Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-30

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 7.0)

Some people believe that improving human lives should be the main goal of scientific research. I largely agree with this view, although I also think science has other important purposes that should not be ignored.

There are strong reasons to support reasons to support this statement. Firstly, many scientific breakthroughs have directly improved the quality of human life. For example, medical research has led to vaccines and treatments that have saved millions of lives and increased life expectancy worldwide. Similarly, advances in agricultural science, such as improved crop varieties, have helped reduce hunger in many developing countries. Since taxpayers and governments often fund scientific research should ultimately benefit society and address real human problems like disease, poverty, and climate change.

However, I believe it would be too narrow to say this is the only aim of science. Pure scientific research, such as studying distant galaxies or the origins of the universe, does not always have an immediate practical application, yet it expands human knowledge and understanding of the world. Such research has, in the past, led to unexpected discoveries that later prove useful, like GPS technology, which originated from research in physics. If scientists only focused on practical benefits, some valuable discoveries might never be made.

In conclusion, while I agree that improving people's lives should be a central goal of science, I do no think it should be the sole purpose. A balance between applied research that solves everyday problems and pure research that broadens human understanding would benefit society more in the long run.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that is maintained throughout the essay. You acknowledge the importance of science in improving human lives while balancing this with the value of pure research. Your ideas are well-developed, particularly the examples regarding medical breakthroughs and the unexpected benefits of physics research. The argument is logical and directly answers the 'to what extent' component of the question. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your analysis by briefly discussing the potential risks of focusing solely on practical applications, which would add even more depth to your balanced perspective.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Firstly', 'Similarly', 'However', and 'In conclusion', to guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the topic. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. One minor improvement would be to vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a somewhat mechanical feel, but overall, the structure is very sound and supports the development of your ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'scientific breakthroughs', 'immediate practical application', and 'broadens human understanding' are used accurately. There is an awareness of style and collocation, which allows you to convey your ideas clearly. While the vocabulary is effective, it is generally standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items, such as 'pragmatic utility', 'fundamental research', or 'paradigm shift', to demonstrate a wider and more flexible range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional 'If scientists only focused on practical benefits, some valuable discoveries might never be made.' Your control over grammar and punctuation is generally strong, with the majority of sentences being error-free. There is a minor grammatical slip in the second paragraph: 'Since taxpayers and governments often fund scientific research should ultimately benefit society' is a fragmented sentence structure. Despite this, your writing is clear and the errors do not impede communication. Continued focus on complex sentence construction will help you reach the higher bands.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.