Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-26

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 6.5)

It is often argued that most of the medical research campaigns are funded by private companies, while some people think that research should be carried out by individuals or the government. This essay will discuss both views and explain why I believe research should be carried out by the government and individuals because they offer treatment for rare diseases, and this could be accessible to everyone.

On the one hand, there are numerous advantages of conducting medical research by private organisations. First and foremost, the reason is that these private companies usually fund a greater amount for research. In addition, they can employ highly skilled professionals to carry out the research. Moreover, people can access highly advanced equipment, and they can work in skilled laboratories with professional workers. They allow them to produce quick treatments with wider access to technology. For instance, research carried out by private companies can quickly develop new and effective treatments for dangerous diseases with the help of substantial funds and advanced equipment. However, these organisations carry out research programs based on profits. Therefore, medical research projects carried out by private companies can develop effective treatments with the help of sufficient funds and advanced apparatus, with skilled workers.

On the other hand, medical programs run by governments and individuals will have several benefits. Usually, the government can fund research into rare diseases or treatments that may not be highly profitable. Furthermore, governments can make this treatment accessible to everyone despite commercial considerations. On top of that, governments can provide medicines to a greater number of people at no cost. For example, the government can fund the development of treatment for a rare disease; although it affects a few people, its goal is to provide better health for everyone. Individuals can develop their own research without relying on commercial issues. Hence, government funding programs can provide treatment that is accessible to everyone despite the profits.

In conclusion, although private companies offer effective treatment with substantial funds and advanced equipment and workers, I strongly believe that government-funded research will be more focused on treatment for rare diseases, and it can also make the treatment accessible to everyone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position and supporting it with relevant arguments. The essay discusses both the role of private companies and the benefits of government-funded research. Ideas are generally well-developed, such as the contrast between profit-driven research and the focus on rare diseases. However, the development could be more nuanced; for instance, the argument regarding 'individuals' is mentioned in the introduction and conclusion but remains under-explored in the body paragraphs. The position is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. To reach a higher band, ensure that all elements mentioned in the thesis statement are equally supported in the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there is occasional repetition of phrasing (e.g., 'research carried out by...'). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. The referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the 'individuals' mentioned in the prompt and the actual content of the body paragraphs could be more explicitly managed to improve flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey ideas clearly and with some precision. You use relevant terms such as 'commercial considerations', 'highly skilled professionals', and 'effective treatments'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some word choices are slightly repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'research' and 'treatment'. While the range is adequate for the task, it lacks the sophisticated collocation and idiomatic control required for higher bands. Some phrasing is slightly simplistic, such as 'greater amount for research' instead of 'greater funding'. Overall, the lexical range is functional and allows for clear communication without significant errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a good attempt at using complex sentences, such as 'Although private companies offer effective treatment..., I strongly believe that...'. While there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'these private companies usually fund a greater amount for research' (which should be 'provide greater funding'), these errors do not impede communication. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence control is sufficient. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility and control over grammatical forms.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.