Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-17

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)

Nowadays, increasing number of people with some health issues are trying substitute medicines and cure instead of visiting their normal doctor.

Overall, today most of people are just treating their diseases at home with the things which are available and they do experiment on themselves by watching any related video on social media. which causes a negative impact on human body inside and outside. A normal person don't have a knowledge like a professional doctor. It's actually crucial to consultate with doctor.

Moreover, many people prefer substitute treatments because they are cheaper and more convenient. However, self-medicating can be very risky because people may not understand the side effects and the correct dosage. For example, taking antibiotics without a prescription can lead to serious health complications.

I believe, that's totally unfair to do these kind of non-serious behave with our lives without following any prescription or any professional advice.

For instance, in my city if any of one had headache, stomachache, or toothache every normal person giving their advices to take this medicine and it's a negative development from my perspective.

In conclusion, while it is understandable that people turn to a substitute medicine due to cost and convenience, this trend poses serious risks to public health. Without proper medical guidance. Individual may worsen their condition or suffer from harmful side effects. Therefore, governments and health organizations should dangers of self-medication. Ultimately, consulting a qualified doctor is safest and most effective way to treat any health issue.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that the trend is negative. However, the essay is slightly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of development. While the main ideas—such as the risks of self-medication and the lack of professional knowledge—are relevant, they are not fully extended. The conclusion is somewhat abrupt, and the final sentence is grammatically incomplete ('should dangers of self-medication'). Because the essay is under-length and the arguments lack sufficient supporting detail or examples to reach a higher band, it is limited to a Band 5.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition 'Moreover' is used, but the connection between paragraphs is sometimes weak. There are also issues with sentence-level cohesion, such as the fragment 'which causes a negative impact...' and the awkward phrasing in the final paragraph. While the overall structure is logical, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the occasional disjointed sentence structure prevent a higher score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. The student uses basic terms like 'substitute medicines' instead of 'alternative medicine' or 'complementary therapies'. There are also instances of incorrect word choice or collocation, such as 'consultate with doctor' (should be 'consult a doctor') and 'non-serious behave' (should be 'non-serious behavior'). The range is limited, and the student relies on repetitive phrasing, which restricts the ability to convey more complex ideas effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'A normal person don't have a knowledge' (subject-verb agreement), 'if any of one had headache' (awkward phrasing), and the incomplete sentence in the conclusion. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several sentence fragments. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction indicates a limited control over complex structures.

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