Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-28

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Nowadays, many medical research projects are funded by private companies. In your opinion, do you think that research should be carried by private companies, individuals or government?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

Nowadays, medical research needs a lot of money, and there are different opinions about who should pay for it. Some people think private companies should fund it, while others believe it is the government's job. In my opinion, both should be involved, but the government should take more responsibility.

On the one hand, private companies have a lot of money and modern technology, so they can do research quickly and efficiently. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many private companies worked fast to create vaccines, which helped save many lives. This shows that private funding can bring quick results when it is really needed.

However, there is also a problem with relying too much on private companies. Because they want to make profit, they usually focus on research that will make money, like common diseases that many people have. This means that rare diseases or health problems in poor countries may be ignored, because there is less profit in researching them. This is not fair for people who need help the most.

On the other hand, government funding can solve this problem. Governments do not need to make a profit, so they can spend money on research that is important for public health, even if it is not very profitable. In addition, research funded by the government is usually shared publicly, so other scientists and doctors around the world can use the information, whereas private companies often keep their research secret to protect their business.

In conclusion, I believe both private companies and governments have an important role in medical research, but the government should be mainly responsible, because it can focus on what is best for everyone, not just what makes money.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses the prompt by discussing the roles of both private companies and the government in medical research. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the contrast between the profit-driven nature of private firms and the public-interest focus of the government. You provide a relevant example regarding COVID-19 vaccines to support your argument. The conclusion effectively synthesises your main points. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your ideas by briefly discussing the role of individuals or non-profit organisations, as mentioned in the prompt, to provide a more comprehensive overview.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits of private funding and the drawbacks is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'However', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion' to link your arguments effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, with each section serving a distinct purpose. The flow of information is natural, and the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning from the introduction to the final summary.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'profit-driven', 'public health', and 'protect their business' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is appropriate and clear, it is generally functional rather than sophisticated. To improve, you could incorporate more academic collocations or less common lexical items to demonstrate a wider range. For instance, instead of 'a lot of money', you could use 'substantial financial resources'. The spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choices consistently convey your intended meaning without ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinating conjunctions like 'because' and 'whereas' effectively to connect ideas. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. For example, your use of tense during the discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic is correct. Punctuation is used well to support the clarity of your sentences. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, to further demonstrate your grammatical flexibility.

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