Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

Nowadays, many medical research projects are funded by private companies. In my opinion, medical research should mainly be carried out by governments, although private companies and individuals can also play an important supporting role.

The main reason why governments should lead medical research is that they focus on public welfare rather than making profits. Government-funded research is more likely to address serious diseases that affect large numbers of people, even if developing treatments is not financially rewarding. In addition, governments can ensure that research follows strict ethical standards and that the results benefit society as a whole.

On the other hand, private companies also make valuable contributions. They usually have advanced technology, experienced scientists, and sufficient financial resources. As a result, they can develop new medicines and vaccines more quickly than many public institutions. For example, several pharmaceutical companies played a major role in developing COVID-19 vaccines within a short period. However, because these companies aim to earn profits, they may focus on diseases that offer higher financial returns rather than those affecting poorer communities.

Individuals can also contribute by donating money or participating in clinical trials. Although their role is important, they generally do not have the resources or expertise needed to conduct large-scale medical research independently.

In conclusion, I believe that governments should take primary responsibility for medical research because they can ensure fairness, public safety, and equal access to healthcare. Nevertheless, cooperation between governments, private companies, and individuals is the most effective way to achieve medical breakthroughs and improve global health.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction that governments should lead, while acknowledging the roles of other entities. Each paragraph provides relevant, well-developed arguments. For instance, you effectively contrast the profit-driven nature of private companies with the public welfare focus of governments. The inclusion of the COVID-19 vaccine example provides a concrete illustration of your point. The conclusion synthesizes your arguments well, maintaining a consistent position throughout. The ideas are extended and supported logically, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'Nevertheless'. The use of referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate, with each section serving a distinct purpose in the overall argument. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow, which is characteristic of a high-level response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'public welfare', 'financially rewarding', 'ethical standards', and 'clinical trials' are used accurately and in the correct context. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated or less common collocations to reach the highest band. However, the current range is flexible enough to convey your meaning clearly and effectively without any noticeable errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional clauses and concessive clauses (e.g., 'even if developing treatments is not financially rewarding'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To move to a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence structures or more nuanced modal verbs to express your opinions, but your current control is already very solid.

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