Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-06

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)

In the modern era, many people these days are trying different approach to their health problem rather than consulting their regular doctor for remedies or prescription. I have mixed opinion about this particular topic.

On the bright side, people believe that it is better to tackle their health problems on their own before visiting their doctor. Firstly, patients believe it is favorable to apply plant based remedies prior to swallowing chemical pills made in factories which come along with many side effects. Secondly, this approach makes them feel more connected to their own journey of healing. Moreover, many problems such as back pain for an instance could be solved just by doing light stretching or exercising daily. Furthermore, other therapist spend more time face to face with the patients and makes them feel heard which creates the empathic feeling.

On the other hand, it may not be entirely safe to diagnosing oneself and deciding our own treatment. Firstly, many remedies lack scientific evidence of the proof that they actually work. Secondly, this could worsen one's health and the issue could get much severe than it originally was when it occurred. In addition, many herbal supplements block or amplify the on going prescriptions of a patient which is given by their doctor. There are unregulated drugs in the market which may or may not adhere to quality and safety as they face fewer manufacturing laws than regulated drugs.

In conclusion, there are pro's and con's to patients not visiting their doctor and treating themselves. Although people want to avoid harsh drugs made by pharmaceutical companies. This could have number of serious consequences. In my opinion, patients should involve their doctor before trying an alternative and confirm if it is safe to do so or is it safe consume certain supplements.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a balanced view of the topic. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout. The ideas are relevant, such as the preference for natural remedies versus the risks of self-diagnosis. However, some points could be more fully developed; for instance, the mention of 'unregulated drugs' is a strong point that could have been supported with a brief example to reach a higher level of depth. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the question regarding whether this trend is positive or negative.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the bright side', 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' to guide the reader through your arguments. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the advantages and disadvantages. To improve, ensure that referencing is always clear; for example, in the final paragraph, the sentence 'Although people want to avoid harsh drugs...' is a fragment and lacks a clear connection to the following sentence, which disrupts the flow slightly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision, using terms like 'remedies', 'empathic', 'scientific evidence', and 'pharmaceutical companies'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'other therapist' (should be 'other therapists') and 'diagnosing oneself' (should be 'diagnosing oneself' or 'self-diagnosis'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the control is not always consistent. The range is adequate for the task, but more sophisticated collocations would elevate the score further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'many people these days are trying different approach' (should be 'a different approach'), 'could get much severe' (should be 'much more severe'), and 'the on going prescriptions... which is given' (should be 'which are given'). Additionally, there are punctuation errors, such as the unnecessary apostrophe in 'pro's and con's'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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