Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-22

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 4.5)

During these days many people think that their growing number of health problems they use different alternative medicines for treatments but they can not visit doctors.

It will may good but as well as bad for them such that if a person have some health problem such as fever for body pain like normal health problems them they should have to use alternative medicines.

In my opinion i think so if a person have health problems just a normal then he should have to use any medicine at home but when a person is suffering from a high problem then he should have to visit doctors for better treatment.

But on the other hand side i saw that most of the people do not know about their health problems they take any kind of medicine and then the medicine make negative effect on them they feel more problems

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource4.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall4.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You give a relevant opinion that people with ordinary problems may use home remedies, while those with serious problems should see a doctor. This addresses the topic, but the position is not fully clear: “It will may good but as well as bad” suggests both sides without deciding whether the development is positive or negative. The reasons are only briefly stated, and the example of people taking unknown medicines is not explained in enough detail to show its consequences. The response also does not meet the required minimum of 250 words, so there is too little development to cover the task adequately. State your position directly, explain two supporting reasons, and develop each with a specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some organisation: you introduce the issue, give your view, and add a contrasting point beginning “But on the other hand.” This helps the reader recognise a basic line of thought. However, the response has no clear paragraphing or overall progression, and several ideas run together in long sentences. The contrast between using home remedies for minor problems and consulting doctors for serious ones could be presented in separate, focused paragraphs. Linking phrases such as “but” and “on the other hand” are used, but the relationship between ideas is not always clear, particularly in the opening. Use a simple structure—introduction, reasoned body paragraphs, and conclusion—and make each paragraph develop one main point.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

Your vocabulary is basic but includes relevant topic words such as “alternative medicines,” “health problems,” “treatment,” and “negative effect.” These allow the reader to identify the subject and your main concern. However, the same general terms are repeated, and some phrases are inaccurate or awkward, including “high problem,” “normal health problems,” and “the medicine make negative effect.” These choices sometimes make your meaning less precise. Build a small set of accurate health-related expressions and use them in context—for example, distinguish “minor symptoms” from “serious conditions,” and describe possible “side effects” or “risks.” More precise collocations would help you explain your ideas clearly without relying on repeated words such as “problem” and “medicine.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, including a conditional idea: “when a person is suffering from a high problem then he should have to visit doctors.” This shows an effort to connect conditions with advice. However, control is inconsistent, and errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction are frequent. Examples include “It will may good,” “a person have,” and “the medicine make.” The opening sentence also combines clauses in a way that obscures the intended meaning. Practise accurate basic patterns first, such as “If a person has a minor problem, they can…” and “The medicine may cause side effects.” Then add longer sentences using one clear conjunction at a time, and check punctuation and sentence boundaries.

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