: 'I've got a SORE THROAT', 'My HEAD is killing me'. When you give advice, the modal ('should', 'ought to') is UNSTRESSED and reduced — 'should' sounds like /ʃəd/ — and the stress goes on the main verb: 'You should SEE a doctor.' Over-stressing 'SHOULD' makes you sound bossy. Soft modal + strong verb sounds like a friend, not a parent.
- • I've got a SORE THROAT↘ and my HEAD is killing me↘
- • You should SEE a doctor↗ — it's been a WEEK now↘
- • Why don't you TRY honey and LEMON↗
- • You'd better TAKE that seriously↘
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minThe cold, the flu, and the thing in between
Almost every adult has at some point sat in bed wondering: is this a cold I should push through, or the flu I need to take seriously? The distinction matters, because the advice for each is genuinely different.
A cold usually arrives gradually. You feel slightly rubbish for a day, then comes a sore throat, then a runny nose, then a cough. You can function. You probably shouldn't go to a packed office, but you're not in real trouble. Rest, fluids, paracetamol, honey and lemon, and you'll be over it in about a week.
The flu is different. It hits suddenly. One hour you're fine; the next, you cannot get out of bed. You'll often be running a temperature above 38.5, your whole body will ache, and the exhaustion goes far beyond 'tired'. Push through it and you'll make it worse or pass it on; rest properly and you'll recover in about a week. If symptoms persist beyond seven days, or you develop chest pain or shortness of breath, you'd better see a doctor — that's not flu being stubborn, that's something else.
And the in-between — the bad cold that just won't shift? If it's been longer than ten days, book a GP appointment. You probably don't need antibiotics, but you do need someone to listen to your chest.
Question 1.How does a cold typically arrive, according to the text?
Question 2.What does the text advise for a bad cold that has not shifted after ten days?
Question 3.Why does the writer say the distinction between a cold and flu 'matters'?
Question 4.What does the writer imply when saying symptoms beyond seven days 'isn't flu being stubborn, that's something else'?
Q1.The text says antibiotics are usually needed for a bad cold lasting over 10 days.
Q2.The flu often comes on suddenly with a high temperature and full-body ache.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minA doctor's appointment
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Dr Patel:Morning, come in. Take a seat. What can I do for you today?
Sam:Morning. So, I've had a really sore throat for about four days now, and a cough that's getting worse, and I think I've been running a temperature.
Dr Patel:Right. Have you actually measured the temperature?
Sam:Yeah, 38.4 this morning. And I'm wiped out — I tried to work yesterday and I couldn't focus on anything.
Dr Patel:And does it hurt when you swallow?
Sam:It really does. And I've got a bit of an earache on the left side too. I was wondering if I needed antibiotics.
Dr Patel:Let me have a look. Open wide… mm-hmm. Right, so your throat's quite red but it's almost certainly viral, not bacterial. Antibiotics won't help with a virus.
Sam:Oh — okay. So what should I do?
Dr Patel:Honestly, the boring stuff actually works. Rest properly — not 'sort of working from bed', actually rest. Plenty of fluids, paracetamol or ibuprofen every four to six hours for the pain and the temperature. Honey and lemon will soothe the throat.
Sam:And how long should I expect this to last?
Dr Patel:Usually about a week to ten days. You'd better come back if the temperature goes above 39, or if you develop chest pain or any shortness of breath. And do stay off work for a couple of days at least — both for you and your colleagues.
Sam:Got it. Thank you, that's really helpful.
Dr Patel:You're welcome. Take care of yourself.
Question 1.What temperature did Sam record that morning?
Question 2.What does Dr Patel recommend instead of antibiotics?
Question 3.Why does Dr Patel call the recommended treatment 'the boring stuff'?
Question 4.What does Dr Patel imply by saying 'do stay off work — both for you and your colleagues'?
