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 medicine-related research is sponsored by private institutions. I strongly believe that the government should lead medical research projects, with private organizations and individuals acting as supporting partners. In this essay, I will provide reasons and examples to support my viewpoint.

Most research in the current era is conducted by private companies. Due to the cutting-edge and state-of-the-art technology possessed by private organizations, they are able to produce high-quality results and medicines, which are highly applauded by the public as well. However, as they have to answer to the stakeholders involved in medicine-related projects, they mostly focus on projects that can generate profits in the short term. For instance, private organizations would be less likely to contribute to research in areas where the immediate prospects of profit are low, and this can contribute to societal degradation. Companies such as Pfizer charged governments huge sums for the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic and made astronomical amounts of money.

There have been many luminaries who have saved millions of lives over the course of the century, notably Alexander Fleming and his research on penicillin, which led to an effective treatment for many bacterial infections that had previously affected large numbers of people. Similarly, Elon Musk and his contributions to society, particularly Neuralink, have been receiving increasing attention for their potential to help paralyzed and disabled people. However, individual research by an ordinary person has its limitations. A sole researcher lacks the financial and human resources necessary to make a significant contribution to society and may therefore require support from private organizations or the government.

Government-funded research can be of enormous benefit to less affluent and impoverished people, as medicines resulting from such research can be heavily subsidized and thus made available to the masses, who might otherwise be unable to afford them. For instance, treatments for baldness sold by private companies and brands such as Rogaine can be considerably more expensive than generic, over-the-counter medicines containing the same active ingredient. Government-supported healthcare initiatives can help make essential medicines more affordable. Furthermore, governments can focus on long-term research that may not benefit private companies immediately. A good example is research into mRNA technology, which eventually contributed to the development of highly effective COVID-19 vaccines and helped save millions of lives.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that the government should take a leading role in medical research. However, cooperation and contribution from individuals, private companies, and governments would ultimately lead to the betterment of society as a whole.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the government should lead medical research while acknowledging the roles of other entities. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between profit-driven private research and the public benefit of government-subsidized initiatives. The use of examples, such as the comparison between mRNA technology and private sector products like Rogaine, effectively supports the argument. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion provides a balanced summary that aligns with the main body paragraphs. The response is fully relevant and demonstrates a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, moving from the limitations of private companies to the role of individuals, and finally to the advantages of government-led research. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'For instance', 'Similarly', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of the argument is smooth. The transition between the discussion of individual researchers and the necessity of government support is particularly well-managed, ensuring the reader follows the writer's logic without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is varied and precise, demonstrating a good command of academic language. Phrases such as 'contemporary society', 'cutting-edge', 'astronomical amounts', and 'heavily subsidized' show a sophisticated range. The writer uses topic-specific terminology correctly, such as 'mRNA technology' and 'bacterial infections'. While the word choice is generally accurate and natural, there is occasional repetition of simple structures, but this does not detract from the overall clarity. The use of 'luminaries' is a nice touch, showing an attempt to use less common lexical items effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses and varied sentence beginnings. The majority of the sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation and tense is strong. For example, the sentence 'A sole researcher lacks the financial and human resources necessary to make a significant contribution to society and may therefore require support from private organizations or the government' is well-constructed. There are very few minor slips, which do not impede communication. The overall grammatical control is consistent and supports the clarity of the argument.

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