Plan this advantages and disadvantages essay about health with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Doctors increasingly treat patients through video calls and apps instead of face-to-face visits.
Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Doctors increasingly treat patients through video calls and apps instead of face-to-face appointments. I believe that the advantages of telemedicine outweigh the disadvantages, provided it is used appropriately.
The main advantage is convenience and access. Patients can consult a doctor from home, which saves the time and cost of travelling and waiting in a crowded clinic, and this is particularly valuable for people in remote areas, those with disabilities or elderly patients who find travel difficult. Minor problems, prescription renewals and follow-up appointments can be handled quickly, which frees up surgeries for patients who need physical examination. Telemedicine also reduces the spread of infectious diseases, as shown during the pandemic, and it can allow specialists to advise colleagues in rural hospitals. In Australia, where distances are vast, video consultations have improved care for communities far from any hospital.
On the other hand, there are limitations. Doctors cannot touch, listen to or examine a patient properly through a screen, so some conditions may be missed or misdiagnosed, and the quality of the consultation depends on a good internet connection and technological skill, which not all patients have. Personal contact, which helps build trust, may be weaker online, and patients may feel their concerns are not fully heard. Privacy is another worry, because medical data sent over the internet could be intercepted if systems are not secure.
These risks can be reduced by using video calls for suitable cases, such as minor illnesses, mental health support and routine monitoring, while requiring in-person visits when an examination or test is needed. Providers must also invest in secure platforms and offer help to patients who find the technology difficult.
In conclusion, telemedicine saves time, widens access and eases pressure on health services, and its weaknesses can be managed, so I think its advantages are greater.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| telemedicine | medical care by remote communication |
| remote consultation | doctor's advice at a distance |
| physical examination | hands-on check |
| rural community | village area |
| patient confidentiality | privacy of patient data |
| medical records | health files |
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