Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-05

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Nowadays, a growing number of people with health problems are trying alternative medicines and treatments instead of visiting their usual doctor.

Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

As the population is increasing with the numberous health issues people are moreover looking for other alternatives medication and tretments rather than consulting their usual doctors.

I believe this is a positive development as it is reducing the expenditure for small health problems which can be cured at home with some home remidies and with the increase of the AI technology public is consulting AI tools first and then proceeding with doctors if it serious.

Recently, my mother had cough we really thought of taking her to nearby doctor by she used home remedie which once saw in the social media and I was impressive with results like few small health problems can be solved at home itself as there are plently of home recipies which will help boost our immune system and makes feel strong from inside and out. Although, I believe we should approch doctors for serious issues and not get panic abou the amout we are spending for our health.

I also think that we should not risk our health on trying out various kinds of medications and treatments as we never know what is suitable for our body and I perfer consulting doctor for better supervision and guidance. As technology is growing rapid the healthcare sector has also developed many things such as major operations are done by robotics and doctora are also using AI for early dediction of cancer which is really a best development so far.

In conculsion, However there are positive and negative sides of health development , I believe it is on us to pay attention towards our health rather than completely relaying on medication.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear overall view that alternative approaches can be positive for minor problems, while doctors are important for serious conditions. The example about your mother’s cough supports the first point, and your comments about not risking health on unsuitable treatments add some balance. However, the response only partly develops the question of people choosing alternatives instead of visiting their usual doctor. The discussion shifts to AI and medical technology, which are related to healthcare but do not directly explain the effects of replacing a doctor with alternative treatment. The conclusion also says there are positive and negative sides without clearly restating which outweighs the other. Develop the risks and benefits of alternative medicines more directly, and explain your position consistently.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The personal example is placed in a relevant paragraph, and linking expressions such as “Although,” “also” and “In conclusion” help signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is uneven: the first body paragraph moves from home remedies to spending, while the next shifts from treatment risks to robotics and cancer detection. These points are not connected clearly to the central comparison with usual doctors. Some transitions are awkward or contradictory, particularly “Although” before a point that does not complete a contrast, and “In conclusion, However”. Improve cohesion by giving each paragraph one main point, ordering supporting details logically, and using references and transitions that make the relationship between ideas explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “home remedies,” “immune system,” “supervision and guidance,” and “early detection of cancer.” These choices show an attempt to discuss health beyond very basic terms. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate or misspelled expressions make the writing less clear, such as “alternatives medication,” “home recipies,” “dediction,” and “relaying on medication.” Some combinations are also unnatural, including “I was impressive with results” and “health development.” Aim for accurate collocations and check spelling carefully; for example, use “alternative medicines,” “I was impressed by the results,” and “relying on medication.” More precise vocabulary for benefits, risks, and evidence would help you explain your argument with greater clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including clauses introduced by “as,” “which” and “although,” so there is some variety. However, complex sentences are often faulty, and frequent errors sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. For example, “my mother had cough we really thought of taking her” needs an article and clearer sentence boundaries; “if it serious” is missing a verb; and “which will help boost our immune system and makes feel strong” has problems with agreement and sentence structure. There are also errors in verb forms and punctuation, as in “I was impressive with results” and the comma splice in the conclusion. Practise building accurate sentences with one main clause and a clearly attached supporting clause, then check articles, agreement and punctuation.

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