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Everyday English: Seeing a GP (doctor)

One of the first things to sort out when you arrive is a doctor, called a GP in Australia. Learn what the receptionist will ask and how to describe how you feel.

Updated 2026-10-17

Listen to the conversation

Press β–Ά Play conversation, or πŸ”Š on any line. Then try 🎭 Practise as "You": the other person speaks, and you say your lines out loud.

Key words and phrases

Phrase What it means
GP General practitioner: your local family doctor, the first doctor you usually see.
bulk billing The clinic charges Medicare directly, so you don't pay for the visit. Not every clinic bulk bills, so ask.
Medicare card Australia's public health card. Bring it to every appointment if you have one.
a gap fee / out-of-pocket The part of the fee you pay yourself, after any Medicare rebate.
a script A prescription: the doctor's note you take to a chemist (pharmacy).
I've been feeling crook Informal: I've been feeling sick.
a referral A letter from your GP so you can see a specialist.

Tips

  • Say how long you've had the symptoms (for three days, since Monday). Doctors always ask.
  • If you don't understand, it's completely normal to say: Sorry, could you say that again more slowly?
  • A medical certificate (often called a med cert) is what most employers ask for when you're off sick.
  • In an emergency, call 000. For non-urgent health advice, many states have a nurse phone line.

Aussie words in this conversation: crook, no worries.

More everyday situations

Unofficial practice. We wrote these questions to match the official PTE Academic task types and timings. They are not real exam questions, and points shown are practice feedback, not a PTE score. For an official estimate, use Pearson's scored practice tests.

Frequently asked questions

What English phrases do I need for seeing a GP in Australia?

This page lists the key phrases with audio, then shows them in a real conversation you can role-play.

How can I practise seeing a GP in English?

Listen to the dialogue, then press the role-play button to take one part yourself. Say the phrases out loud.

Is this for beginners?

It suits learners at about A2 to B1. Beginners can start with the free Everyday English course.