Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-12

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)

Over the past few years, people who suffer from health issues have been opting for alternative remedies instead of visiting the doctor for a proper diagnosis and adequate treatment. Many may view this as a positive development, including the patients themselves, as healthcare costs have increased tremendously leaving people with no other choice but to search for budget-friendly treatment options on their own. However, I believe this is an issue, as it may lead to further complications due to lack of consultation with a medical professional.

Though the practice may lead to a number of problems, we must acknowledge why people may go down this risky route. Healthcare has become so expensive that it is practically a luxury. If you lack insurance, chances that you will be left with an overwhelming amount of debt are high. Some people simply cannot afford to lose so much money, especially if they are a victim of several health issues which call for many hospital visits. Due to the financial risk of going for a proper diagnosis and a personalised perscription, they try to search for remedies on their own, such as cheaper medicine or herbal treatments. They do this to avoid the financial rut that they may face after visiting the doctor.

However, this poses great health risks and complications if they reach for treatments that do not suit their bodies. Studies have shown that cheaper, off-the-counter medicine is more likely to result in health issues especially if allergies are not accounted for. Our bodies are different and complicated, and the doctors help us navigate through medication to avoid violent reactions to certain substances. Either alternative medication will lead to further health issues due to its incompatability with their body, or it won't do anything to help them at all. As a result of its ineffectiveness, some may accidentally overdose on medication in hopes of it working, which will possibly lead to major issues such as fainting and cardiac arrest.

In conclusion, reaching for alternative medication may look like the easier solution as opposed to spending a fortune on a visit to the doctors, but developing this habit may lead to further complications that may eventually land you in the same hospital you avoided. Therefore, it is understandable why some may go down this route, but I believe that the downsides of this practice severely outweigh the positives, making it an overall negative development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses the prompt by clearly stating a position that the trend is a negative development. The ideas are well-developed, with the first body paragraph explaining the economic drivers behind the trend and the second paragraph detailing the medical risks. The argument is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the points made. The response is balanced, acknowledging the reasons for the trend before refuting them with stronger arguments regarding health safety. The content is relevant and directly answers the 'positive or negative' question.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Though', 'As a result', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the cause (financial burden) to the effect (health risks). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the argument, ensuring the text is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and precise, allowing for a natural flow of ideas. The student uses a range of topic-specific vocabulary such as 'proper diagnosis', 'adequate treatment', 'financial rut', and 'cardiac arrest'. There is a good attempt at using less common collocations, though some minor word choice issues exist, such as 'off-the-counter' (should be 'over-the-counter') and 'incompatability' (spelling error). Despite these minor slips, the range is flexible enough to convey complex ideas clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses ('If you lack insurance...') and participial phrases ('...leaving people with no other choice...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the grammar does not impede communication. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'they are a victim' (should be plural 'victims') and the aforementioned spelling error 'incompatability'. However, these are non-systematic and do not detract from the overall clarity of the writing.

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