Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-31

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 contemporary society, most medical analysis and research is conducted by private organisations. Whether medical research should be carried out by private companies, individuals, or governments has become a subject of heated debate. I strongly believe that governments should take the lead in medical research and development, and in this essay, I will discuss the reasons and examples that support my viewpoint.

Private companies possess state-of-the-art and cutting-edge technology, which allows them to produce high-quality results. This often translates into better and more advanced treatments for the public. However, their primary concern is generally the profit generated from their research, and private companies are less likely to focus on areas where the potential financial returns are limited or non-existent. Their priorities may therefore be influenced more by business growth, goodwill, and market expansion than by public welfare. For instance, companies may invest heavily in profitable medicines and treatments while giving less attention to inexpensive solutions that provide limited financial returns. As a result, important areas of medical research may remain underfunded if they are not commercially attractive.

There have also been many individuals who have made considerable contributions to mankind. One notable example is Alexander Fleming, whose research led to the discovery of penicillin and ultimately helped save millions of lives. However, there is now a significant gap between individual researchers and large organisations, as individuals often lack the equipment, funding, facilities, and manpower required to conduct large-scale medical research. Consequently, although individual researchers can make groundbreaking discoveries, they are generally unable to undertake research on the same scale as governments and private organisations.

Governments should lead medical research because they are ultimately responsible for the welfare of society. Citizens pay taxes to their governments, which can then use public funds to support research and provide subsidies that make essential medicines more affordable for disadvantaged people. Furthermore, government-funded research can focus on long-term projects that may not generate immediate financial returns, something that private companies may be reluctant to pursue. The development of COVID-19 vaccines is a good example of how collaboration between governments, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies can accelerate medical innovation. Companies such as Pfizer worked with governments and other organisations to develop and distribute vaccines rapidly, helping protect millions of people around the world.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that governments should act as the primary leaders in medical research because they are better positioned to prioritise public welfare and long-term societal needs. Nevertheless, collaboration among governments, private companies, and individual researchers would be the ideal approach, as combining their resources, expertise, and innovation could produce significant benefits for society as a whole.

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 throughout the essay. Each paragraph is well-developed, providing logical reasons and relevant examples, such as the mention of Alexander Fleming and the COVID-19 vaccine collaboration. The arguments are balanced, acknowledging the role of private companies and individuals while effectively justifying why government leadership is essential for public welfare. The conclusion synthesizes your points well and offers a nuanced final thought on the value of collaboration. The ideas are extended and supported with sufficient detail to meet the requirements of a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical 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 'However,' 'Consequently,' and 'Furthermore,' which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is logical, with each section serving a distinct purpose in the overall structure. Referencing is clear, and the flow of information is natural. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall organization is highly coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which allows for precise expression of your ideas. Phrases like 'contemporary society,' 'state-of-the-art,' 'groundbreaking discoveries,' and 'accelerate medical innovation' show a sophisticated command of language. The word choices are consistently appropriate for an academic context, and there are no noticeable errors in collocation or spelling. You successfully use less common items to convey complex concepts, which contributes to the overall fluency and clarity of your writing. The vocabulary is well-suited to the task and enhances the quality of your arguments.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You effectively use complex sentence forms, such as conditional structures and relative clauses, without errors. For example, the sentence 'Companies such as Pfizer worked with governments and other organisations to develop and distribute vaccines rapidly, helping protect millions of people around the world' is well-constructed and error-free. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the majority of your sentences are free from grammatical slips. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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