Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-07

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 today's world people have much knowledge about themselves and their activities. Most of the people are good at what they do and they know how to face some challenging situations.

In addition to other problems, there are also health problems that people face but instead of consulting a specialist or a doctor, they intend to cure themselves at home by having random medicines known to them through very weak and unreliable sources such as internet, some random relative or their own some similar past experience. Basic health issues include a headache, cough or flu. For issues like headache people often use painkillers that works well with them and they get relief real quick. The same thing that normally people do when facing something serious, is trying alternative treatments instead of visiting to a doctor until the problem gets much worse.

Moreover, some people does not bother to take any medicine at all. They only ignore their health until one day they finally realise that something is actually wrong and that they should consult a doctor. In most of these cases it usually gets too late and they have to face some really critical health issues.

In my opinion, it is not wise to perform any of the things mentioned above. It leads society towards a negative development. When people are less concerned about their health then it proves to be a negative omen.

Lastly, human beings have a major share in society and they perform so many useful duties but when they are not taking good care of themselves then it leads to an increasing ratio of sick people and health problems. For which what we should do is to take our health seriously and focus on slightest issues for the betterment of humans.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt by identifying the trend as a negative development. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention the risks of self-diagnosis and the delay in seeking professional help, the arguments lack depth and specific examples. The essay focuses heavily on the dangers of self-medication but does not fully explore the 'alternative medicine' aspect mentioned in the prompt, such as herbal remedies or holistic therapies. To improve, ensure you provide more detailed explanations and concrete examples to support your position, and ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed with equal weight.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression between ideas is sometimes weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally repetitive (e.g., 'In addition to', 'Moreover', 'Lastly'). Some transitions feel mechanical, and the connection between sentences within paragraphs could be smoother. For example, the transition from discussing minor health issues to the general negative impact on society lacks a clear logical bridge. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'good', 'bad', 'problems', and 'things'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'negative omen' (which is not the correct collocation here) and 'random medicines'. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more academic and precise vocabulary related to health and medical practices. Avoid informal phrasing and try to incorporate less common lexical items that demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('some people does not bother', 'painkillers that works well') and awkward phrasing ('visiting to a doctor', 'their own some similar past experience'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction is often repetitive. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and refining your use of complex sentences. Reducing the frequency of these errors will significantly improve the readability and professionalism of your writing.

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