English speaking lesson · Health & Wellbeing
Blood test
You've arrived at the clinic for a routine blood test, and checked in at the desk. You practise it as a real conversation, at whichever of the four levels fits you — the room and the steps stay the same, only the words get harder.
A clinic · you talk to the phlebotomist
Free plan: 10 messages a day. No card needed.
What you have to do
Check in for your test, confirm which test it is, answer a prep question, and find out when you'll get results. You finish the lesson by getting there in conversation — not by answering questions about it. Nothing is corrected while you talk; the corrections are collected and handed to you at the end.
How it opens
Morning! Have you got an appointment for a blood test today?
Spoken aloud by the tutor playing the phlebotomist.
The 5 steps that finish it
A step clears when you say the thing that clears it. The steps are identical at all four levels — only the example line fades, and at Natural there is none at all.
- 01
Check in
Say you're here for a blood test, and give your name.
“Hi! I'm here for a blood test. My name is Kim.”
- 02
Confirm the test
Say which test it is, or what it's for.
“It's a general health test.”
- 03
Answer a prep question
Say whether you've eaten this morning.
“No, I haven't eaten this morning.”
- 04
Check the details
Say which arm you'd prefer, or that you don't mind.
“This arm is fine, thanks.”
- 05
Find out about results
Ask when you'll get your results.
“When are my results ready?”
The words, at all four levels
The same room and the same steps, four vocabularies. These are the words the lesson listens for and scores you on — with what each one means and how it sounds when you are talking to the phlebotomist.
Starter
A1 – A2Simple, everyday words with a full hint on every step.
- blood
- the red liquid inside your body
- “I'm here for a blood test.”
- test
- a check on your health
- “I'm here for a test.”
- name
- what you are called
- “My name is Kim.”
- eaten
- had food already today
- “No, I haven't eaten yet.”
- morning
- the early part of the day
- “Not this morning, no.”
- arm
- the part of your body from shoulder to hand
- “This arm is fine.”
- fine
- okay, no problem
- “This arm is fine.”
- results
- the information from a test
- “When are my results ready?”
- please
- a polite word when you ask
- “This arm, please.”
- thanks
- a short way to say thank you
- “Thanks a lot!”
Conversational
A2 – B1Common words at a natural pace, with hints to lean on.
- fasting
- not eating before a test
- “I've been fasting since last night.”
- referral
- a request from your doctor for this test
- “It's on my doctor's referral.”
- sample
- a small amount taken for testing
- “How much of a sample do you need?”
- needle
- the thin device used to take blood
- “I'm not great with the needle.”
- faint
- to briefly lose consciousness
- “I sometimes feel faint at this.”
- vein
- the tube blood moves through in your body
- “This vein's usually easier.”
- correct
- right, with no mistakes
- “Yes, that's correct.”
- typically
- usually, in most cases
- “How long does it typically take?”
- cheers
- informal thanks
- “Cheers for that!”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for
- “I appreciate you explaining that.”
Confident
B1 – B2Richer, more specific words, with only light hints.
- panel
- a set of related blood tests
- “Is it a full panel this time?”
- cholesterol
- a fat measured in the blood
- “Is cholesterol part of the panel?”
- abstained
- avoided doing something on purpose
- “I've abstained from food since last night.”
- tourniquet
- a band tied to make a vein show
- “You'll feel the tourniquet first.”
- queasy
- feeling like you might be sick
- “I sometimes feel a bit queasy.”
- results
- the information from a test
- “How will the results be shared?”
- portal
- an online system for checking updates
- “Will they show on the portal?”
- flag
- to raise something for attention
- “Anything to flag beforehand?”
- sorted
- arranged and settled
- “That's sorted, thanks.”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for
- “I'd appreciate that.”
Natural
B2 – C1Advanced, idiomatic words — no hints at all.
- prick
- a small, sharp puncture (informal)
- “Just a quick prick, I'm told.”
- squeamish
- easily upset by medical procedures
- “I get a bit squeamish, honestly.”
- topped
- filled up (informal), here meaning eaten
- “Nowhere near topped up on food.”
- woozy
- lightheaded and unsteady (informal)
- “I sometimes go a bit woozy.”
- turnaround
- the time taken to complete something
- “What's the turnaround on results?”
- flag
- to raise something for attention
- “I'll flag if anything's odd.”
- brace
- to prepare for something unpleasant
- “I'll just brace myself.”
- obliged
- grateful for a favour
- “Much obliged, thank you.”
- sorted
- dealt with and settled
- “Great, we're sorted.”
- cheers
- informal thanks
- “Cheers, appreciated.”
More Health & Wellbeing lessons
- Doctor's appointment
- Pharmacy & symptoms
- Booking a doctor's appointment
- Dentist appointment
- Eye test
- Physiotherapy session
- Vaccination
- Personal trainer session
- Therapist check-in