Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-01

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 6.0)

During recent years, there is an increase in people taking alternative medicines instead of visiting a doctor. While some people argue that using herbal medicines and healing therapy are better than conventional medicines, others believe that visiting a doctor is better than using these cures. In my opinion, alternative medicines may have some benefits but they can delay the proper diagnosis of a disease and also lack reliable scientific evidence.

On the one hand, people are interested in alternative medicines because they believe that these have no side effects and are cost efficient. There is also a belief that healing therapy can treat the health issues which can not be treated by conventional medicines. For example, using herbal medicines like mint in case of cold can provide an immediate relief. Also this treatment is cheap and eliminates the need for visiting a doctor and taking synthetic medicines. Additionally, this type of treatment is considered safe and easy to follow. That is why there is a gradual increase in these practices over the years.

On the other hand, people believe that visiting a doctor and taking conventional medicines is the best way to treat a disease. It is because taking alternative medicines can delay the necessary diagnosis of a disease. For example, taking herbal medicines to treat bacterial infection will result in overload of the pathogens before the diagnosis of the disease. Additionally, most of the alternative medicines and healing therapies lack necessary scientific evidence. There is also a lack of information about the safety of these treatments. Therefore, taking proper diagnosis and using conventional medicines is the best possible way to treat a health issue.

In my opinion, taking alternative medicines is largely a negative development unless there is a sttrong scientific support to their use. People should consult a doctor in case of any halth problem and take alternative medicines only after a recommendation from a doctor.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear: you regard relying on alternative treatments instead of seeing a doctor as largely negative, while acknowledging possible benefits. You address both sides and support them with relevant examples, such as mint for a cold and the risk of delaying diagnosis of a bacterial infection. This gives the response a solid, relevant foundation. However, some points are asserted rather than fully explained: the claim that mint provides “immediate relief” is not qualified, and the discussion of how alternative treatments might delay diagnosis could explain more clearly why people postpone medical care. Develop these links and make the distinction between complementary use and replacing a doctor more explicit to strengthen the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs, and a conclusion that restates your view. Phrases such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In my opinion” make the main stages easy to follow. The ideas generally progress logically from perceived benefits to risks. At times, however, the linking is somewhat mechanical, and some references are broad: “these,” “this treatment,” and “these practices” do not always identify precisely which treatment or belief is meant. The conclusion also moves quickly from the argument to advice. Use more varied transitions and clearer references, and connect each example explicitly to the point it supports, for smoother progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “alternative medicines,” “conventional medicines,” “diagnosis,” “bacterial infection,” and “scientific evidence.” These terms help communicate the central argument, and the meaning is generally clear. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural, such as “cost efficient,” “overload of the pathogens,” and “necessary diagnosis.” There are also spelling errors, including “sttrong” and “halth,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise collocations and check spelling carefully; for example, describe pathogens as multiplying or an infection worsening, rather than becoming an “overload.” Greater control of these phrases would make the argument sound more natural and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a concession in “While some people argue…” and a conditional structure in “unless there is…” Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and the paragraph structure helps readability. Some grammatical errors remain. For example, “there is an increase” is less suitable for describing a change over recent years than “there has been an increase,” and “using herbal medicines and healing therapy are” has a subject–verb agreement problem. In “a recommendation from a doctor,” the article and phrasing could also be more natural in context. Review tense choices for changes over time, agreement with compound subjects, and article use. These corrections would improve accuracy while preserving your range of sentence structures.

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