Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

These days, a large number of individuals often suffer with numerous health issues, further more they are trying different medicines and treatments instead of visiting their regular doctor. In my opinion this is a negative development because this might cause serious health problems and even may lead to death with-out doctor suggestions.

In this contemporary world many people try to take medicines and treatments with-out their doctor consent, which has been a major dilemma of now. One mayor reason behind this is thinking that; it is a minor problem, which could be solved without professional doctor appointment. Due to this mindset and behaviour often cause serious health problem. For example; if someone is having common cold then, they would probably neg-lect this and try different sorts of homemade medicine.

Another aspect, that would support that it is a detrimental cultivation is, it may even lead to death. This has been a major cases of nowadays. A large number of studies suggests that taking unusual medicines without visiting their doctor will cause allergy and even some cases it will result in death. However for normal health problems can be cured at home but for serious health issues they should visit their nearby doctor and take treatments and medicines as their recommendation.

In conclusion, it is a negative development, and they should be aware of the consequences. Taking alternative medicines and treatments without visiting their doctor might be fatal.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that the trend is negative. However, the essay fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the main arguments—potential for misdiagnosis and health risks—are relevant, they are under-developed and repetitive. The essay lacks specific examples or depth, relying on general statements like 'a large number of studies' without providing concrete evidence. To improve, you must expand your arguments with more detailed explanations and ensure you meet the minimum length requirement to allow for a fully developed response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'further more' is used incorrectly as a transition, and 'another aspect, that would support that it is a detrimental cultivation' is awkward and lacks logical flow. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the progression of ideas feels repetitive rather than building toward a strong conclusion. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, distinct topic sentence that advances your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'detrimental cultivation' (which does not fit the context of medical treatment) and 'doctor consent' instead of 'medical advice'. Spelling errors, such as 'with-out' and 'neg-lect', also detract from the quality of the writing. To reach a higher band, you should work on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary, and ensure you proofread for basic spelling and word-form errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include incorrect preposition usage ('suffer with' instead of 'suffer from'), subject-verb agreement errors ('behaviour often cause'), and punctuation mistakes (e.g., the unnecessary semicolon after 'thinking that'). The sentence structure is often repetitive, and the control over complex sentences is inconsistent. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and correct punctuation before attempting more complex structures.

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