Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-25

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 7.0)

These days a majority number of people are managing their health illnesses with self-treatment rather than going to their usual doctor. I believe this is a negative development because a person can worsen their symptoms due to lack of medical knowledge. They can also experience adverse effects by trying diffrent medicines.

First and foremost, self-treatment can often cause more harm than good. The primary reason for that is local people have no information and knowledge about the mechanism of action and usage of drugs. As a consequence, they can use different drugs that may not be specific for that health problem leading to severe reactions in the body that can be life threatening. For instance, a painkiller called Morphine is used by public to alleviate the pain from gall bladder stone attack, but it is said to be avoided in this condition as it can worsen the gall bladder contractions which further aggravate the pain.

Secondly, trying different types of drugs can have severe side effects. This is due to the fact that every drug has it's risks and adverse effects, so it must be used properly to avoid negative consequences that only a doctor knows. Therefore, it must be perscribed by a doctor who has the necessary knowledge of risks and long-term negative effects of medicines. For example, Brufen taken as a pain killer and available as over-the-counter drug to manage pain can cause peptic ulcers if used for a long time.

In conclusion, trying out different drugs without a proper doctor's permission can lead to devastating consequences on our health. This is because local people are unaware of mechanism of action of the drug and possible side effects if used in a long run.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses the prompt by clearly presenting a position that self-treatment is a negative development. The student extends and supports this position with relevant, detailed examples, such as the mention of morphine usage during gall bladder attacks and the long-term side effects of Brufen. The ideas are well-developed throughout the body paragraphs, directly answering all parts of the task. There is a minor tendency to generalise terms like 'local people', but overall the task is fully covered, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, introduced effectively with signposting language such as 'First and foremost', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion'. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to link ideas, although referencing and transitions can occasionally feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to structure the argument well, allowing the reader to follow the train of thought easily from introduction to conclusion, which firmly aligns with Band 7.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task with some attempts at less common lexical items, such as 'mechanism of action', 'adverse effects', and 'peptic ulcers'. There is adequate flexibility and precision in discussing medical contexts, though occasional errors in word choice and spelling occur, such as writing 'diffrent' instead of 'different' and 'perscribed' instead of 'prescribed'. These lexical inaccuracies do not impede communication, placing the response solidly at Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The student exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, successfully using relative clauses and subordinate structures like 'because local people have no information' and 'that may not be specific'. There are some grammatical and punctuation errors present, notably the possessive error 'it's risks' instead of 'its risks' and minor prepositional slips. However, these errors are relatively infrequent and rarely impede communication, ensuring the essay comfortably meets the criteria for a Band 6.5.

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