Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-29

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 8.5)

Nowadays, many medical research projects are funded by private companies. Some people believe that such research should instead be carried out by individuals or governments. In my opinion, although governments should continue to support medical research, private companies are better equipped to lead most research projects because of their financial resources and ability to innovate quickly.

The primary reason why private companies should play a leading role in medical research is that they have greater financial resources. Developing new medicines, vaccines, and medical equipment requires billions of dollars and years of testing. Large pharmaceutical companies can invest heavily in modern laboratories, advanced technology, and highly skilled scientists. As a result, they are often able to discover new treatments more quickly than smaller organisations or individual researchers. For example, many life-saving medicines have been developed by private pharmaceutical companies through substantial investment in research and development.

Another important advantage of private companies is that competition encourages innovation. Since companies compete to develop better medicines and medical technologies, they are motivated to improve the quality and effectiveness of their products. This competition benefits society because patients gain access to safer and more advanced treatments. However, governments still have an essential role in regulating medical research, ensuring that it is conducted ethically, and providing funding for research into rare diseases that may not be profitable for private companies.

In contrast, relying solely on individuals or governments has certain limitations. Individual researchers usually lack sufficient funding and access to advanced facilities, making it difficult to conduct large-scale medical studies. Similarly, governments often face budget constraints and must allocate resources to many different sectors such as education, defence, and infrastructure. Consequently, they may not always be able to invest enough in medical research.

In conclusion, I believe that private companies should play the leading role in funding and conducting medical research because they possess the financial resources and competitive motivation needed to drive innovation. Nevertheless, governments should continue to regulate the industry and support important research projects that serve the public interest.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. Each paragraph is well-developed with relevant arguments, such as the financial capacity of private firms and the role of competition in driving innovation. You also effectively balanced your argument by acknowledging the necessary role of government in regulation and funding for non-profitable research. The ideas are extended logically, and the conclusion provides a clear summary of your stance. The response is well-structured and directly answers the question posed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using cohesive devices like 'The primary reason', 'Another important advantage', and 'In contrast'. The use of referencing is accurate, and the paragraphing is logical and appropriate. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow throughout the text. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of cohesive devices, and the overall structure is highly effective.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. Terms such as 'financial resources', 'innovate quickly', 'pharmaceutical companies', and 'budget constraints' are used appropriately. There is a good awareness of collocation and style, which is suitable for an academic task. While the vocabulary is accurate and functional, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band, but it is certainly more than adequate for a high-scoring response. There are no spelling errors, and the word choices are consistently clear and effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'although' clauses and conditional-like structures. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication. The use of modal verbs and passive voice is handled correctly, contributing to the academic tone of the essay. The writing is fluent, and the grammatical accuracy is consistent throughout the entire response.

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