Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-14

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 6.0)

Many people are opting for new medicines for curing themselves rather than going to their doctors for treatment. I personally think of it as a negative development as there are many risks involved because of treating one's health without the advice of a doctor as it can be dangerous and in many cases fatal.

Firstly, a patient should go for a diagnosis from their doctor first and take neccessary prescriptions before consuming any medicines. It can be a health risk to consume medicines without the advice from a health professional. For example, a patient might have problems from consuming a specific medicine due to underlying medical conditions, hence a doctor can prescribe them the suitable medicine for them, avoiding any health complications.

Next, it can be confusing for a patient to decide the right kind of treatment for a specific health problem due to misinformation. For example, some people might think the cure to Coronavirus (Covid-19) is hot water and herbal tea. However, a doctor can prescribe them the right treatment to

stabilize the patient and medicines to help them get better.

It is true that there are many alternative medicine and treatment options other than going to a doctor, however that is safe and effective for general problems. It is safe and effective for a patient if they visit their usual doctor for any other health complications.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear from the introduction: you regard relying on alternative treatments instead of a doctor as negative. The two main reasons—risks from taking medicine without professional advice and confusion caused by misinformation—are relevant, and the examples about underlying conditions and Covid-19 help explain them. However, the second body paragraph could develop more precisely how misinformation leads to harm, and the final paragraph is unclear: “that is safe and effective for general problems” seems to concede a benefit, but the reference of “that” is uncertain and the point is not reconciled with your overall view. The response also falls 22 words short of the required minimum. Develop the counterpoint and conclusion more fully to address the task more completely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction states your view, two body paragraphs present reasons, and a final paragraph attempts to acknowledge an opposing point. Sequencing markers such as “Firstly” and “Next” make the progression easy to follow. Some connections are nevertheless mechanical, and the examples are introduced with the same phrase, “For example.” The final paragraph weakens the progression because “however” signals a contrast that is not clearly explained, while “that” and “It” do not have clear references. The essay also ends without a distinct concluding sentence that restates your judgement. Use clearer links between claims and examples, and make the final paragraph’s relationship to your position explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use adequate vocabulary to discuss the topic, including “underlying medical conditions,” “health complications,” “misinformation,” and “prescribe.” These choices communicate the main ideas and show some range beyond basic terms. However, several expressions are imprecise or repetitive: “new medicines” does not clearly mean alternative treatments, and “for curing themselves” is an awkward way to describe self-treatment. “Health risk” and “health complications” also repeat similar wording, while “right treatment” is general. There is a spelling error in “neccessary,” and “alternative medicine and treatment options” would be more natural with a plural form. Aim for more precise topic vocabulary and accurate collocations so your meaning is consistently clear.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, and most of the meaning remains clear. For instance, the sentence beginning “For example, a patient might have problems…” uses a conditional structure and explains a cause and result. Some sentences are long and awkwardly joined, particularly the opening sentence, where several ideas are linked with “as” and “because.” In the final paragraph, “It is true that there are many alternative medicine and treatment options … however that is safe and effective” has an unclear subject and a faulty connection between clauses. The phrase “a patient should go … and take” also shifts awkwardly between actions. Break long sentences into clearer units, check that pronouns have explicit antecedents, and use punctuation to mark contrasts.

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