Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-03
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)
In recent years, it is seen that a growing number of people with health issues are alternative trying alternative medicines and treatments rather than reaching their old family doctors. Although it gives a temporary treatment from complication, but i believe that this method can have wider negative outcomes in future.
On the one hand, individuals takes different medicines and treatments because there are number of individuals who find their usual doctors expensive and some families may not able to afford therapies. Furthermore, there could be another possible reasons and that is trust and lack of guidance. For instance, sometimes people feels that they are being misguided they lose hope and trust in their conventional treatments.
On the other hand, although sometimes alternatives are provide more relief at more affordable price than their older family doctor but there was an big picture which is mainly ignored by public is that, these alternatives are always are comes with more side effects. There are some other drawbacks such as lack of scientific evidence and poor regulations, the more biggest risk it contains a lack of actual scientific researches and poor regulations are exist as well For example such companies which invent alternative medicines and treatments do not approve their works because no strict laws exist.
In conclusion, from the above discussion their it it is correct that their are many benefits and demerits when trying alternative medicines and treatments by leaving usual doctor.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt by discussing the shift toward alternative medicine and taking a position, though the development is limited. The essay is under the 250-word minimum, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. While the main points regarding cost and trust are relevant, the arguments are somewhat repetitive and lack depth. The conclusion is also underdeveloped, failing to clearly restate the position or summarize the main points effectively. To improve, ensure you meet the word count requirement and provide more detailed, specific examples to support your arguments, rather than just listing potential drawbacks.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay uses basic paragraphing and some cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'Furthermore'. However, the flow is often interrupted by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the connection between the discussion and the conclusion is weak. The use of cohesive devices is occasionally mechanical or inaccurate, such as the redundant 'their it it is' in the conclusion. Improving the logical transition between sentences and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'alternative trying alternative medicines' and 'the more biggest risk'. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on simple terms like 'good' or 'bad' concepts without using more sophisticated academic terminology. To improve, focus on learning collocations related to health and medicine and avoid repeating the same phrases throughout the text.
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 readability. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('individuals takes', 'people feels'), incorrect verb forms ('are always are comes'), and punctuation errors. The sentence structure is often clunky, particularly in the third paragraph where multiple clauses are joined incorrectly. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and proofreading for common errors like double-word usage or incorrect tense application. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy is essential for a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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