Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-12

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)

Nowadays, a significant proportion of medical research is funded by private companies. While private organizations can make valuable contributions to scientific progress, I believe that governments should play the leading role in funding and conducting medical research, with private companies and individuals providing additional support.

There are several reasons why private companies should be involved in medical research. First, they usually have substantial financial resources and can invest heavily in the development of new medicines, medical equipment and treatments. In addition, private companies often work under competitive conditions, which encourages them to develop products quickly and efficiently. For example, pharmaceutical companies have played an important role in developing vaccines and treatments for infectious diseases. Their investment can therefore accelerate discoveries that might otherwise take many years.

However, relying mainly on private companies can create serious problems. The primary objective of most businesses is to make a profit, so they may prefer research into diseases or treatments that are likely to generate high financial returns. As a result, less profitable areas, such as rare diseases or illnesses that mainly affect poorer populations, may receive insufficient attention. Governments, on the other hand, have a responsibility to protect the health of the entire population rather than satisfy commercial interests. They can therefore fund research according to public need, even when there is little immediate financial benefit.

Individuals can also contribute through charitable donations and independent research, but they generally lack the financial resources and infrastructure required for large-scale medical studies. For this reason, I believe their role should be supportive rather than central.

In conclusion, although private companies and individuals can make important contributions to medical research, governments should have the primary responsibility for funding and overseeing it. A combination of public funding, private investment and charitable support would be the most effective way to ensure that medical progress benefits society as a whole rather than being driven solely by profit.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by evaluating whether research should be carried out by private companies, individuals, or the government, and presents a clear, well-developed position throughout. In the introduction, the writer states that governments should play the leading role while private companies and individuals provide support. This position is systematically supported across the body paragraphs. For instance, the second paragraph acknowledges the financial resources and efficiency of private companies, citing their role in vaccine development. The third paragraph highlights the limitations and profit-driven motives of commercial entities, contrasting them with the government's duty to serve public health needs. Finally, the role of individuals is briefly and logically addressed. The ideas are thoroughly extended, relevant, and well-balanced.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

Ideas are logically sequenced, guiding the reader smoothly from the introduction through the respective arguments regarding companies, governments, and individuals, to a balanced conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt. Cohesive devices are managed well without feeling mechanical, utilizing signposting words effectively such as 'First', 'In addition', 'However', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. Reference words are clear and accurate throughout the text, ensuring a seamless flow of information from one sentence to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a wide and appropriate lexical resource that is well-suited to an academic discussion on medical research funding. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used skillfully and with good awareness of style, such as 'substantial financial resources', 'competitive conditions', 'infectious diseases', 'commercial interests', and 'charitable donations'. Word choice and spelling are consistently accurate, with only rare minor instances where phrasing could be slightly more sophisticated. The language effectively conveys precise meanings without impeding communication at any point.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a wide variety of complex structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, showcasing excellent control over subordination, relative clauses, and conditional or contrasting structures (e.g., 'While private organizations can make valuable contributions..., I believe that...'). Complex sentences such as 'As a result, less profitable areas, such as rare diseases or illnesses that mainly affect poorer populations, may receive insufficient attention' are constructed securely and punctuated correctly. Grammar and punctuation mistakes are virtually absent, placing the text firmly in the higher band range.

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