Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Absolutely. I’ll keep your original ideas—high medical costs, embarrassment about seeing a doctor, home remedies, delayed diagnosis, cancer, and taking medicines without a prescription—but express them in a realistic Band 6 IELTS style.

Writing

In recent years, an increasing number of people with health problems have started using alternative medicines and home remedies instead of visiting their usual doctors. Although there are some reasons why people choose these treatments, I believe that this is a negative development because it can sometimes make health problems more serious.

One of the main reasons people choose alternative treatments is that they feel embarrassed to visit a doctor for minor illnesses. For example, people with a cough, cold or fever may prefer to use home remedies such as herbal tea or steam inhalation. They may believe that these problems will disappear naturally after a few days. Another important reason is the high cost of healthcare. Doctor consultations, medical tests and medicines can be expensive, so many people prefer cheaper alternatives, including traditional or Ayurvedic treatments.

However, depending too much on alternative medicines can have negative effects on people's health. Although home remedies may be useful for some minor problems, they can also cause people to ignore serious symptoms. For instance, a person with an early stage of cancer may think that their symptoms are not serious and try to treat them at home. As a result, they may visit a doctor only when the disease has become more advanced, which can make treatment more difficult. Furthermore, taking medicines without a doctor's prescription can be dangerous. People may not know the correct dosage or whether a particular medicine is suitable for their condition, and this could cause harmful side effects.

In conclusion, although alternative medicines and home remedies can be cheaper and more convenient, I believe that their increasing use is a negative development. People should consult qualified doctors when they have health problems, especially when their symptoms continue or become more serious.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the trend is negative. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, such as the discussion on delayed diagnosis for serious conditions like cancer and the risks of self-medication. The essay is well-structured, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs that provide specific reasons and examples, and a concise conclusion. To reach a higher band, the student could further extend the arguments by exploring the societal implications of this trend or providing more nuanced counter-arguments, ensuring that the development of each point is consistently thorough throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the reasons for using alternative medicine and the subsequent negative consequences is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'For instance', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The response is easy to follow, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear, meeting the requirements for a high band in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'herbal tea', 'steam inhalation', 'consultations', and 'side effects' accurately. While the range is sufficient to convey the message clearly, it lacks the 'less common' or 'sophisticated' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and precise enough to communicate the intended meaning without any ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Complex structures, such as the use of 'Although' clauses and conditional-like reasoning ('if... then' implied), are handled well. Punctuation is used correctly to support the flow of the text. While the control is strong, the range of structures is somewhat standard. To achieve a higher score, the student could incorporate a wider variety of advanced grammatical forms, such as passive voice constructions or more varied subordinate clauses, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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