Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-27
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 7.0)
An increasing number of people in recent times are trying alternative treatments and medicines instead of visiting their usual doctor. I believe it is a positive development as people are relying on the new innovations of medical science and they are feeling the urge to get a second opinion by not trusting only their traditional doctor for their life. They are also helping the medical sector along the way.
The health sector has seen tremendous development through technology. Everyday, new treatments for some incurable or chronic disease are being innovated. Medicines have gone a long way and are helping people heal like never before. As a result, patients feel that they have several options for treatment and medicines and they choose the best available to them. A cancer patient I have seen changed his regular doctor and started having new treatments with the suggestion of another clinical expert. His conditions improved and he is now a cancer survivor. That is a great improvement because people nowadays have the liberty to choose how they want to be treated and they are making the right use of it.
Another development is that patients are going towards second opinion, that is new treatments or medicines, as they feel that they might have a better chance of living by seeking another expert's advices. To err is human. Their traditional doctor can also do mistake sometimes and they don't want to take risks. For this reason, patients are leaning towards newer medicines and treatments. This urge to live is one of the most positive things of human kind.
It can also be said that this behavior of the people are helping the health sector in various ways. When a patient is trying new medicines or treatments, it can be measured just how much that new technological innovation is helping him/her. If a person is healed by using those new medicines or treatments, new patients will also put their faith in them, which can strength the base of the health industry. Health personnel will also know if any medicine or treatment has any side effects. In that way, they will be careful before suggesting it to another patient.
In conclusion, It can be seen that the people nowadays are having their faith on alternative new medicines and treatments instead of visiting their usual doctor is such a positive development that it outruns the negative ones.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. You argue that the trend is positive, citing patient autonomy and the benefits of second opinions. However, the term 'alternative medicines' is often interpreted in IELTS as non-conventional or holistic therapies (e.g., herbalism, acupuncture), whereas your essay focuses almost exclusively on 'new technological innovations' and 'second opinions' from other doctors. This slight misalignment with the common understanding of the topic limits the depth of your argument. While your ideas are relevant, they could be more fully developed by acknowledging the potential risks of alternative treatments, which would provide a more balanced and sophisticated discussion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'As a result', 'Another development is', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive. For instance, the phrase 'new medicines and treatments' is used frequently, which makes the flow feel a bit rigid. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and each paragraph has a central topic, which helps the reader follow your line of reasoning without difficulty.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'incurable', 'chronic', and 'liberty'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, you write 'do mistake' instead of 'make a mistake' and 'strength the base' instead of 'strengthen the foundation'. Additionally, the repetition of 'new medicines and treatments' suggests a limited range of synonyms. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and varying your vocabulary to avoid repeating the same phrases throughout the essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('this behavior of the people are helping' should be 'is helping') and incorrect article usage. Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'they are feeling the urge to get a second opinion by not trusting only their traditional doctor for their life.' Despite these errors, the communication is not impeded, and you show an attempt to use complex structures, which is a positive step toward higher proficiency.
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