Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-17

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 7.0)

Nowadays, a large amount of medical research is funded by private companies. Some people believe that private organisations should conduct medical research, while others think that the government or individuals should be responsible for it. In my opinion, medical research should mainly be supported by the government because it is important for public health and should not focus only on profit.

There are several advantages of private companies conducting medical research. Firstly, private companies usually have more money and modern technology, which can help researchers develop new medicines and treatments quickly. They also have strong competition, so they try to create better products than other companies. For example, pharmaceutical companies spend a large amount of money developing new medicines for serious diseases. As a result, patients can benefit from new treatments in a shorter period of time.

However, I believe that the government should have the main responsibility for medical research. The main reason is that governments are responsible for the health of the whole population. They can fund research into diseases that may not be profitable for private companies. For instance, research into rare diseases may not provide enough financial benefits for a company, but it can be extremely important for the small number of people suffering from these diseases. Furthermore, government-funded research can be more focused on public needs rather than company profits.

Individuals can also contribute to medical research through donations and participation in research projects. However, they normally do not have enough financial resources, laboratories or professional staff to conduct large-scale research. Therefore, their role should mainly be to support researchers and organisations rather than carry out major medical projects themselves.

In conclusion, although private companies can provide money, technology and faster development, I believe that the government should be mainly responsible for medical research. Private companies and individuals can also support this work, but medical research should primarily aim to improve public health rather than make profits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, with distinct paragraphs for private companies, government, and individuals. The argument for government-led research is particularly well-supported by the example of rare diseases, which highlights the conflict between profit-driven motives and public health needs. The response is balanced, acknowledging the benefits of private funding while providing a logical justification for why government oversight is superior. The conclusion effectively synthesises the main points, ensuring the position remains consistent.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Firstly', and 'Furthermore'. The use of referencing is accurate, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. The flow of the argument is easy to follow, and the relationship between the ideas is clearly established. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of cohesive devices, and the overall structure supports the development of the argument effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'pharmaceutical companies', 'large-scale research', and 'public health'. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks some of the more sophisticated, less common lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'The main reason is that governments are responsible for the health of the whole population.' The punctuation is accurate, and the sentences are generally error-free. While the range of complex structures is adequate, it is not particularly wide or varied. The grammar is consistently accurate, and there are no errors that impede communication. The writing is clear and professional, showing a solid command of English syntax.

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