Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-12

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 7.5)

Nowadays, an increasing number of people with health problems are choosing alternative medicines and treatments instead of consulting their usual doctor. Although some alternative therapies can be beneficial, I believe that this is generally a negative development because relying on them may delay proper medical treatment and put patients’ health at risk.

One major disadvantage is that alternative treatments are not always scientifically proven to be effective. People may believe that herbal remedies, acupuncture, or other traditional therapies can cure serious illnesses, even when there is insufficient medical evidence to support these claims. As a result, patients may postpone visiting a qualified doctor, allowing their condition to become more serious. For example, someone suffering from persistent chest pain might rely on herbal medicine rather than seeking medical attention, even though such symptoms could indicate a serious heart condition.

Another concern is that some alternative medicines can interfere with conventional treatments. Certain herbal products, for instance, may interact with prescribed medication and reduce its effectiveness or cause harmful side effects. In addition, people who provide alternative treatments may not have the same level of medical training as qualified doctors, making it difficult for patients to receive an accurate diagnosis. This can be particularly dangerous in cases involving diseases that require immediate treatment.

However, alternative medicine is not necessarily harmful in every situation. Some treatments can help people manage minor health problems or complement conventional medicine. For example, practices such as yoga, meditation, and massage may help reduce stress and improve general well-being. Nevertheless, these approaches should ideally be used alongside professional medical advice rather than as a complete replacement for evidence-based treatment.

In conclusion, while certain alternative therapies may provide useful benefits, I believe the growing tendency to replace doctors with alternative medicine is largely negative. People should be encouraged to consult qualified medical professionals, particularly when they have serious or persistent health problems, and use alternative treatments only when they are considered safe and appropriate.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position that the trend is a negative development. The writer successfully supports this stance with well-developed ideas, such as the risks of delaying conventional medical treatment and potential interactions between alternative and prescribed medications. Paragraphs are well-structured, exploring specific disadvantages like lack of scientific proof and diagnostic training, while also thoughtfully acknowledging the complementary benefits of certain therapies in a balanced way. The arguments are well-extended and entirely relevant to the prompt, demonstrating a strong understanding of academic writing requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced, and the progression of the essay flows smoothly from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct central theme, such as lack of scientific proof, drug interactions, and counter-arguments regarding minor health issues. Cohesive devices are managed skilfully without being overused or mechanical, utilizing phrases like 'One major disadvantage', 'Another concern', and 'However' to guide the reader seamlessly through the argument. Referencing and substitution are handled with precision throughout the entire response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic context. Less common lexical items are used skilfully and naturally, such as 'consulting their usual doctor', 'insufficient medical evidence', 'interfere with conventional treatments', and 'evidence-based treatment'. There are only occasional minor lapses, and word choice and collocations are generally accurate. Spelling and word formation are immaculate, allowing the reader to follow the sophisticated arguments effortlessly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response features a wide variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional and participial clauses, used with a high degree of control and flexibility. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and punctuation is handled impeccably. For instance, complex structures such as 'Although some alternative therapies can be beneficial, I believe that this is generally a negative development because relying on them may delay proper medical treatment...' are executed with complete grammatical accuracy. Only rare, non-systematic slips might occur, easily placing this response in the higher band brackets.

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