Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-05
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)
today I would like to talk about a topic who's really happened in nowadays it as a growing number of people with health problems are trying medicines with out the doctor advice it has both sides of this some advantage and some disadvantage of this first if all I present you the some advantage of this activate it is good if you use medicine with out doctor suggestion its okay when you have some knowledge about medicines and if you have not big health issue then you should use medicines with out doctors advice and if you have pain in head and other outer body pain and you no what medicine is good for this then you do this its good for your financial condition you can save money and instead of giving high checkup fees to doctors .this have also a bad side some disadvantage of this when some people who don,t have any knowledge about medicines and the use medicines without doctors advice then some people use wrong medicines and the got serious health issue the try to saving money but after getting in high health problem the can spend more money on hospitals and some are died after using wrong permission overall I think if you have some knowledge about medicines then you use it after checking the expire dates and its use for what purpose and sometime if you have any big health issue then I prefer you to descise it with your doctor its helpful
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages of using alternative medicines. However, the development of ideas is limited and somewhat repetitive. The position is clear, but the arguments lack depth and specific examples. The essay relies on general statements rather than well-supported points. To improve, you should expand on your arguments with more detailed explanations and concrete examples. The conclusion is brief and does not fully synthesize the points made. The response meets the minimum word count, but the quality of the content needs to be more analytical to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks clear paragraphing, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of ideas. The text is presented as one large block, which is a significant weakness in terms of structure. Cohesive devices are either missing or used incorrectly, such as the repetitive use of 'and' to link clauses. There is a lack of logical flow between sentences, and the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is abrupt. To improve, you must organize your response into distinct paragraphs (introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion) and use a wider variety of linking words like 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'on the other hand' to connect your ideas effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, often relying on simple words like 'good', 'bad', and 'things'. There are several instances of incorrect word choice, such as 'activate' instead of 'activity' and 'descise' instead of 'discuss'. The range of vocabulary is limited, which restricts your ability to express complex ideas precisely. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary related to health and medicine. Avoid using informal or imprecise language. Using synonyms and more sophisticated collocations will help you convey your points more clearly and professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'some are died'), incorrect verb tenses, and missing articles. Sentence structure is mostly simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also problematic, with a lack of full stops and commas, leading to run-on sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures, including correct subject-verb agreement and punctuation. Once you have a solid foundation, practice incorporating complex sentences using relative clauses and subordinating conjunctions to demonstrate a wider grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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