Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-26

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, many people with health problems are choosing alternative medicines instead of visiting their regular doctor.

In my opinion, this is a negative development, because some alternative treatments may be scientifically proven and can delay proper medical treatment. There are some reasons why people choose alternative medicines.

First of all, they do not have enough money to complete our treatment. They believe that herbal medicine treat well and they are cheaper then real medicines. Some people use home remedies. Second, some people believe that natural treatments have fewer side effects. For example, people use herbal medicines and home remedies for minor health problems.

However, trying alternative medicines and treatments can be dangerous. Some health problems give proper and correct treatment. If do not complete proper treatment they cause people death. Another case a person have stomach problem they do not use alternative medicine like herbal and local medicine. They need proper dignosis and treatment for a qualified doctor.

In normal rotuine illness may cause serious problem when you do not use medicine and proper treatment. For example,a person have a fever and you do not take medicine they cause typhoid fever.

In conclusion, although alternative medicine can be use for minor health problems you should not avoid professional doctor. In my opinion, this is a negative development, i believe that use real medicine and proper treatment then we live happy and healthy. We go for a doctor every month and check them. So alternative medicine and treatments can cause a serious problem.

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 development of ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive. While you mention reasons for choosing alternative medicine (cost and side effects) and the dangers of avoiding professional care, the arguments lack depth and specific, well-explained examples. For instance, the example regarding typhoid fever is a bit vague and does not fully illustrate the argument. To improve, ensure that each point is supported by a clear, logical explanation that connects back to the main thesis, rather than simply stating the point.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'Another case a person have stomach problem' is not a standard way to introduce a new point. Additionally, the transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, making the progression feel disjointed. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') and ensure that each sentence flows logically from the previous one to create a more cohesive argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on basic terms like 'real medicines' and 'proper treatment' repeatedly. There are also some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'dignosis' (spelling) and 'normal rotuine illness'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more academic and topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'conventional medicine', 'clinical diagnosis', or 'potential health risks', and ensure that words are used in their correct context to convey your meaning more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'a person have'), missing articles, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'they cause people death'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors prevents the writing from being considered fluent. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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