Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-20

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)

In these contamprory era, an increasing number of individuals with health isseues are prefer alternative medicines and treatments instead of consulting a qualify doctors. Although this trend may have some benefits but I believe it is largely negative development because they are not always it is scientificly proven and safety concern.

Alternative medicines and treatments can be cultivate in certain situations. Many herbal remedies and treatments like yoga and exercise are effective in some health concerns. In addition , it has fewer side effectes than the scientific medicines because the natural medicines are made by natural products without using any chemicals. It is prolonged by our ancestors and they are also used this. However, sometimes visiting a specialist is tend expensive. Nowadays, doctors are charge handsome amount of money during regular check-up. This only can afford priviladge people. So some times homemade remedies are often effective.

On the other hand, depend on alternative medicines have a providon impact on well being. One of the biggest drawback is not all the therepies and medicines are scientifically proven. Use it long term and not visit doctors tend to many health diseases. Likewise, heart issues, cancer, obesity, kidney infection, blood pressure. Additionally, many people can sells fake and scam products which can help for short period but also have hugely side effects. And recently many cases are noted. Example, in India many medical stores are sell animal syrup in the children caugh syrup bottle. And many children are dead after taking it.

In conclusion, although alternative medicines have many positive side such as fewer side effects and naturally maded. But it is not ignore that it create masive impact on health.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You take a clear overall position that relying on alternative treatments is largely negative, and you address both potential benefits and risks. The points about cost, unproven treatments, and counterfeit products are relevant. However, the benefits paragraph is not fully focused: yoga and exercise are grouped with medicines, and the claim that natural remedies have fewer side effects is asserted rather than supported. The risks are also listed more than explained; for example, the references to heart problems, cancer, and kidney infection do not show how delaying a doctor’s care could lead to these outcomes. The example about contaminated children’s cough syrup is potentially useful, but needs a clearer link to alternative treatments. Develop fewer points with specific explanation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on possible benefits, a paragraph on risks, and a conclusion. Contrast markers such as “However” and “On the other hand” help signal the change in direction. Nevertheless, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. The benefits paragraph moves from remedies to doctors’ fees and then homemade treatments without explaining how these points connect. In the risks paragraph, the list of illnesses interrupts the explanation, while “And recently many cases are noted” does not clearly identify what cases are being discussed. The conclusion also introduces a contrast with “although” and “But” in a way that makes the relationship between the clauses awkward. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each example directly to its main point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “herbal remedies,” “side effects,” “scientifically proven,” and “fake and scam products.” These choices show some awareness of the language needed to discuss health and safety. However, the range is limited and frequent spelling, word-form, and collocation errors sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow, as in “contamprory,” “prolonged by our ancestors,” and “have a providon impact.” Some expressions are also imprecise: “animal syrup” does not clearly explain what the product contained, and “handsome amount” is not a natural collocation for medical fees. Aim for accurate, conventional phrases and check spelling carefully; precision will help your relevant ideas come across more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex sentence forms, including the opening concession and clauses beginning “because” and “which,” but control is inconsistent. Errors occur frequently in verb forms and agreement: “individuals … are prefer,” “doctors are charge,” and “many medical stores are sell.” Articles and sentence construction also need attention, as in “visiting a specialist is tend expensive” and “it is largely negative development.” Several fragments, including “Likewise, heart issues, cancer, obesity, kidney infection, blood pressure,” leave the relationship between ideas incomplete. These errors can make the reader work to understand your meaning. Practise building accurate simple sentences first, then add subordinate clauses, checking subject–verb agreement, articles, and complete sentence structure.

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