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.

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It is true that an increasing number of people are seeking
alternative
methods to treat their ailments because they believe they can save money by not visiting their usual doctors for minor issues like a cough or fever.
However
, I personally believe that these
behaviors
Change the spelling
behaviours
show examples
might lead to negative outcomes in the long run, and I will discuss both the pros and cons in the following paragraphs.
Initially
, despite living in prosperous modern societies, many governments still lack robust social welfare and healthcare insurance systems, which results in residents facing exorbitant medical bills.
Moreover
, when people realize that their heavy financial burden only brings minimal benefits, they tend to avoid regular medical
treatments
and turn to uncertified sources. One notable example is the United States, which is notorious for its inefficient welfare service and lack of comprehensive health insurance, causing many Americans to prefer self-care over professional help when they have a fever.
On the other hand
, there are some potential benefits of
alternative
medicine
. Many people find
alternative
treatments
such
as acupuncture, herbal
medicine
, and yoga to be effective for managing chronic pain, reducing stress, and improving
overall
well-being. These
treatments
are often less invasive and have fewer side effects compared to conventional
medicine
.
For instance
, acupuncture has been widely recognized for its effectiveness in pain management and is even recommended by some health professionals as a complementary treatment.
Nevertheless
, there are numerous negative possibilities when individuals decide not to go to hospitals for
further
investigations. A significant amount of medical research demonstrates that most fatal diseases cannot be detected externally unless patients agree to undergo thorough scans.
For example
, lung cancer is a well-known condition that requires internal examination for early detection. In sum,
while
there are some benefits to
alternative
medicine
, the negative aspects of
this
trend outweigh the positive. It is important for individuals to balance
alternative
treatments
with regular medical check-ups to ensure comprehensive healthcare.
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task achievement
The essay effectively addresses the task prompt and provides a balanced discussion of both positive and negative aspects of alternative medicine. However, to enhance the clarity of your ideas, try to refine the transitions between points to make them smoother and more cohesive.
task achievement
Ensure that each point you make is well-supported with examples or evidence. While you have provided relevant examples, consider elaborating on them further to strengthen your argument.
coherence cohesion
Work on the logical flow of your essay to make the transitions between paragraphs and ideas more seamless. This can help improve the overall cohesion and make your argument more compelling.
introduction conclusion present
The essay contains a clear introduction and conclusion, effectively framing the discussion.
relevant specific examples
You provided specific examples, such as the case of the United States and lung cancer, which strengthen your arguments and make them more relatable.

Include an introduction and conclusion

A conclusion is essential for IELTS writing task 2. It is more important than most people realise. You will be penalised for missing a conclusion in your IELTS essay.

The easiest paragraph to write in an essay is the conclusion paragraph. This is because the paragraph mostly contains information that has already been presented in the essay – it is just the repetition of some information written in the introduction paragraph and supporting paragraphs.

The conclusion paragraph only has 3 sentences:

  • Summary
  • Restatement of thesis
  • Prediction or recommendation

Example:

To summarize, a robotic teacher does not have the necessary disciple to properly give instructions to students and actually works to retard the ability of a student to comprehend new lessons. Therefore, it is clear that the idea of running a classroom completely by a machine cannot be supported. After thorough analysis on this subject, it is predicted that the adverse effects of the debate over technology-driven teaching will always be greater than the positive effects, and because of this, classroom teachers will never be substituted for technology.

Start your conclusion with a linking phrase. Here are some examples:

  • In conclusion
  • To conclude
  • To summarize
  • Finally
  • In a nutshell
  • In general

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Topic Vocabulary:
  • alternative medicines
  • treatments
  • positive development
  • negative development
  • health problems
  • usual doctor
  • access
  • personalized approach
  • holistic well-being
  • lack of regulation
  • evidence-based research
  • proper medical treatment
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