Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

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)

In the contemporary world, some individuals struggling with health issues are using substitute medicines rather than consulting professional doctors. In my opinion, this is a negative development because relying on unproven alternative treatments can delay essential medical care and pose serious health issues.

People who generally try to avoid the medical treatment from an expert are more likely to get serious health related problems in the future. The avoidance can lead to overlooking of early symptoms of chronic diseases such as cancer which can be life threatening if not treated correctly at the right time. Moreover, people can become more unhealthy in comparison to the people who consult for regular checkups because of less precautions taken by the individuals who were avoiding the situation most of the time.

Furthermore, another significant drawback of alternative medicine is the lack of scientific regulation and clinal testing. Unlike conventional pharmaceuticals trials, many herbal remedies and alternative therapies are unregulated and their results are subjective. Moreover, patients might consume medications having unverified ingredients, which can lead to severe allergies. This lack of standardisation makes it a highly risky substitute for professional medical care.

To conclude, I firmly believe that, abandoning professional doctors in favour of alternative treatments is a negative trend. Not only does it put patients at risk by delaying essential, life-saving diagnoses for serious conditions like cancer, but it also exposes them to unregulated substances with unverified side effects. Ultimately, relying on proven medical science is crucial for maintaining genuine health and safety.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response clearly addresses the prompt by taking a firm position that the trend is negative. The ideas are well-developed, focusing on the dangers of delayed diagnosis and the lack of scientific regulation. Each paragraph provides logical support for the main argument. The response covers all parts of the task effectively, maintaining a consistent viewpoint from the introduction to the conclusion. The arguments are relevant and sufficiently extended, meeting the requirements for a high band score by providing clear reasoning and specific examples of the risks involved.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'To conclude' effectively. The referencing is clear, and the structure of the argument is easy to follow. The use of cohesive devices is generally natural, though there is slight room for more varied linking phrases to elevate the flow further. Overall, the paragraphing is logical and contributes to the clarity of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terminology such as 'chronic diseases', 'conventional pharmaceuticals', 'standardisation', and 'unverified ingredients'. While the range is adequate, there is potential to incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations to reach the highest band. The word choices are precise and contribute to the formal tone of the essay. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, and the language used is consistently accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. For instance, the use of complex sentences in the conclusion ('Not only does it put patients at risk... but it also exposes them...') shows a good command of grammatical structures. While there are occasional minor slips, such as 'medical treatment from an expert' (which could be more naturally phrased), the majority of sentences are error-free. The punctuation is used correctly to support the flow of ideas.

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