Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-13

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 6.0)

As far as this topic is concerned, I believe that the increasing use of alternative medicines instead of visiting a usual doctor is generally a negative development. Although some alternative treatments may provide benefits, relying on them completely can be risky.

Firstly, alternative medicines can sometimes be useful for minor health problems. Some people prefer natural treatments because they believe that they have fewer side effects and are less expensive. Moreover, traditional treatments have been used in many cultures for generations. For example, some people use herbal remedies to deal with minor problems such as stress or digestive discomfort.

On the other hand, avoiding professional medical advice can have serious consequences. Doctors have proper medical training and can diagnose diseases accurately and recommend suitable treatments. If people rely only on alternative medicines, serious illnesses may remain undiagnosed and become worse. Furthermore, some alternative treatments may not have enough scientific evidence to prove that they are safe or effective.

In conclusion, although alternative medicines can be helpful for some minor conditions, I believe that replacing professional medical treatment with them is a negative development. People should consult qualified doctors for serious health problems and use alternative treatments only when they are considered safe and appropriate.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt by clearly presenting a position that the trend is negative. The writer discusses both the reasons why people use alternative medicines, such as natural treatments for minor issues, and the drawbacks, including the risks of leaving serious illnesses undiagnosed. Ideas are relevant and supported with explanations. However, the response has a significant drawback regarding length. As noted in the instructions, this task requires a minimum of 250 words, but this essay contains only 204 words. This under-length issue prevents the full development of ideas and results in a penalty under Task Achievement. Consequently, the score is limited to Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a clear overall structure with an introduction, body paragraphs addressing both sides, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct point. Cohesive devices are employed to connect ideas, such as "Firstly," "Moreover," "On the other hand," and "Furthermore." However, referencing and cohesive links are sometimes a bit formulaic and basic. Despite the limitations in word count and depth, the progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow. This performance aligns well with the descriptors for Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms related to health and medicine such as "alternative medicines," "herbal remedies," "digestive discomfort," and "professional medical advice." There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, and word choice is generally appropriate and precise enough to convey the intended meaning without causing confusion. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the text. Although the vocabulary is not particularly sophisticated or wide-ranging, it meets the criteria for Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writing exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over grammatical structures. Examples include conditional and concessive clauses such as "Although some alternative treatments may provide benefits, relying on them completely can be risky" and "If people rely only on alternative medicines, serious illnesses may remain undiagnosed." Grammatical accuracy is generally high, with the majority of sentences being free of errors, and punctuation is handled correctly. The control over complex sentence patterns pushes this criterion slightly higher, making it a solid Band 6.5.

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