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Course: OET Listening Practice
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Curriculum

OET Listening Practice

Text lesson

Phrasal Verbs

  1. Come down with – to become ill
    She came down with flu-like symptoms shortly after returning from her trip abroad, including fever, fatigue, and a persistent cough.
  2. Break out – to suddenly develop (rash/disease)
    The patient reported that red, itchy spots broke out across his arms and chest after taking the new medication.
  3. Pass out – to lose consciousness
    He suddenly passed out while waiting in the outpatient department, possibly due to dehydration and low blood pressure.
  4. Throw up – to vomit
    The child threw up several times during the night, which raised concerns about possible food poisoning.
  5. Take in – to understand
    Given the complexity of the diagnosis, it took her some time to fully take in what the specialist was explaining.

  1. Check in – to register at hospital
    The patient checked in at the reception desk and was then directed to the cardiology unit for further assessment.
  2. Check out – to leave hospital
    After showing significant improvement, he was allowed to check out of the hospital with clear discharge instructions.
  3. Bring up – to mention
    During the consultation, the patient brought up concerns about the side effects of the prescribed medication.
  4. Look into – to investigate
    The consultant assured the family that she would look into the underlying cause of the recurring symptoms.
  5. Follow up – to review later
    We will follow up with the patient in two weeks to assess how well she is responding to the treatment.

  1. Rule out – to eliminate
    Blood tests and imaging were carried out to rule out any serious infections or underlying conditions.
  2. Carry out – to perform
    The surgical team carried out the procedure successfully without any immediate complications.
  3. Put on – to gain weight
    He has put on a considerable amount of weight over the past six months due to reduced physical activity.
  4. Take off – to lose weight
    With dietary changes and regular exercise, she managed to take off some of the excess weight gradually.
  5. Go through – to experience
    The patient went through a very difficult recovery period following the major abdominal surgery.

  1. Come around – to regain consciousness
    After a few minutes of monitoring and supportive care, the patient slowly came around and was able to respond.
  2. Wear off – to fade away
    The effects of the anaesthetic are expected to wear off within a few hours after the procedure.
  3. Set in – to begin (illness)
    If not treated promptly, the infection can set in and lead to more serious complications.
  4. Cut down on – to reduce
    He was strongly advised to cut down on salt intake to help manage his high blood pressure.
  5. Build up – to increase gradually
    Over time, stress can build up and negatively affect both mental and physical health.

  1. Step down – to reduce gradually
    The doctor decided to step down the dosage once the patient’s condition started to stabilise.
  2. Switch to – to change treatment
    Due to side effects, the physician switched to an alternative medication that is better tolerated.
  3. Put off – to delay
    The planned surgery had to be put off because the patient developed a respiratory infection.
  4. Turn up – to appear
    Fortunately, no serious abnormalities turned up in the scan results.
  5. Turn down – to refuse
    After discussing the risks, the patient decided to turn down the suggested surgical intervention.

  1. Go off – to become unsafe
    Patients are advised not to use the medication if it has gone off due to improper storage conditions.
  2. Come up with – to suggest
    The multidisciplinary team came up with a comprehensive care plan tailored to the patient’s needs.
  3. Get over – to recover
    It may take several weeks for him to fully get over the infection and regain his strength.
  4. Run out of – to have none left
    The clinic temporarily ran out of essential supplies, which delayed routine procedures.
  5. Take over – to assume care
    A senior consultant will take over the case to ensure appropriate management.

  1. Fill in – to complete
    Please fill in this form carefully, including your medical history and current medications.
  2. Write up – to document
    The junior doctor was asked to write up the case details in the patient’s file.
  3. Bring on – to cause
    Exposure to cold air can bring on symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath.
  4. Calm down – to relax
    The nurse spoke gently to calm down the patient, who was feeling anxious before the procedure.
  5. Deal with – to manage
    The emergency team was well prepared to deal with such critical situations efficiently.

  1. Sort out – to resolve
    We need to sort out the medication schedule to avoid any confusion after discharge.
  2. Back up – to support
    The clinical findings strongly back up the initial diagnosis made during the examination.
  3. Point out – to highlight
    The doctor carefully pointed out the potential risks and benefits of the treatment options.
  4. Lay off – to stop (habit)
    He was advised to lay off smoking completely to improve his lung function.
  5. Cut off – to stop supply
    If blood flow is cut off for too long, it can result in permanent tissue damage.

  1. Get through – to complete
    Despite the challenges, she managed to get through the treatment successfully.
  2. Hold on – to wait
    Please hold on for a moment while I retrieve your test results from the system.
  3. Come off – to stop medication
    The patient will gradually come off the medication under medical supervision.
  4. Put through – to connect (call)
    I will put you through to the consultant who is currently handling your case.
  5. Go over – to review
    Before discharge, the nurse went over all the instructions with the patient and caregiver.

