Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-19

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 5.5)

In recent time, a growing amount of people with health issues are trying alternative medicines and treatment for illenss instead of visiting their usual doctor. In this essay will discuss certain positive development and the drawbacks it contained, whereas I strongly believe that apart from usual health problem people should concern their family doctor for better treatment, unit it get expanding.

On the one hand, the positive consequences of taking alternative medicines are more beneficial. In such case people have normal cough and fever for that they recomand their home remedies and usual tablets, which can give best recovery because their body is familier with that specific medicine. For instance, if an individual suddenly get detect from vomiting, headache, body pain, etc in that case they can take regular medicine to get instant relief. In addition, people should habitual with certain tablets and usual treatment so body can be suitable for normal health circumstances.

On the other hand, the major drawbacks of aviod usual doctor can be cause so much problem in our internal body. Furthermore, sometimes people have nromal symtomes like fever in that case people just take tablets and get relief, after few days fever get back due to incomplete of medicine course or having another issue. Therefore, if community feel uncomfortable and unsual then they should visit their doctor. For example, if medicines are taken regularly without identifying their issue then it can be side affect on long term. In contrast, people can take tablet in case of emergency and doctor is unavailable, otherwise they should always prescribe with doctor before taking any tablets so that they gave apropriate treament if anything occur in their body.

In conclusion, a expanding number of people with health problem are trying consume alternative tablets and treatment rather than visiting their usual doctor, however, I strongly believed that aviod hospital visit in case of uncomfortable can harmfull for our own body because sometime people do not know about proper problem and taking regular medicine, which cause side affect. Although, they can try home remedies and medicines in case emergency.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both potential benefits and risks, and your position is broadly that people should consult a doctor when symptoms are concerning. The examples about ordinary coughs and fever, and about symptoms returning after incomplete treatment, are relevant to the topic. However, the response does not fully answer whether the growing trend itself is positive or negative: the opening says you will discuss a “positive development and the drawbacks,” while the conclusion mainly warns against avoiding doctors, leaving your overall judgement somewhat mixed. Some claims, such as the body being “familier” with regular medicine, are not clearly explained or supported. State directly that you consider the trend mostly negative, then develop one or two reasons with clearer explanation and examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs and a conclusion, so the reader can follow its broad structure. “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” signal the stages of the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the first body paragraph moves from home remedies to tablets and then to the body becoming “suitable,” without showing how these points connect. Some linking is mechanical, and “In contrast” does not clearly introduce a contrast in the sentence where it appears. The conclusion also repeats several points rather than drawing them together. Use clearer topic sentences and make each supporting sentence explain or illustrate the paragraph’s main idea; check that each connector expresses the relationship you intend.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “alternative medicines,” “home remedies,” “incomplete” and “side affect,” which helps communicate the subject. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate word choices, collocations and spelling errors make parts difficult to understand. Examples include “a growing amount of people,” “usual health problem,” “get detect from vomiting,” and “prescribe with doctor.” Spelling problems such as “illenss,” “recomand” and “symtomes” also reduce clarity. Aim to learn common health-related word partnerships and check word forms and spelling carefully. More precise expressions would help you explain the difference between self-treatment for minor symptoms and seeking professional medical advice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including conditional and reason clauses, as in “if community feel uncomfortable … then they should visit their doctor.” This shows an effort to express relationships between ideas. However, complex sentences are often faulty, and errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “In this essay will discuss” lacks a subject, while “a expanding number” and “people have normal cough” have problems with article use and agreement. The sentence beginning “In contrast, people can take tablet” also contains several grammatical problems. Practise building accurate basic clauses first, then combine them with “because,” “if” and “although”; proofread each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb.

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.