Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-29

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, a growing number of patients are turning to alternative treatments instead of consulting their doctors. I consider this an entirely negative development because such patients may experience a worsening of their conditions, while failing to seek professional medical advice can result in delayed diagnosis.

The most serious risk is that alternative treatments may worsen a patient's condition. Some unregulated remedies can cause complications or adverse reactions, particularly when they interact adversely with prescribed medication or interfere with the body's normal processes. Such interactions may accelerate disease progression and, in severe cases, become life-threatening if the patient does not receive prompt medical care. For example, some patients with diabetes who require insulin may replace their prescribed treatment with herbal remedies or restrictive diets, which can destabilise blood sugar levels and, in extreme cases, result in a diabetic coma.

Furthermore, forgoing or delaying regular medical check-ups may put patients at serious risk. Delayed diagnosis or failure to consult a doctor who understands the nature of the condition may allow the disease to progress unnoticed. During follow-up appointments, doctors may request blood tests and medical imaging to monitor a patient's condition and adjust the treatment plan when necessary. This facilitates early detection and timely medical intervention, whereas delays may allow the condition to deteriorate to the point that intensive care is required. For instance, a patient with an autoimmune disease who fails to attend regular check-ups or have their medication reviewed may eventually develop severe symptoms and require emergency treatment.

In conclusion, people with health problems who turn to alternative treatments instead of consulting their doctors may face serious health risks. These include the worsening of existing conditions due to harmful interactions with prescribed medication and delays in receiving necessary medical care because of missed follow-up appointments.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by taking a clear, well-supported position that viewing alternative medicine as a substitute for professional healthcare is an entirely negative development. The introduction outlines the stance effectively, while the two body paragraphs present well-developed, logical arguments regarding the risks of adverse physiological reactions and the dangers of delayed medical intervention. The ideas are extended appropriately with relevant real-world examples, such as diabetic patients replacing insulin with herbal remedies and the monitoring requirements for autoimmune conditions. The response meets all task requirements comprehensively, earning a Band 8.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, with the body paragraphs clearly divided into two major arguments: adverse reactions and missed diagnostics. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and naturally, such as 'The most serious risk is...', 'Furthermore...', and 'For instance...', guiding the reader smoothly through the writer's line of reasoning. Paragraphing is managed sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring that the structural flow remains uninterrupted and easy to follow from the introduction to the conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary used throughout the response is sufficiently wide, flexible, and precise for an Academic Task 2 essay. The student successfully employs less common lexical items and precise medical terminology, such as 'adverse reactions', 'disease progression', 'diabetic coma', and 'autoimmune disease'. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate and natural, as seen in expressions like 'unregulated remedies' and 'timely medical intervention'. While there is occasional reliance on standard academic phrasing, the control of lexical resource comfortably satisfies the Band 7 criteria.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The student exhibits a wide range of complex structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The text features numerous error-free complex sentences incorporating subordinate clauses, participial phrases, and conditional meanings, such as 'Some unregulated remedies can cause complications or adverse reactions, particularly when they interact adversely with prescribed medication...' and 'This facilitates early detection and timely medical intervention, whereas delays may allow the condition to deteriorate...'. Control of grammar and punctuation is consistently strong, with only rare, non-systematic slips. The majority of sentences are completely error-free.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.