Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-01

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 5.0)

Task 2

In this world many people deal with some kind of disease and take medicine on the basis of their urgency. If they take medicine on these own without any consultation this may create a negative impact on their body.

In the first paragraph medicines are made for the wellness of human beings we take the medicine when the disease is diagnosed for their prevention, moreover when it takes without any visit to the doctor it may harm our body and we didn't at what quantity of amount took the drugs and for how many days. for example a sugar patient use an insulin to control their sugar on daily basis like 10mg or 15mg, but when it take insulin on their own basis without any doctor advise

it will damage their health internally and he faces the negative impact of this usage.

In addition to yes we can used those medicines on their own that we all well awared like panadol etc. Panadol is used for the headache. Even the patient visit the doctor, the doctor suggest the same medicine. This can be take at their own risk because everyone knows their quantity that we have to take one tablet if we feel pain on head. This create no negative impact on their body.

To be conclude that if people used those generic medicines that are well aware it cannot create be harmful for their body despite if we take those that they don't have well enough information they create hazardous affect on their body.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt but lacks a clear, consistent position. While you mention that self-medication can be harmful, the argument is somewhat contradictory when you later suggest it is acceptable to use medicines like 'panadol' without a doctor. The ideas are under-developed; for instance, the example of a 'sugar patient' is incomplete and lacks a clear conclusion. To improve, ensure you take a firm stance—either positive or negative—and support it with fully explained examples. The current structure lacks a clear introduction and a well-defined conclusion, which makes your overall argument difficult to follow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. Transitions between ideas are often missing or mechanical, such as 'In addition to yes' and 'To be conclude that'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track your argument. For example, the shift from discussing dangerous self-medication to justifying the use of 'panadol' lacks a clear cohesive link. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'however') and ensure that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-structured main idea that connects logically to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, often relying on basic terms like 'medicine', 'doctor', and 'body'. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and incorrect word choices, such as 'on their own basis' instead of 'on their own initiative' or 'well awared' instead of 'well aware'. The use of 'sugar patient' is also non-standard; 'diabetic patient' would be more appropriate. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to health and medical practices and work on improving your collocations to sound more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'a sugar patient use'), incorrect verb tenses, and sentence fragments (e.g., 'for example a sugar patient...'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage and sentence boundaries. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often faulty, leading to confusion. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and proofreading for common errors like pluralization and article usage.

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