Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In recent years, an increasing number of people with health probems have turned to alternative medicines and treatment rather than consulting their usual doctors. While this trend reflects a desire for more natural and holistic approaches, I believe it is largely a negative development.

On the one hand, alternative medicine can provide certain benefits. Many traditional remedies, such as herbal treatments or acuupuncture, have been used for centuries and may help patients manage minor conditions or reduce stress. Furthermore, these approaches often emphasize lifestyles changes, such as diet and exercise, whch can improve overall well-being. For individuals who feel dissatisffied with conventional healthcare, alternative treatments may also offer a sense of control and comfort. In additon, some individuals feel more comfortable with traditional practices that have been used for centuries.

On the other hand, relying solely on alternative medicine poses significant risks. Unlike modern medical practices, many alternative therapies lack scientific evidence and standardized regulation. This means patients may waste time and money on ineffective treatments, or worse, delay receivin proper medical care. For example, a person with a serious illness such as cancer who chooses herbal remedies instead of chemotherapy could face life-threatening consequences. Moreover, unqualified practitioners may exploit vulnerable patients, leading to harmful outcomes. Patients may waste time and money on ineffective remedies, or worse, delay essential medical treatment.

In conclusion, although alternative medicine can complement conventional healthcare in some cases, replacing doctors with unproven treatments is dangerous. Therefore, this trend shoud be regarded as a negative development, and people should seek professional medical advice for serious health problems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response clearly addresses the prompt by taking a definitive stance that the trend is negative. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the argument regarding the lack of scientific evidence and the potential for life-threatening delays in conventional treatment. The essay covers all parts of the task, providing both a balanced view by acknowledging the benefits of alternative medicine and a strong counter-argument. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. The development of ideas is logical and relevant to the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. While the structure is sound, the repetition of the phrase 'waste time and money on ineffective treatments' in the third paragraph slightly impacts the flow. However, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and precise, with terms like 'holistic approaches', 'conventional healthcare', 'standardized regulation', and 'unqualified practitioners'. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'probems', 'acuupuncture', 'whch', 'dissatisffied', 'additon', and 'shoud'. While these do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey complex ideas, but it lacks the consistent sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically sound. There are occasional errors, such as 'lifestyles changes' (should be 'lifestyle changes') and 'receivin' (spelling error). However, the majority of the sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally correct. The control of grammar is strong enough to ensure that the meaning is never obscured, and the variety of structures used is appropriate for this type of task.

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