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)

It is beyond any skepticism that medical research has been a subject matter of argument in the last couple of years. The notion that medical research should be conducted by private companies, individuals or the government is highly debatable partly because of the numerous rationales on both sides of this bitter controversy. I, for one, firmly stand in favor of the government taking the leading role in medical research because it can ensure equal access to healthcare and maintain higher ethical standards.

To commence with, let us focus on the thoughts which impelled me to support this dispute. First and foremost, government-funded medical research is more beneficial as it prioritizes public welfare rather than commercial profit. As a result, researchers are encouraged to develop treatments for both common and rare diseases without considering financial returns. To illustrate, many life-saving vaccines and medicines have been developed through public funding and later made available to citizens at affordable prices. In addition, government organizations usually enforce strict regulations and ethical guidelines, ensuring that research is transparent, reliable and safe for the public.

Moreover, another convincing reason for supporting government-led medical research is that it guarantees equal opportunities for scientific development across the country. Public funding allows universities and research institutions to conduct long-term studies that private companies may avoid because of limited profitability. Recent trends indicate that many breakthroughs in cancer treatment and disease prevention have originated from publicly funded projects before being adopted by pharmaceutical companies. Furthermore, governments can cooperate with international organizations during global health emergencies, enabling faster responses to disease outbreaks and improving public health worldwide.

To recapitulate, I would like to restate my position supporting the idea that governments should play the primary role in carrying out medical research. Considering all the fiercely logical explanations and practical examples outlined in this essay, my original opinion has only become stronger. Although private companies and individuals can make valuable contributions, government-led research is more beneficial because it serves society as a whole while ensuring fairness, safety and long-term progress.

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 consistently throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the focus on public welfare versus commercial profit and the role of government in long-term research. You provide relevant examples, such as the development of vaccines and cancer research, which support your arguments effectively. The essay is well-structured, and the conclusion provides a strong summary of your main points. To reach a higher band, you could briefly acknowledge the counter-argument regarding private sector efficiency in more detail before refuting it, 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 the transition between paragraphs is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Moreover', and 'To recapitulate' effectively to guide the reader. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. The flow of the argument is natural, and there is no sense of mechanical or repetitive structure. The use of linking words is sophisticated and contributes to the overall clarity of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, using terms like 'skepticism', 'impelled', 'commercial profit', and 'breakthroughs' with precision. The language is natural and appropriate for an academic context. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede meaning. You successfully use less common lexical items to convey your ideas with nuance. The vocabulary is varied and contributes to the professional tone of the essay. To improve further, ensure that you continue to use collocations that sound natural to native speakers, though your current usage is already quite strong.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex structures, including conditional sentences and subordinate clauses. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. You use a variety of sentence lengths and types, which keeps the writing engaging. There are only very occasional minor slips, which do not affect the clarity of your message. Your command of verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text. The grammatical accuracy is high, and the complexity of your sentence construction supports your sophisticated arguments well.

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