Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-10
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 5.5)
In recent years, many individuals with the health issues are willing to try other sources of medication and treatment rather than to visit a local doctor. I don't believe this is a positive development. This essay highlights the merits and demerits of citizens finding alternatives of medical care.
On the one hand, in today's technological era, majorities of the people are having internet in which, they can get numerous advices as well as solutions. This type of mentality of not visiting the doctors and take the help from internet it can create jeopardy for the serious issues.
Online recommendations are useful but we can't relay on them fully cause sometimes it can wrong. Moreover, it's unfair for the doctors who gave their lives on studying biology and are experts in solving the cure. For instance, people who wonder that the issues can be solves without consulting the experts, WHO reports demonstrates such cases in which individuals died from treating the diseases at home.
On the other hand, people should ask advices from internet when the problem are smalls such as, headache and joint pain however, it should not be on frequent basis. To assist the internet we can take the help to cross-check the medicines and to know about their usage as well as side-effects. We can also take the help of internet regarding which doctor is best for the treatment. For instance, there are various type of issues but there are doctors with one speciality.
In conclusion, it is mandatory to visit the experts for a serious problems. However, the use of alternatives such as, Ai, internet can be done for to cross-check the medicines and to find the best doctors in the area.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The essay addresses the prompt by taking a clear position against the trend of using alternative medicine. However, the development of ideas is inconsistent. While you mention the dangers of relying on the internet, the second body paragraph shifts focus to how the internet can be used to 'cross-check' information, which slightly contradicts your initial stance. The arguments are somewhat superficial and lack depth; for instance, the reference to WHO reports is a good attempt at support, but it is not fully explained. To improve, ensure that every paragraph directly supports your main thesis and provides more detailed, logical reasoning for your claims.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'in today's technological era' and 'on the one hand' are used, but the transitions between sentences are sometimes abrupt. For example, the shift from discussing the dangers of the internet to the benefits of using it for 'cross-checking' lacks a smooth logical bridge. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as 'to assist the internet we can take the help', which is confusing. Improving the variety and precision of your linking words will help the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on basic terms like 'good', 'bad', or 'help', and there are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'create jeopardy for the serious issues' and 'experts in solving the cure'. Some collocations are also non-standard, such as 'take the help from internet'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring that your word choices fit the context naturally. Avoid repeating the same words frequently and try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms.
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 impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('majorities of the people are having', 'problem are smalls'), article usage ('the internet' vs 'internet'), and awkward phrasing ('the use of alternatives such as, Ai, internet can be done for to cross-check'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic errors like pluralization and prepositional usage to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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