Exam tip · Section 7
5 minSpeaking — Cambridge B1 Preliminary Part 2 (role-play / functional exchange)
Task
Role-play with your teacher: you're at the GP describing symptoms you've had for five days. Open with a clear symptom summary (duration + main symptom + impact on daily life), answer the doctor's follow-up questions, and end by checking next steps. Use at least 5 vocabulary items and at least one indirect question.
Strategy
Functional role-plays mark you on (1) OPENING with the right register ('Morning' / 'Hi, thanks for seeing me') — not 'Hello doctor I am ill'. (2) STRUCTURED symptom report: duration first ('I've had…for…'), then main symptom, then impact ('I can't sleep / can't focus'). (3) INDIRECT QUESTIONS: 'I was wondering if you could…', 'Could you tell me whether…?'. (4) CHECKING ('Just to be clear, you said…?') — examiners love it. (5) Closing politely — 'Thanks, that's really helpful.'
Example
Morning, thanks for seeing me. So I've had a really sore throat for about five days now, and a cough that's getting worse, and I've been running a temperature — 38.4 this morning. I'm absolutely wiped out and I haven't been able to work. I was wondering if you could have a look — I'm not sure if it needs antibiotics or whether it's viral.
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.I think I'm ____ down with something.
Question 2.She's ____ a temperature of 38.5.
Question 3.Take a ____ and get some sleep.
Question 4.It took me a week to ____ over the flu.
Question 5.You'd ____ see a GP if it lasts longer than ten days.
There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.
Q1.Describe symptoms with duration.
Q2.Give soft advice using 'why don't you'.
Q3.Give urgent advice using 'had better'.
Q4.Ask the doctor politely for a prescription.
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 120–150 word message to a friend describing an illness you've had recently. Include: symptoms with duration (use Present Perfect), how it affected daily life, what advice you got from a doctor or pharmacist, and what worked. Use at least 6 lesson vocabulary items.
Your answer
Your work saves automatically0 words
Show model answer
I've been wiped out for the last week — properly. I think I came down with the flu on Monday. Started as a sore throat and a cough, but by Tuesday I was running a temperature of 38.6 and could barely get out of bed. Tried to push through and work from home — terrible idea, made it worse. Saw my GP on Thursday. He said it was almost certainly viral, so no antibiotics, just rest, fluids, paracetamol every six hours, and honey and lemon for the throat. He also said I'd better take a couple of days fully off and not just 'work from bed'. Sat down for two full days. Honestly, it worked — I'm finally getting over it. Lesson learned: actually rest, don't half-rest.
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
Role-play with your teacher (or a partner): you're at a doctor's appointment. Describe at least 3 symptoms with duration, answer 2 follow-up questions, ask 2 indirect questions of your own (about diagnosis and treatment), and confirm next steps. Use at least 6 vocabulary items.
Useful phrases
- • I've had…for…
- • It really hurts when I…
- • I was wondering if you could…
- • Could you tell me whether…?
- • Just to be clear, you said…?
Speaking reflection & notes
Your work saves automatically0 words
- DoctorWhat seems to be the trouble today?
- Patient_______________
- DoctorAnd does it hurt when you swallow?
- Patient_______________
- DoctorIt's almost certainly viral — antibiotics won't help.
- Patient_______________
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Write a 5-line text message to your boss explaining you're ill and asking to take two days off. Use Present Perfect for symptoms.
Listen to a 3-minute NHS or BBC clip about a common illness. Note 5 symptom and 5 advice phrases.
Record a 90-second voice note role-playing a GP appointment opening.
Homework notes
Your work saves automatically0 words
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Symptoms: 'I've got + noun' / 'I feel + adjective' / 'It hurts when I…'.
- Duration with Present Perfect: 'I've had this for three days.'
- Advice strength: Why don't you (soft) → should/ought to (general) → had better (urgent).
- Indirect questions at the doctor's: 'I was wondering if you could…' / 'Could you tell me whether…?'
- Viral ≠ bacterial — antibiotics only treat bacterial infections.