Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-07

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)

I think, it is an opitimisim approach however there also detrimental effects,both weill be outlined in upcoming paragraphs with the logical conclusion.

To Commence with People with health problems are trying are tryingg alernative medicines and treatments instead of visiting their usual doctor.

Without consulting with usual doctors it may cause the side effects to health , it may increase their problem because no having a accurate or proper knowledge cause brutually harm the health . It may cause the any serious disease. Foe example nowadays peoplw mostly relieve on the social media video , where in some videos they suggest some remedies etc but without knowing any exact result people start following them, in some of cases to be seen, that cause them a harm.

Moreover pregnant women if adapt the some suggestion from any sources, it may also cause miscarriage.

Even exercise without experts may effect the body .

Nonetheless it also a optimistic approach,

For minor problem once can cure it without visiting their usual doctor.

The prime one is that for issues like obesity and more they are prefer to yogas yo cure it . Apart from this under some urgency onec can try alternative medicines or treatment. In addition to prevent from Side effects once can move to auvrvedic treatment or hompathic treatment.

To conclude although there are benefits of former point of view such as in some cases once can give preference to own treatment. According to me consult with doctor is good choice.0

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument, acknowledging both the risks and benefits of alternative medicine. However, the development of ideas is limited and often lacks depth. For instance, the mention of pregnant women and miscarriage is a serious point but is not sufficiently explained or supported with a logical connection to the prompt. The position is somewhat inconsistent; while you state it is an 'optimistic approach' at the start, the conclusion leans towards consulting a doctor. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and provides a well-developed example that directly supports your main argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical flow is frequently interrupted by disjointed sentences and unclear transitions. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'Nonetheless', they are often used incorrectly or do not effectively link the ideas. The introduction is particularly confusing due to grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, which makes it difficult to follow the intended structure. To improve, focus on using transition words that accurately reflect the relationship between your ideas (e.g., contrast, addition, or cause and effect) and ensure each paragraph focuses on a single, clear idea.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary range is quite limited and there are frequent errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'opitimisim' instead of 'optimistic', 'brutually' instead of 'brutally', and 'auvrvedic' instead of 'Ayurvedic'. These errors occasionally make it difficult for the reader to understand your intended meaning. You rely on basic vocabulary and struggle to use more precise or academic terms. To improve, focus on learning the correct spelling of common words and try to incorporate more specific terminology related to health and medicine to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the essay, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('people... is trying'), sentence fragments, and incorrect word order. The use of complex structures is attempted but often results in errors that impede clarity, such as 'no having a accurate or proper knowledge cause brutually harm'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing or misplaced commas and periods. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and proofreading your work to correct simple errors in tense and agreement.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.