IELTS Health Essay: Sample Answer, Plan and Vocabulary

The IELTS health essay question

Original practice question

Some people think that governments should make building more sports facilities their main strategy for improving public health.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Support your answer with reasons and relevant examples. Write at least 250 words and allow about 40 minutes, following the official IELTS Academic Writing guidance.

Focus on building more facilities as the main strategy. The task requires a judgement about that proposal, supported by an argument.

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How to analyse the task

This is an opinion question. Decide how far you agree and explain why. You can acknowledge a benefit while arguing for a limited role.

Check three parts of the wording:

• Governments: discuss public decisions and investment.
• Building more sports facilities: consider whether additional buildings would lead to greater participation.
• Main strategy: evaluate the priority given to this approach, rather than simply whether exercise is useful.

The model argues that facilities can help, but they should be part of a wider approach. Its position remains clear.

Income, housing and working conditions also influence health, as explained in WHO’s overview of social determinants of health. Consider these wider factors when planning examples.

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A clear essay plan

Evaluate the facilities in one body paragraph, then explain the wider needs they cannot address alone.

Four paragraphs suit this argument. Support your own position with relevant reasoning; equal support for opposing positions is not required.

State your answer early: “I disagree that construction should be the main strategy.” Find more examples in our Task 2 introduction guide.

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High-scoring sample answer

This is an original Band 8-style teaching model. It has not been given an official examiner score.

Building additional sports facilities is often suggested as a way to improve the health of a population. While these spaces can encourage physical activity, I disagree that construction should be the main strategy. Governments also need to address the barriers that prevent people from living healthier lives.

Sports centres can make a useful contribution when they meet local needs. In a neighbourhood with few places to exercise, an affordable swimming pool or indoor court gives residents more opportunities to be active. Group activities may also help people maintain a routine because they can exercise with friends rather than alone. However, the presence of a building does not guarantee participation. If membership fees are high or opening hours clash with work, many residents will be unable to use it. Investment should therefore include affordable access and suitable programmes, instead of focusing only on construction.

More importantly, public health depends on much more than opportunities to exercise. People may struggle to eat well because nutritious food is expensive, or postpone medical appointments because local services are difficult to reach. A new gym does little to remove either obstacle. Governments could support healthy school meals and improve access to community healthcare, alongside investment in exercise facilities. For example, a local clinic with evening appointments would make it easier for people with inflexible working hours to seek advice. Such measures address different needs, including those of residents who may never use a sports centre.

In conclusion, additional sports facilities can benefit communities, but they should form part of a wider public health strategy. Making healthy choices affordable and ensuring access to healthcare also deserve priority in government policy.

Word count: 274.

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Useful health vocabulary

These expressions help explain policies, barriers and possible results related to the essay topic.

Public health concerns communities and population health. Healthcare refers to services that prevent, diagnose and treat health problems. A health essay may involve both, but they are not interchangeable.

Physical activity includes walking, cycling and everyday movement as well as sport, according to WHO’s physical-activity overview. Avoid treating gym membership as the only way to be active.

Check word forms: health services, healthy habits and improve people’s health. For more help with collocations, explore our IELTS vocabulary guide.

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Why the answer works

The official Writing band descriptors assess task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. In this model:

• Task response: the writer evaluates whether construction should be the main strategy and maintains the same position throughout.
• Organisation: the first body paragraph examines facilities and participation; the second explains wider needs through food and healthcare examples.
• Vocabulary: membership fees, affordable access and inflexible working hours identify concrete barriers.
• Grammar: while introduces a qualification, if explains a condition, and because gives reasons.

The evening-clinic example links working hours, access and a practical response for a particular group. Develop your own examples with our Task 2 idea-development guide.

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Common mistakes

Answering “Is exercise useful?”

That is only part of this question. Explain whether building more facilities deserves priority over other approaches.

Assuming a new building guarantees participation.

Consider fees, opening hours and suitable activities. Show how people would actually use the service.

Making absolute health claims.

“Exercise prevents every illness” is inaccurate. Use measured language such as “Physical activity can support better health”.

Blaming everyone with poor health.

Health is affected by circumstances as well as choices. Discuss barriers carefully instead of describing people as lazy.

Listing solutions without explanation.

Choose a relevant measure, identify who benefits and explain how it addresses the problem.

Adding invented statistics.

A hypothetical clinic or sports centre can illustrate your reasoning. Do not attribute made-up findings to doctors, universities or health organisations.

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Extra practice questions

Identify the task type in these original prompts. Write at least 250 words, supported by reasons and examples.

1. Discussion essay

Some people think governments should take the main responsibility for helping citizens live healthier lives. Others believe this is primarily an individual responsibility. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Consider what governments can change and what individuals control. Explain both views and make your own judgement clear.

2. Causes and solutions essay

Many adults spend much of their working day sitting down. Why does this happen, and what can employers do to encourage more physical activity?

Link causes to measures employers can take. For example, explain how opportunities for movement could fit around desk-based work.

3. Healthcare opinion essay

Basic healthcare should be available to everyone without charge at the point of use. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

“Without charge at the point of use” means patients do not pay when receiving the service. Consider access and how the service would be funded; providing care still involves costs.

Check your position, examples and any overly certain claims. Check articles and word forms too: a healthy lifestyle and access to healthcare.

For shorter English practice between IELTS sessions, LEW Daily gives you weekday activities on LINE. I check replies and send feedback.

More IELTS technology and writing lessons

• How to Fully Answer the IELTS Task 2 Question
• How to Write an IELTS Task 2 Introduction
• IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay Structure and Strategy

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