Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-06

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)

There is a considerable debate about visiting doctors, some people believe that it is important to visit doctors, while others argue that health issues can be relieved by using over-the-counter medicines and remedies. Although alternative methods can provide short-term relief, I believe we should consult our doctors.

On the one hand, there is an ongoing trend of taking herbal and homeopathic medications, which are substantially effective in relieving pain and treating diseases. People are finding new alternative ways to prevent the excessive use of antibiotics and various clinical tests, which are rather expensive and laborious. For example, the public is more inclined to natural and effective ways, in order to restrict side effects of frequent use of chemical compounds. In some cases, people can hardly get a doctor's appointment on time, as a result they tend to use over the counter drugs to get immediate relief.

On the other hand, visiting a doctor is the most suitable approach, not only does it provide patients with personalized treatment but also helps them to prevent the use of wrong medicine, which could otherwise cause some serious consequences. Since doctors are professionals, they can give their patients specific medicine for a particular disease by performing various laboratory tests, which automatically reduces the risks of antibiotic resistance.

In my opinion, although using herbal, ayurvedic and OTC drugs are of significant use, depending entirely on alternative methods can pose serious threats. However, we should try to visit doctors whenever our body gives us alarming signs instead of ignoring it and keeping trying remedies.

All things considered, though we should incline to organic treatments during the appearance of early symptoms, if it is not recovering we should definitely visit the doctor after a few days. The disadvantages of over-dependence on parallel methods outweigh its advantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that alternative medicine should not replace professional medical advice. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, particularly the discussion on the risks of self-diagnosis and the benefits of professional oversight. However, the argument could be further strengthened by providing more specific examples of 'alternative medicines' beyond general terms like 'herbal' or 'ayurvedic'. The conclusion is clear, though it introduces a slight nuance about using organic treatments for early symptoms that could have been integrated more smoothly into the main body paragraphs to avoid a sense of contradiction.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs presenting opposing views, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'All things considered' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to improve the overall cohesion, as some connections feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and generally appropriate for the task. You demonstrate the ability to use topic-specific terminology such as 'antibiotic resistance', 'homeopathic', and 'personalized treatment'. There is some attempt to use less common items, though some collocations could be more natural. For instance, 'incline to organic treatments' is slightly awkward; 'opt for natural remedies' would be more precise. Overall, the range is adequate to convey your ideas clearly without significant errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a clear attempt to use complex forms, such as conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'Although alternative methods can provide...'). While there are occasional grammatical slips, such as the comma splice in 'as a result they tend to use', these do not impede communication. Punctuation is generally handled well, and the majority of your sentences are error-free, showing a good level of control over your writing.

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