Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-14

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 proportion of medical research is funded by private companies. Although private organisations can make an important contribution to medical research, I believe that governments should play the leading role because they can prioritise public health rather than financial profit.

There are several advantages to private companies being involved in medical research. First, they usually have substantial financial resources and can invest heavily in advanced technology and highly skilled researchers. As a result, new medicines and treatments can sometimes be developed more quickly. For example, pharmaceutical companies played a major role in developing vaccines and treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, competition between companies can encourage innovation and improve the quality of medical products.

However, relying mainly on private companies can create problems. Their primary objective is generally to make a profit, which means they may prefer research into diseases that affect large numbers of people or treatments that are likely to generate high sales. Less profitable areas, such as rare diseases or illnesses that mainly affect people in poorer countries, may receive insufficient attention. Governments, on the other hand, can fund research according to social needs rather than commercial interests. Public institutions can also make research findings more widely available, which can benefit society as a whole.

Individuals can contribute to medical research through donations and independent projects, but they usually lack the financial resources, laboratories and specialist equipment required for large-scale research. Therefore, individual involvement should complement, rather than replace, institutional and government funding.

In conclusion, I believe medical research should be primarily supported by governments, while private companies and individuals should also participate. A combination of public funding, private investment and individual contributions would provide both financial strength and a stronger focus on the needs of society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing whether medical research should be carried out by private companies, individuals, or the government. The writer takes a clear and well-developed position in the introduction, arguing that governments should play the leading role to prioritize public health, which is then consistently maintained throughout the essay. Each stakeholder is examined logically: private companies for their financial resources and innovation, governments for addressing social needs and public health, and individuals through limited contributions like donations. The ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the role of pharmaceutical companies during the COVID-19 pandemic and the neglect of rare diseases under purely profit-driven models. There are no notable omissions, and the task is answered comprehensively, earning a strong band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are structured cohesively, beginning with an introduction that outlines the writer's stance, followed by well-defined body paragraphs dedicated to private companies, governments, and individuals respectively, and concluding with a succinct summary. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately without being overly mechanical, as seen in transition phrases like 'First', 'In addition', 'However', and 'On the other hand'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt. Referencing and substitution are managed well, ensuring the reader can easily follow the progression of arguments from one point to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion on medical research and funding. Less common lexical items are used with a good awareness of style and collocation, such as 'significant proportion', 'substantial financial resources', 'primary objective', and 'commercial interests'. Word choices are generally accurate and appropriate for the context. While the vocabulary does not consistently reach the sophisticated, highly natural control required for a Band 8, there are very few errors. Minor slips in word choice are absent, and the language allows for precise communication of complex ideas regarding economics, ethics, and public health.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer employs a wide variety of complex structures alongside simple sentences with a high degree of accuracy. Sentences such as 'Although private organisations can make an important contribution to medical research, I believe that governments should play the leading role because they can prioritise public health rather than financial profit' demonstrate excellent control over subordinate clauses and complex phrasing. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. Grammar and punctuation errors are virtually non-existent, and where complex structures are attempted, they are executed successfully without impeding communication, fully supporting a high band score.

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