Essential Medical Vocabulary for NAATI CCL Healthcare Dialogues
Healthcare scenarios appear in nearly every NAATI CCL exam. The faster you retrieve precise medical terms, the more marks you secure for accuracy and completeness. Use this wordlist and study plan to level up your terminology.
Top 5 Fundamentals to Memorise
| English concept | What examiners listen for | Delivery tip |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis | Final medical opinion | Use native term, avoid code switching. |
| Prescription | Medication instructions | Mention dosage and frequency. |
| Referral | Transfer to specialist | Explain purpose and destination. |
| Allergy | Adverse reaction | Clarify symptom and trigger. |
| Follow-up | Future appointment | Provide date/time if available. |
Domain-by-Domain Vocabulary Targets
Primary care
- Symptoms: fever, nausea, dizziness, chronic pain.
- Treatment: antibiotics, physiotherapy, vaccination, prescription refill.
- Follow-up: check-up, pathology results, referral letter.
Emergency & acute care
- Presentation: cardiac arrest, fracture, allergic reaction, shortness of breath.
- Procedures: ambulance transfer, triage, stitches, x-ray or CT scan.
- Scripting: emphasise urgency, confirm patient consent, note observation periods.
Mental health & community support
- Conditions: depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance dependency.
- Support: counselling, social worker, crisis hotline, mental health plan.
- Register: keep empathetic tone, avoid stigmatising language.
Pronunciation & Transliteration Tips
- Decide on native equivalents. Prepare translations for core terms (e.g. insulin, physiotherapy) rather than relying on English words, unless the language’s medical community commonly uses the English term.
- Stress and consonants. Medical words often include consonant clusters; slow down to articulate clearly. Examiners penalise slurred terminology even if meaning is correct.
- Use contextual phrases. Instead of literal translation, embed the term in a phrase (e.g., “two tablets twice a day” in your LOTE) to show you understand dosage language.
Practice Routine
- Daily drills (15 minutes): Review 20 vocabulary flashcards from the PassNAATI deck, focusing on pronunciation aloud.
- Twice-weekly dialogues: Select a healthcare script, interpret with PassNAATI’s AI feedback, and note segments where terminology slipped.
- Weekly role-play: Partner with a classmate to simulate GP-patient or nurse scenarios, emphasising empathy and clarity.
Record yourself often. Compare your delivery to native-language radio or medical podcasts to sharpen pronunciation and pacing.