Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-07

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)

Medical research plays a pivotal role in improving public health, yet an increasing proportion of such research is now financed by private companies. In my view, although private organisations can make a valuable contribution to medical research, governments should bear the primary responsibility for funding and overseeing it, since public health should ultimately be driven by social need rather than commercial profit.

There are several reasons why private companies should continue to participate in medical research. Most importantly, they often possess substantial financial resources and can therefore invest in expensive, technologically advanced research that governments may struggle to fund on their own. Furthermore, competition between pharmaceutical companies can accelerate innovation, as businesses have a strong incentive to develop more effective treatments before their competitors do. For example, the rapid development of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how cooperation between governments, universities and private pharmaceutical companies can significantly shorten the time required to produce medical solutions. Nevertheless, commercial interests can create conflicts of interest, particularly when companies prioritise treatments that are highly profitable rather than those that are most urgently needed.

For this reason, I believe that governments should remain the principal funders and regulators of medical research. Publicly funded research is more likely to address diseases and health problems that disproportionately affect poorer or marginalised populations, even when these areas offer little financial return. Governments can also impose strict ethical and scientific standards, ensuring that research findings are transparent and that patients' safety is prioritised over corporate interests. Universities and independent researchers should likewise play a major role, as their relative independence allows them to investigate unconventional ideas without being driven primarily by commercial considerations. A collaborative system, in which governments provide the majority of funding while private companies and academic institutions contribute expertise and technology, would therefore be the most effective approach.

In conclusion, private companies and individual researchers have an important role to play in advancing medical science, particularly because they can provide innovation, expertise and investment. However, I strongly believe that governments should take overall responsibility for medical research, as they are better positioned to ensure that scientific progress serves the interests of society as a whole rather than primarily generating private profit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

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 arguments are well-developed, particularly the distinction between the efficiency of private funding and the ethical necessity of government oversight. You provide relevant examples, such as the COVID-19 vaccine development, to support your claims. The ideas are extended logically, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes your main points. The response is balanced and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the complexities involved in medical research funding.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits of private funding and the necessity of government regulation is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Most importantly,' 'Furthermore,' 'Nevertheless,' and 'For this reason,' which guide the reader through your argument without being mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct stages of your argument, and referencing is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision and natural control. Phrases such as 'pivotal role,' 'disproportionately affect,' 'marginalised populations,' and 'commercial considerations' show a high level of lexical sophistication. The collocation is generally accurate, and you successfully avoid repetition by using varied terminology to describe the actors involved in research. There are no noticeable errors in word choice, and the vocabulary is well-suited to the academic tone of the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures with high accuracy. You use a variety of sentence types, including conditional structures and complex subordinate clauses, such as 'although private organisations can make a valuable contribution... governments should bear the primary responsibility.' Punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity, and there are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over tense and modal verbs is excellent, contributing to a professional and persuasive tone throughout the essay.

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