Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-20
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 5.5)
It is often argued by some people that patients are using alternative medicines and treatments instead of visiting doctors. Although some considere it negative, I beleive that it to be extremely beneficial. Not only because of it is affordable and have no side effects, but also because it is easily available.
There are a lot of advantages associated with alternative medicines and treatments. Firstly, these medicines and threatments are affordable. As these medicines are available in less price than the medicines that the doctors recommend, and poor people can also buy these medicines easily. Take an example of Nepal, a survey shows that the death rate in Nepal have been increased in the last 10 years, because the prices of medicines are increased and poor people can't afford these medicines and trearments. Thus, this mega advantage can lead this development to a positive development.
Secondly, thses medicines and treatments have no side effects. As these alternative medicines are made by natural produts. For instance, it is expected that by year 2028, The United States of America will be ban all human made medicines because these medicines have a lot of side effects. Hence, this mega benefit also proves this development a positive development.
Finaly, these alternative medicines and treatments are easily available. As their is no hospital and doctors for a proper treatment in small villages, these alternative treatments are easily available in every village.
To sum up, this development also have some drawbacks too, but I believe that benefits it can bring in term of affordable, without side effect and easily available can make this development a positive one.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position that the trend of using alternative medicines is a positive development. Ideas are extended with reasons and examples, such as the mention of affordability and natural ingredients. However, some arguments are slightly repetitive or rely on sweeping assumptions, such as the claim that 'The United States of America will be ban all human made medicines.' While the position is clear throughout, the supporting evidence in places lacks accuracy or realistic grounding, placing the response solidly within the Band 6 descriptor for Task Achievement where relevant ideas are presented, though some are under-developed or border on over-generalisation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction and conclusion. Paragraphing is utilised, with body paragraphs generally dedicated to separate points introduced by transition markers such as 'Firstly,' 'Secondly,' and 'Finaly'. However, cohesion is frequently faulty or mechanical. There are numerous awkward transitions and repetitive phrasings at the start of paragraphs, such as 'Thus, this mega advantage can lead this development to a positive development.' Furthermore, referencing is sometimes unclear, and cohesive devices are overused in a formulaic manner. Overall, the structural organisation is adequate for a Band 6 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common words and phrases such as 'affordable', 'side effects', and 'natural produts'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice errors throughout the text, including 'considere' instead of consider, 'beleive', 'threatments', 'less price' instead of a lower price, 'produts', and 'Finaly'. These errors do not generally impede communication, but they restrict the lexical score. The writer attempts to express complex ideas, but inaccuracies in word formation and collocation prevent the response from achieving a higher band, making Band 5.5 a fair representation of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some attempt at subordination and relative clauses. However, grammatical accuracy is weak, with frequent errors in article usage, prepositions, subject-verb agreement, and sentence fragments. Examples include 'Not only because of it is affordable and have no side effects', 'As these medicines are available in less price', and 'As their is no hospital'. Many sentences contain multiple minor errors that disrupt the flow and demonstrate limited control over complex structures. While meaning is generally conveyed, the frequency of errors places this response at Band 5.0.
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