Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-19

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)

In today's world, a significant number of individuals with health problems are trying alternative medicines, and different ways of treatment without consulting their usual doctor. I firmly believe this is a negative development because using medicines without asking a doctor may deteriorate their health even further, and it may also cause other illnesses.

To start with, these days, a growing number of people are using alternative medicines, such as herbal medicine instead of visiting a doctor. I firmly believe that this development has more negatives than benefits for several reasons. Firstly, taking medicines without a doctor's prescription can deteriorate people's health. This is because individuals may take a medicine without really needing it in the first place. As a result, their condition may worsen leading to other health problems, For instance, people who tend to take herbal medicines without consulting a doctor first may suffer from dire conditions in the future without realizing it at the time.

Additionally, people should always consult their doctor before taking medication because alternative treatments may have side effects, such as causing fever, or allergic reaction to a certain medication. As a result, individuals' health may worsen instead of getting better. As an illustration, individuals may be allergic to certain medicines without being aware of it; that's why it is better to get a professional advice before trying any kind of treatment.

To sum up, I firmly contend that trying different treatments without consulting a doctor first is a negative development, as it may worsen people's health instead of improving it, and causing other health problems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by clearly presenting a position that relying on alternative medicines instead of visiting a doctor is a negative development. The writer introduces relevant ideas regarding potential health deterioration and side effects. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat repetitive, as the arguments in body paragraphs one and two largely overlap around the concept of worsening health without professional guidance. The position is maintained throughout, and the conclusion restates the main stance. To reach a higher band, the ideas would need to be more fully extended with distinct, well-supported arguments rather than reiterating similar points about side effects and misdiagnoses. Nonetheless, the task is adequately addressed in line with the Band 6 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing, including an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Logical connectors and cohesive devices are employed, such as 'To start with', 'Firstly', 'Additionally', and 'To sum up'. However, the use of cohesive devices occasionally feels somewhat mechanical. Furthermore, the referencing and flow can be repetitive, such as the frequent repetition of 'As a result' to link sentences. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate distinct points, but the internal progression within paragraphs lacks variety. Overall, the organizational structure is easy to follow, satisfying the criteria for a Band 6 performance.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate their ideas clearly. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, such as 'deteriorate', 'consulting', and 'alternative medicines'. However, there are noticeable limitations and inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing. For instance, the phrase 'different ways of treatment' is slightly unnatural, and 'professional advice' should be uncountable ('professional advice' rather than 'a professional advice'). Vocabulary is also somewhat repetitive, with words like 'health', 'medicines', and 'doctor' appearing frequently. While the lexical range is sufficient to convey the main arguments, these minor inaccuracies and lack of flexibility keep the score at Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures such as conditional and causative ideas ('This is because individuals may take a medicine without really needing it'). There are several grammatical errors and punctuation lapses, such as the comma splice in '...other health problems, For instance...' and the missing article in '...allergic reaction to a certain medication'. Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout. The control over grammar is generally sufficient for a Band 6, featuring a reasonable mix of structures alongside noticeable non-systematic errors.

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

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