Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-18

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)

In contemporary society, most medical-related research is being carried out by private organizations. Whether research should be conducted by private companies, individuals, or the government has become a subject of heated debate in the current era. I strongly believe that the government should be the one to take the mantle and lead medical research. In this essay, I will provide reasons and examples to support my viewpoint.

Private companies are the most prevalent in medical research nowadays because of their quality control and cutting-edge technology. They are able to undertake medical projects and deliver results in a profound manner. The state-of-the-art equipment and tools owned by private institutions, along with their considerable assets and manpower, allow them to get things done quickly and efficiently. For instance, during the pandemic, companies like Pfizer were able to provide a vaccine for COVID-19 in record time and save millions of lives around the globe.

Although there have been many luminaries and exceptional individuals who have done great work for mankind in the field of medical research, such as Alexander Fleming, whose curiosity and experiments led to the discovery of penicillin, which became a panacea for millions of people around the world, individual medical research is not feasible in contemporary society. It requires a considerable amount of financial resources and assets that are not easily available to individuals. Furthermore, a lone individual cannot achieve as much as a whole organization. Therefore, I think individual research should be considered part of the glorious past rather than the current era.

Governmental research in medicine can be extremely beneficial for less affluent and impoverished people who cannot afford expensive medicines released as a result of private and corporate interests. Medicines and antibiotics developed through government projects are often heavily subsidized, allowing them to be purchased and used by people who would otherwise never be able to afford them. A good example would be private brands such as Rogaine. These companies use their brand names as leverage to make substantial profits from consumers, whereas generic alternatives such as finasteride can cost significantly less.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that medical research projects should be undertaken by the government. However, cooperation between governments, private companies, and individuals would be the ideal situation and would ultimately contribute to the betterment of society as a whole.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, clearly stating your position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout the essay. You provided relevant reasons for why private companies are effective, why individual research is no longer feasible, and why government involvement is necessary for public welfare. The ideas are well-developed and supported with specific examples, such as the mention of Pfizer and Alexander Fleming. The argument is logical and balanced, as you acknowledge the benefits of private research before advocating for government leadership. To reach a higher band, ensure that your conclusion fully synthesizes the arguments rather than just restating your position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Furthermore', 'Although', and 'In conclusion'. The transition between the benefits of private companies and the limitations of individual research is smooth. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct arguments. The referencing is clear throughout, and the flow of the argument is easy to follow. To improve, ensure that the link between the final paragraph and the preceding arguments is even more explicit to enhance the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms such as 'contemporary society', 'panacea', 'affluent', and 'subsidized' appropriately. There is an attempt to use less common lexical items, which adds precision to your writing. Your word choice is generally accurate and fits the academic tone required for this task. There are no significant errors in collocation or spelling that impede communication. To move toward a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic academic phrases to show even greater flexibility and control over the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You use a variety of complex sentence structures effectively, such as conditional clauses and relative clauses (e.g., 'Medicines and antibiotics developed through government projects are often heavily subsidized, allowing them to be...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is strong. There are no major grammatical errors that distract the reader. The use of passive voice in the introduction and body paragraphs is appropriate for an academic essay. Your grammar is consistent and supports the clarity of your arguments throughout the response.

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