Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-13

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)

Nowadays, people are becoming increasingly health-conscious compared with previous decades. Many individuals are reducing their reliance on conventional medical treatment and are instead adopting healthier lifestyles and exploring alternatives such as multivitamins and other forms of alternative medicine. In my opinion, this is a positive development because people are becoming more responsible for their health and paying greater attention to their overall well-being.

First and foremost, people are becoming more aware of the importance of preventing health problems rather than simply treating them. As a result, they adopt healthier routines by exercising regularly, practising yoga, maintaining a balanced diet, and consuming essential vitamins and nutrients. These habits can improve overall health and reduce the risk of various lifestyle-related diseases. For example, people who exercise regularly and follow a balanced diet are less likely to develop problems such as obesity and diabetes. Therefore, greater health awareness can help people prevent illnesses and lead healthier lives.

In addition, using alternative treatments for minor health conditions can save people both time and money. Some alternative treatments are less expensive and more accessible than conventional medical care, making them an attractive option for people with minor health problems. For example, instead of repeatedly visiting a doctor for minor problems, people may use home remedies or make simple lifestyle changes. Thus, alternative treatments can provide a convenient and affordable option for managing minor health conditions.

In conclusion, I believe that the growing use of alternative medicines is a positive development, as it encourages people to become more health-conscious and can save them both time and money when dealing with minor health problems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response clearly addresses the prompt by taking a definitive position that the trend is positive. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, particularly the focus on preventative health and the economic benefits of managing minor conditions. The argument is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the response could benefit from a more nuanced discussion, perhaps acknowledging potential risks of alternative medicine (e.g., lack of scientific rigour) to provide a more balanced and sophisticated exploration of the topic, which would demonstrate a deeper level of critical thinking.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-organised with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the concept of preventative care to the practical benefits of cost and accessibility. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'As a result', 'In addition', and 'Thus' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth, making the argument easy to follow for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for the academic context. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'health-conscious', 'conventional medical treatment', 'lifestyle-related diseases', and 'accessible'. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, it lacks a high degree of sophistication or 'less common' idiomatic expressions that would characterise a band 8 or 9. However, there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and fits the tone of the essay well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of conditional-like structures ('people who exercise... are less likely to') and participial phrases ('maintaining a balanced diet'). The punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The writing is clear and error-free for the most part. To achieve a higher score, the student could incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence types, such as passive voice constructions or more advanced subordinating conjunctions, to show greater flexibility.

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