Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The most important aim of science should be to improve people’s lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answers and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 8.5)

It is often argued that the endeavor of scientific research should be focused on improving human welfare. While I largely agree with the notion, I believe pursuing science primarily driven by curiosity also plays an important role for humanity.

Over the centuries, scientific research focused on improving human lives has given us many benefits, and without them, our lives would have been meaningfully difficult. Penicillin is the pinnacle of such work, which is believed to have saved hundreds of millions of lives. Vaccines and cures for diseases such as Covid-19, Ebola virus, and even the common flu were also produced when the focus was on the benefit of human lives. Cancer research has already had significant benefits in saving people; even a cure for cancer seems almost inevitable if the research is continued.

Such work and discoveries have enabled the average human lifespan to reach up to 80 years, when it was only around 30 years for almost all of human history. That is the result of science aimed at improving human life.

However, believing that science has benefited people only when our benefit is the focus is a naive view. It ignores the indirect benefits of curiosity-driven science. As we look at the broader role of science, we see examples of discoveries made by scientists who pursued research only out of their interest in it and the love of their field of study.

Many of the mathematical and physical discoveries were possible because of the curiosity of geniuses such as Euler and Einstein, whose lives revolved around solving problems that were abstract at the time. Calculus saw its most important applications in a wide variety centuries later. Imaginary numbers in radiography were similarly applied hundreds of years after their discovery. The use of gravitational equations was applied to satellites years later as well. All of these were possible primarily because the discoveries they relied on had been made earlier and were not intended to improve people's lives.

In conclusion, I think science enhances human lives when it is directed at it, but looking at it through a singular lens is shortsighted. Many discoveries that start without the aim of helping humans are applied for the benefit of human lives much later.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

You have fully addressed the prompt by presenting a balanced argument. You clearly state your position in the introduction and support it with relevant examples, such as the development of vaccines and the historical contributions of Einstein and Euler. The ideas are well-developed, and you successfully contrast the 'human welfare' focus with the 'curiosity-driven' approach. The response is well-structured, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes your main points. To reach a higher band, you could further elaborate on how these two approaches might overlap or conflict in modern funding environments, which would add even more depth to your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'However,' 'In conclusion,' and 'Such work and discoveries.' The transition between the two main body paragraphs is smooth, and the referencing is clear. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall readability of the text. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between the ideas is easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'endeavor,' 'pinnacle,' 'inevitable,' and 'shortsighted' appropriately. The language is precise and conveys your meaning clearly. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. To improve further, you could incorporate more sophisticated academic collocations or idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range of vocabulary, though your current usage is already quite strong and natural for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

You show a good command of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and relative clauses (e.g., '...whose lives revolved around solving problems that were abstract at the time'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is accurate. There are no major grammatical errors that impede communication. The variety of structures used, including passive voice and complex noun phrases, demonstrates a high level of control over English grammar.

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