Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-26

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 4.0)

It is an undeniaable fact that people turning to alternative medicines and treatments instead of visiting regular doctor is getting very popular now a days Although,some people might consider it negative,but i believe it to be extremely beneficial,not only because of natural ingredients and zero harsh chemecials and cost-effectiveness,but also because of holistic approach to long term healing.This essay will explore how these factors make this development a positive

There are multiple benefits of this development.Firstly,one of the major benefit of this development is natural ingredients

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

Your position is clear: you believe choosing alternative treatments is beneficial, and you introduce reasons such as natural ingredients, cost-effectiveness and a holistic approach. However, the response only begins to explain one benefit—“natural ingredients”—and gives no supporting explanation or relevant example. It also does not address the possible risks of replacing a regular doctor, which would help make your evaluation more convincing. The essay’s development is therefore very limited, and the task is only partially addressed. The response also falls short of the required 250 words. To improve, develop each reason with explanation and an example, consider a counterargument, and write a complete conclusion that restates your judgement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The opening establishes your opinion and previews several reasons, while “Firstly” signals the start of a supporting point. These features give the reader a basic sense of direction. However, the response ends just as the first reason is introduced, so there is no developed progression between ideas, supporting details, and a conclusion. The opening sentence also contains several points packed together, making the organisation harder to follow. Build separate paragraphs for your position, each main reason, and the conclusion. Use linking expressions to show how each explanation or example relates to the point, rather than relying on a list-like sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You attempt some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “alternative medicines and treatments,” “cost-effectiveness,” and “holistic approach to long term healing.” These choices show an effort to express ideas beyond very basic language. However, the range is narrow in this short response, and spelling and word-form errors reduce accuracy: “undeniaable,” “chemecials,” and “now a days” are not correctly formed. Some phrasing is also imprecise, such as “natural ingredients” without specifying what benefit they provide. Check spelling carefully and choose precise expressions that explain your meaning, such as describing treatments as “plant-based” or discussing “potential side effects,” where appropriate. More developed content would also allow you to demonstrate a broader vocabulary range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt a complex opening sentence using “not only … but also,” and the main position can be understood. However, sentence control is inconsistent. The opening is a run-on, with missing sentence-final punctuation, and “people turning … is getting” has a mismatch between the plural subject and verb. The phrase “visiting regular doctor” also needs an article, and the final sentence fragment, “Firstly, one of the major benefit … is natural ingredients,” lacks accurate plural agreement and a complete explanation. Use shorter, complete sentences while checking articles, subject–verb agreement, and punctuation. Once these are secure, practise combining ideas with complex structures and clear clause boundaries.

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