Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-18

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 modern times a large number of individuals with health problems are trying alternative medicines and treatments rather than visiting a family doctor. I strongly believe that this is a negative development for society which can lead to further challenges.

To begin with, Individuals should approach doctor immediately after the symptoms of illness. Doctors will prescribe the medication as per your medical condition which will help you to be fit as early as possible and reduces the risk of further issues. Visiting a doctor is essential these days because they can prevent the illness before it gets serious. For instance, if I am suffering from typhoid i would like to prefer visiting doctor for proper checkup instead of using alternative medicines.

Furthermore, large number of individuals use substitute medicines or treatments which can lead them to further diseases and can cause allergic reactions. In some cases the medicines will not work because it is not the proper medicine which we have to take. These days many individuals are preferring alternative treatments or neglecting the problem and then suffering from side effects. For example, if i am suffering from fever and i used an alternative medicine such as disprin which is usually taken when we are suffering from headache so, this medicine will not work for me and results in side effects.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that trying substitute medicines can results in negative development. To prevent health problem we need to visit the family doctor as soon as possible.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that alternative medicine is a negative development. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you provide reasons, such as the risk of allergic reactions and the potential for ineffective treatment, the arguments are repetitive and lack depth. For instance, the example regarding 'disprin' for a fever is factually confusing and does not strongly support the argument against alternative medicine in a general sense. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the implications of your arguments and provide more nuanced examples that clearly illustrate the dangers or limitations of alternative treatments compared to conventional medical practice.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' to signal the structure. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing is occasionally unclear. For example, the transition between the general argument about alternative medicine and the specific example of 'disprin' feels abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds logically upon the previous one would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'alternative medicines', 'medical condition', and 'allergic reactions'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'substitute medicines' instead of 'alternative therapies' or 'complementary medicine'. Additionally, there are minor errors in word formation and collocation, such as 'approach doctor' (should be 'consult a doctor') and 'be fit' (should be 'recover'). To improve, focus on using more precise medical terminology and collocations that sound more natural in an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the precision of your writing. Examples include missing articles ('visiting doctor'), subject-verb agreement issues ('trying substitute medicines can results in'), and punctuation errors (e.g., 'if i am suffering... i would like to prefer'). The use of 'i' instead of 'I' is a recurring error that should be addressed. To achieve a higher band, you need to increase the frequency of error-free sentences and ensure consistent control over basic grammar, such as articles and capitalization.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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