Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-08

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 5.0)

In recent times, people relies more on substituted medicines and treatments when they experience some health problems rather than a prescribed treatment by the doctor. I strongly believe that depending on untraditional treatments have more disadvatages than benefits, which may heading towards the negative development.

Depending only on non-conventional medicines may affects people well-being by some serious side effects. This is because people may have to deal with several health problems at a time. For instance, people who suffer from an infection often taking medicine without the doctotr's advice may lack an essential knowledge about the side effects including acidity. As a result, people can experience serious health issues without curing the actual problem.

Taking an holistic medicines more frequently may lose their effectiveness in an individual's body. This is because the medicine that using continously may utilize more time in curring a disease. For instance, people who consume one medicine everytime when they suffers from an illness, often reduce an effectiveness of that treatment, which may increase curring time. Consequently, consumption of a specific medicine for a long time may lead to the negative results including suffer from a diseases for the longer period of time.

In conclusion, people

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You state a clear view that relying on non-conventional treatments is negative, and both body paragraphs give relevant reasons: possible side effects and delayed recovery. The examples about taking medicine without a doctor’s advice and repeatedly using one treatment help connect these points to the topic. However, the response only partially develops the task: the second reason is not clearly explained, and there is little discussion of why people choose alternatives or of the contrast with visiting their usual doctor. The conclusion is unfinished (“In conclusion, people”), so the position is not brought to a proper close. The response is also 50 words below the required minimum. Develop each reason with a clearer explanation and a complete conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and an attempted conclusion. Each body paragraph focuses on one main concern, and linking phrases such as “For instance,” “As a result,” and “Consequently” show an effort to connect claims and examples. However, progression is limited because the explanation in the second paragraph repeats the idea that treatment takes longer without clearly showing how effectiveness is reduced. Some links feel mechanical, and the final sentence is incomplete, leaving the essay without a coherent ending. Use clearer topic sentences, explain the relationship between each example and its main point, and finish with a concise conclusion that restates your position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “side effects,” “infection,” “non-conventional medicines,” and “effectiveness,” which helps communicate the subject. There is also an attempt to use less common expressions such as “holistic medicines.” However, several inaccurate or awkward choices make parts of the argument difficult to follow, including “substituted medicines,” “may heading towards,” and “increase curring time.” Spelling errors such as “disadvatages,” “doctotr’s,” and “continously” are noticeable. Aim for precise, natural collocations and check spelling carefully. For example, use “alternative treatments” rather than “substituted medicines,” and “prolong recovery” rather than “increase curing time.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including cause-and-effect structures with “This is because” and “As a result.” These attempts show some range, but errors occur frequently and sometimes make the intended meaning unclear. Examples include “people relies” instead of “people rely,” “may affects” instead of “may affect,” and “people who suffer … often taking” instead of a correctly formed clause such as “people who suffer … often take.” Articles and noun forms are also inconsistent, as in “an holistic medicines” and “a diseases.” The unfinished final sentence further weakens control. Practise subject–verb agreement, modal verb patterns, and article and plural use, then proofread each sentence for a complete grammatical structure.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.