Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-23

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 current time, a significant number of individuals are taking medicines by avoiding to visit their often doctor. We will analyse that to what extent it is beneficial for their wellbeing or how harmful it could be?

While many people prefer not to consult with their doctors rather than they use their own source of information and treat themselves accordingly for their sooner recovery. However, I strongly appose this notion as it could be dangerous for their health by different side effects.

A major reason of people who use their methods to get well is that they become lazy by not taking it as serious, which can subsequntly create gradual increament in health. They think that it is not a big threat for their health which can affect their physical activities. For example, it happened with me a lot of time that i did not take serious when I got sick and with the passage of time my health was compromised badly. So in my perspective, it is against natural fundamental health activities which must be not incouraged.

On the other side, I wholeheartedly incourage people to consult with their family doctors in this kind of situation to avoid any negative circumtances which can destroy their wellbeing. For instance, if we visit a clinic to get check up and treatment over their, the doctor will be able to ifentify particular health isuue and medicate accordingly.

In summary, people who avoid visiting hospital and in result they get a severe detrimental health issues, must be discouraged to get sooner recovery. I fiirmly believe that they will not regret later on by getting haltheir quickly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear overall: you oppose replacing a doctor’s advice with self-treatment, and you give relevant reasons about delayed care and possible harm. The personal example of ignoring illness supports your view, while the clinic example explains how a doctor can identify a problem and prescribe treatment. However, the response only partly addresses the specific issue of alternative medicines and treatments; it often shifts to avoiding doctors or treating oneself generally. The reasons are also under-developed: explain more precisely how an alternative remedy could delay diagnosis or interact with prescribed medicine. A more direct discussion of the stated trend, with fuller explanation of its consequences, would make the response more complete and convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the reader can generally follow your opposition to the trend. You use signposts such as “For example,” “On the other side” and “In summary” to show the stages of your argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. The opening body paragraph begins with “While” but does not complete a clear contrast, and the connection between laziness, delayed treatment and worsening health needs to be explained. Some linking phrases feel mechanical or do not express the intended relationship. Organise each paragraph around one clear point, then develop it with explanation and an example; use referencing and transitions more precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “side effects,” “wellbeing,” “consult” and “detrimental,” and the general meaning is usually recoverable. However, vocabulary control is limited by frequent spelling errors and inaccurate or unnatural word combinations, such as “often doctor,” “sooner recovery,” “gradual increament” and “severe detrimental health issues.” These choices sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to interpret. Several expressions are also vague or unsuitable for the topic, including “natural fundamental health activities.” Build a more reliable set of phrases for discussing medical care, such as “seek medical advice,” “delay diagnosis” and “worsen a condition,” and check spelling and collocation carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a conditional example beginning “if we visit a clinic” and a relative clause in “which can affect their physical activities.” However, complex constructions are often faulty, and frequent errors affect clarity. For example, “While many people prefer not to consult with their doctors rather than they use…” has an incomplete or confused structure, while “the doctor will be able to identify” is missing the verb after “able to.” There are also problems with articles, agreement and sentence boundaries, as in “a severe detrimental health issues.” Practise building accurate sentences with one main clause and a clearly connected supporting clause, then check verb forms, articles and singular/plural agreement.

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