  1. Check over – to examine
    The doctor checked over the patient thoroughly to ensure there were no complications.
  2. Come in – to arrive
    He came in complaining of severe abdominal pain that started suddenly.
  3. Send for – to call
    The nurse immediately sent for a specialist when the patient’s condition worsened.
  4. Bring in – to admit
    They decided to bring in the patient for further observation and monitoring.
  5. Pass on – to transfer information
    The outgoing nurse carefully passed on all relevant information during the shift handover.
  1. Hand over – to transfer responsibility
    During the shift change, the outgoing nurse carefully handed over the patient’s details, including vital signs and ongoing treatment plans.
  2. Go ahead – to proceed
    After reviewing the test results, the consultant decided to go ahead with the scheduled procedure.
  3. Hold back – to delay or restrict
    Treatment was held back temporarily due to concerns about the patient’s unstable condition.
  4. Come out – to be released (results)
    When the lab results came out, they confirmed that there was no sign of infection.
  5. Take down – to record information
    The nurse took down the patient’s symptoms and medical history during the initial assessment.

  1. Work out – to determine or plan
    After careful discussion, the team worked out a treatment plan tailored to the patient’s condition.
  2. Carry on – to continue
    The patient was advised to carry on taking the medication as prescribed until the next review.
  3. Pick up – to improve
    With proper care and rest, the patient began to pick up steadily over the following days.
  4. Slow down – to reduce speed
    Recovery may slow down if the patient does not follow dietary and lifestyle advice.
  5. Speed up – to increase rate
    Early intervention can help speed up the healing process significantly.

  1. Cut back on – to reduce intake
    He was strongly advised to cut back on fatty foods to improve his cholesterol levels.
  2. Bring down – to reduce level
    The medication was effective in bringing down his high blood pressure within a few days.
  3. Take up – to start (treatment/activity)
    She was encouraged to take up physiotherapy to regain strength and mobility.
  4. Give up – to stop a habit
    The patient decided to give up smoking after understanding its impact on his lungs.
  5. End up – to finally result
    Without timely treatment, the condition could end up causing serious complications.

  1. Come across – to appear or seem
    During the consultation, the patient came across as anxious and worried about the diagnosis.
  2. Look after – to care for
    The nursing staff will look after you closely throughout your stay in the ward.
  3. Put together – to assemble
    The healthcare team put together a comprehensive rehabilitation programme for the patient.
  4. Call in – to request help
    When complications arose, the team decided to call in a senior specialist for advice.
  5. Carry out on – to perform on someone
    The procedure was carefully carried out on the patient under strict supervision.

  1. Move to – to transfer to another place
    Due to the severity of his condition, the patient was moved to the intensive care unit.
  2. Transfer to – to relocate a patient
    She was transferred to a specialised facility for further treatment and monitoring.
  3. Refer to – to send for specialist care
    The general practitioner referred the patient to a neurologist for further evaluation.
  4. Admit to – to accept into hospital
    He was admitted to the hospital after presenting with severe chest pain.
  5. Discharge from – to release from hospital
    The patient was discharged from the hospital once her condition stabilised.

  1. Put on to – to connect someone (call)
    I will put you on to the consultant who is available to discuss your concerns.
  2. Bring down to – to reduce to a specific level
    The treatment successfully brought down his blood sugar levels to within the normal range.
  3. Build up to – to gradually reach a level
    The pain gradually built up to an unbearable level before he sought medical help.
  4. Lead to – to cause a result
    If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to serious cardiovascular problems.
  5. Result in – to cause an outcome
    Delayed diagnosis may result in complications that are harder to manage.

  1. Focus on – to concentrate on
    The treatment plan will focus on reducing inflammation and relieving symptoms.
  2. Rely on – to depend on
    The patient currently relies on medication to manage his chronic condition.
  3. Respond to – to react to treatment
    She responded well to the antibiotics and showed signs of improvement.
  4. Recover from – to improve after illness
    It may take several weeks for him to fully recover from the surgery.
  5. Suffer from – to have a condition
    The patient has been suffering from asthma for several years.

  1. Test for – to check for a condition
    The doctor decided to test for possible infections based on the symptoms presented.
  2. Screen for – to check early signs
    Patients in this age group are routinely screened for certain types of cancer.
  3. Monitor for – to observe closely
    He will be closely monitored for any signs of deterioration over the next 24 hours.
  4. Treat with – to use medication
    The condition is usually treated with antibiotics and supportive care.
  5. Manage with – to control using methods
    Chronic pain can often be managed with a combination of medication and therapy.

  1. Present with – to show symptoms
    The patient presented with high fever, fatigue, and a persistent cough.
  2. Complain of – to report symptoms
    She complained of severe headaches and dizziness during the consultation.
  3. Diagnose with – to identify a condition
    He was diagnosed with diabetes after a series of blood tests.
  4. Rule in – to confirm a diagnosis
    Further investigations helped rule in pneumonia as the cause of his symptoms.
  5. Clear up – to resolve
    With proper treatment, the infection is expected to clear up within a week.

  1. Wear down – to weaken gradually
    Chronic illness can wear down a patient’s physical and emotional strength over time.
  2. Fight off – to resist illness
    With a strong immune system, the body can often fight off minor infections.
  3. Come back – to return
    The symptoms may come back if the medication is stopped too early.
  4. Flare up – to worsen suddenly
    His condition tends to flare up during periods of stress.
  5. Set off – to trigger
    Exposure to allergens can set off an asthma attack in sensitive individuals.