Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-19

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 6.0)

Nowadays, a lot of unhealthy people are trying alternative medicines and treatments instead of consulting a professional doctor which I believe is a negative development, considering the high risk of infection, poisoning and allergies.

This is on top of the fact that most individuals choose alternative medicines and cures, such as herbals and quack doctors to treat their diseases. It is given that these option are cheaper compared to a visit in the hospital, however there is no scientific relevance to prove their effectiveness in treating a disease or a sick person. In addition, some herbals are dangerous if taken without precaution, for instance, mushrooms are believed to have healing powers but other varieties contains poisons that can be deadly.

On the other hand, visiting a licensed doctor for treatment is a wise decision, they may be expensive but it is better than not being cured at all. They are professionals and knowledgeable on their job since all of their diagnosis are based from what they have learned and practiced.

Moreover, all medicines prescribed by doctors have been thoroughly experimented to provide cure and treatment to every disease. As a result, increasing number of patients rely on doctors and medicines since it has been proven to be more effective and reliable compared to herbal medicines that can cause allergies.

In conclusion, there is a negative impact to people depending on alternative treatments and medicines because their life is at risk to unknown substances. Nevertheless, treatments from licensed doctors are scientifically proven to be effective.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that the trend is negative. The ideas are relevant, focusing on safety, lack of scientific evidence, and the reliability of professional medical care. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the mention of 'quack doctors' and 'mushrooms' is a good attempt at illustration, but the argument could be strengthened by discussing the psychological or cultural reasons why people turn to alternative medicine. The conclusion is clear, but the overall development remains at a basic level, lacking the depth required for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'Moreover', which help guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved to create a more sophisticated progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to express their opinion clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'precaution' and 'scientifically proven'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'unhealthy people' (which is vague in this context) and 'herbals' (which is not the standard noun form; 'herbal remedies' would be better). The range is sufficient to communicate the message, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For instance, 'these option are' (subject-verb agreement), 'visit in the hospital' (preposition error), and 'all of their diagnosis are' (pluralization error). Additionally, there are punctuation issues, such as comma splices (e.g., '...wise decision, they may be expensive...'). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score.

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

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