Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-19

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 7.5)

Nowadays, a significant amount of medical research is funded by private companies. While private organisations and individuals can make valuable contributions to medical research, I believe that governments should take the leading role because medical research is a matter of public interest and requires long-term investment.

There are several advantages to private companies conducting and funding medical research. First, businesses often have greater financial resources and can invest heavily in developing new medicines, vaccines and medical technologies. They also tend to work efficiently because they are motivated by competition and the possibility of making a profit. For example, pharmaceutical companies have played an important role in developing treatments for diseases such as cancer and diabetes. In addition, wealthy individuals and charitable organisations can provide funding for research projects that governments may not prioritise.

However, I believe governments should be primarily responsible for medical research. One important reason is that governments are accountable to the entire population, whereas private companies are generally motivated by commercial interests. As a result, companies may focus on treatments that are highly profitable while paying less attention to diseases that mainly affect poorer communities. Governments, on the other hand, can fund research into rare diseases, preventive medicine and public health even when these areas offer little financial return.

Another advantage of government funding is that it can support research over many years. Some medical discoveries require extensive research before they become practical treatments, and private companies may be unwilling to invest in projects with uncertain or delayed profits. Government-funded universities and research institutions can therefore carry out essential long-term studies. For instance, research into infectious diseases can help governments prepare for future pandemics even when there is no immediate commercial benefit.

In conclusion, private companies and individuals have an important role to play in medical research, particularly because they can provide substantial funding and encourage innovation. Nevertheless, I believe governments should have the main responsibility for funding and overseeing medical research so that medical progress benefits society as a whole rather than being driven mainly by profit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it consistently throughout the essay. Each paragraph is well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of cancer and diabetes research for private companies and the focus on rare diseases and public health for government funding. The ideas are logically extended, providing a balanced view before reinforcing your main argument. The conclusion effectively summarises your stance, ensuring the reader understands your perspective on why government oversight is essential for societal benefit.

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 the benefits of private funding and the necessity of government intervention is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'However', 'In addition', 'As a result', and 'For instance', which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points, and referencing is clear throughout the text, making the overall structure very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic context. Phrases such as 'public interest', 'long-term investment', 'commercial interests', and 'preventive medicine' show a good command of topic-specific language. The word choices are precise and contribute to the formal tone of the essay. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and you successfully use less common lexical items to express complex ideas clearly and naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While private organisations and individuals can make valuable contributions...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and verb tenses is excellent. You use modal verbs and conditional structures effectively to discuss potential outcomes. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication, and the writing is consistently accurate throughout the response.

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