Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-08

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)

A number of people are trying to use different medicines as alternatives without visiting their doctors for proper treatment. This essay discusses my opinion on this argument.

In my opinion, trying different medicines using their own knowledge instead of visiting a doctor is a negative development. This can cause serious health problems. Unusual medicines can cause allergies, which could be harmful. For example, if a person takes a Panadol tablet to overcome a fever, but they are actually suffering from another disease, this unusual treatment could cause a serious allergic reaction, and the patient may suffer from additional health problems.

Another disadvantage is that some diseases show their symptoms after a long time, which can result in untreated health problems. People may use antibiotics without properly consulting a doctor, which can contribute to antibiotic resistance. Information from the internet or friends may be unreliable. Doctors have professional training and experience. People who receive the wrong treatment may face huge financial losses when the actual disease is diagnosed. People may use medicines after searching for information on the internet, but the internet is an unreliable source.

In conclusion, a number of people use alternative medicines to treat their health problems without visiting their usual doctor. This can cause many serious health problems. Also, people can contribute to antibiotic resistance when they use antibiotics without visiting a doctor. People may face financial losses when the actual disease is diagnosed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you consider avoiding a doctor in favour of alternative treatment a negative development, and you give relevant reasons, including allergic reactions, delayed diagnosis, antibiotic resistance and financial costs. However, several points are asserted rather than explained. The Panadol example is confusing because it does not show clearly how an alternative medicine causes an allergy, and the financial-loss point needs a fuller explanation. The response also does not meet the stated minimum length, which limits the opportunity to develop and support your ideas. To strengthen the response, explain each cause-and-effect link carefully and add a specific, relevant example while keeping your position consistent.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The main ideas are generally grouped sensibly, and linking phrases such as “Another disadvantage” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the argument. However, progression within the second body paragraph is less clear: it moves from delayed symptoms to antibiotics, internet information, doctors’ expertise and financial losses without showing how these points connect. The final two sentences also repeat ideas already stated. Use a clearer sequence—for example, explain the risks of self-medication together, then discuss delayed diagnosis—and use referencing or transitions to show the relationship between points rather than listing them.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main argument, including “allergic reaction,” “antibiotic resistance,” “professional training” and “financial losses.” These terms are relevant and generally understandable. However, the range is limited by repeated wording such as “people may use,” “health problems” and “without visiting a doctor.” Some expressions are imprecise or awkward, including “different medicines as alternatives” and “unusual medicines”; the latter does not clearly convey whether you mean unprescribed or non-conventional treatments. Aim for more precise terms and vary repeated phrases, while checking that each word accurately describes the treatment being discussed. This would make the argument clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

Your writing includes both straightforward sentences and some attempts at complex structures, such as “which could be harmful” and “when the actual disease is diagnosed.” Most sentences communicate their basic meaning, but control is uneven. The Panadol example begins with “For example, if a person takes…” and then shifts to “but they are actually suffering,” making the conditional relationship difficult to follow; the sentence would be clearer if divided or restructured. The opening phrase “trying different medicines using their own knowledge” also has an unclear grammatical relationship between the actions. Practise building longer sentences around one clear main clause, and check that conditional clauses and their results match logically.

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