Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-20

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)

In recent years, a growing share of medical research has been financed by private corporations. While this trend has brought certain advantages, I believe it has also created serious problems, and that government funding should play the leading role in this field.

One major drawback of private-sector involvement is pricing. Because private companies operate to generate profit, they often raise prices when demand increases, regardless of public need. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, vaccine prices rose sharply in some markets as manufacturers capitalised on urgent global demand. A similar pattern appears seasonally with medicines for dengue and malaria, which often become more expensive during the rainy season when infection rates rise. Government-funded research, by contrast, is not driven by shareholder returns, so pricing decisions can be guided by public health needs rather than market demand.

A second concern is that profit motives can shift companies' priorities away from patients' long-term wellbeing. Private firms may focus research spending on treatments with strong commercial potential rather than on prevention or on diseases that affect mainly low-income populations, since these offer smaller financial returns. This can leave gaps in areas such as preventive medicine and neglected tropical diseases, which governments and non-profit bodies are often better positioned to address because they are not bound by profitability targets.

That said, private investment does bring benefits worth acknowledging, particularly funding, technical expertise, and faster development timelines. The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines, for instance, was accelerated by private pharmaceutical companies working alongside government funding and regulatory support. This suggests that the most effective model may be one where government sets priorities and oversees affordability, while private companies contribute resources and innovation within that framework, rather than one sector working entirely alone.

In conclusion, although private companies can accelerate medical research, I believe government involvement should remain central, since it can better ensure fair pricing and a focus on public health outcomes over profit. A well-regulated partnership between the two, rather than private companies operating independently, is likely to produce the most balanced results.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have taken a clear position from the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The arguments regarding pricing and profit motives are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the COVID-19 vaccine and seasonal medicine pricing. You also acknowledge the benefits of private investment, which adds depth to your argument and demonstrates a balanced perspective. The conclusion effectively synthesises your main points, proposing a nuanced solution that integrates both government and private sectors. The ideas are relevant, well-supported, and directly answer the question posed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'by contrast', 'a second concern', and 'that said', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive usage; the flow is natural and professional throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic context. Phrases such as 'capitalised on urgent global demand', 'shareholder returns', and 'neglected tropical diseases' show a high level of precision and sophistication. The word choices are accurate, and there are no instances of awkward collocations or spelling errors. The language used is natural and contributes significantly to the clarity and persuasive power of your argument.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex structures used with high accuracy. You successfully employ conditional structures, passive voice, and complex sentence combinations without error. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. There are no grammatical slips that impede communication, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent throughout the piece. The writing is sophisticated and demonstrates a strong command of English grammar.

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