Describe an article you read in a magazine or on the internet that could help people improve their health

Hey everyone, and welcome to IELTS TIME. If you’re preparing for the IELTS Speaking test, you’re in the right place. Each week, we break down IELTS speaking topics, explore useful vocabulary and ideas, and share sample answers to help you feel more confident and prepared on test day.

Alright—let’s get into today’s cue card.

For this episode, we’re focusing on a topic that’s super relevant to all of us: health. The cue card goes like this:

Describe an article you read in a magazine or on the internet that could help people improve their health. You should say: when you read it, where you read it, what it was about, and explain why you think it could improve people’s health.

As always, we’ve got a full response from Joseph. Let’s hear how he tackled this one.

Not long ago, I had to get one of my wisdom teeth taken out because it was growing at a weird angle and causing quite a bit of pain. Believe it or not, that was actually my first visit to the dentist. I’d always put it off, thinking my teeth were fine. But during the check-up, the dentist told me I had early signs of periodontitis, which is a serious gum disease. That was honestly a wake-up call for me.

After that, I went online and started reading up on dental health. I found an article—nothing too scientific, just on a health and wellness website—that broke down the causes of gum disease and how to prevent it. What I appreciated was how clearly it explained things. It talked about how brushing alone isn’t enough—you also need to floss daily, use mouthwash, and get regular cleanings. It even mentioned that poor gum health can increase the risk of other conditions, like heart disease, which I had never heard before.

The article also gave some practical tips, like cutting down on sugary snacks, staying hydrated, and being aware of things like smoking or even stress, which can make gum problems worse. Honestly, it made me realize how much I’d been neglecting my oral health without even knowing it.

I think this kind of article could really help people, especially young adults like me who often assume dental issues only happen to older people. It was written in a way that was easy to follow, but also eye-opening. Since reading it, I’ve completely changed my routine—I floss every day now, use mouthwash, and I’ve already booked my next appointment. It’s made a big difference, and I feel like I’m finally taking proper care of my health—not just my teeth, but my overall well-being.

And that was Joseph with another solid response. If you’re a regular listener, you’ll know Joseph is our featured speaker here on the podcast—he helps us explore all parts of the IELTS Speaking test, from Part 1 small talk to full Part 2 cue cards and Part 3 discussions. Always great to have his voice on the show.

This week’s cue card was:
Describe an article you read in a magazine or on the internet that could help people improve their health.

Let’s break down his response a little—especially some of the vocabulary that really stood out…

First off, I really liked how Joseph described his discovery of the article as a “wake-up call.” That’s such a natural, idiomatic phrase, and it works perfectly when you’re talking about realizing something important—especially about your health. Much more vivid than saying “I realized something.” So, big thumbs up there.

He also used the phrase “I’d always put it off” when talking about not going to the dentist. Again, that’s another highly natural phrasal verb—“put off” means to delay or avoid doing something. These kinds of expressions really boost your lexical resource, which is one of the four IELTS speaking band descriptors.

Now, here’s where I want to jump in with a little personal story. Like Joseph, I also neglected my dental health for a while. And yep—turns out I had periodontitis too. For those who don’t know, periodontitis is a pretty serious gum disease. It damages the gums and the bone that support your teeth, which can cause teeth to become loose or even fall out if untreated. Moreover, it doesn’t just mess with your teeth—it can actually affect your overall health, increasing the risk of heart problems and other chronic conditions. So when Joseph mentioned that the article talked about how gum health is connected to general well-being, I was nodding along in agreement.

Another great phrase Joseph used was “eye-opening”. He said the article was eye-opening, meaning it gave him a new perspective or made him realize something important. This is a fantastic collocation to use when describing an impactful experience or something that changed your thinking.

He also used expressions like “oral health” instead of just saying “teeth” or “mouth”, and “booked my next appointment” instead of the more basic “made an appointment.” These small choices show precision and fluency

So if you’re preparing your own answer to this cue card, here are some great phrases you can borrow from Joseph:

• “It was a real wake-up call.”
• “I’d been putting it off for years.”
• “The article was really eye-opening.”
• “I completely changed my routine.”
• “It made me more mindful of my health.”

Try to use a mix of idioms, phrasal verbs, and topic-specific vocabulary—especially for health-related topics. The more naturally you can do that, the more confident and fluent you’ll sound.

Alright, that’s it for today’s episode. Huge thanks again to Joseph for sharing his experience. If you have a response you’d like to share, or if you’ve overcome something like periodontitis—or even just figured out how to floss properly—drop us a message. We’d love to hear from you.

Until next time, stay healthy and keep practicing,