Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Nowadays, medical research is largely funded by private companies, which has led to debate about who should be responsible for conducting such studies. While private organizations can provide valuable financial support, I strongly believe that the government should take the leading role in medical research. This essay will discuss the reasons why public funding is the most suitable approach.

To begin with, the main reason why I support government-funded research is that it focuses on public health rather than profit. This is because governments have a responsibility to protect the health of their citizens and can support research into diseases that affect disadvantaged communities. For example, public institutions can fund research into rare diseases that may not be commercially attractive to private companies. Therefore, government involvement can help ensure that important medical needs are not ignored.

Another important reason is that government funding can promote greater independence and transparency in scientific research. In other words, researchers may be less likely to face pressure from companies that want to sell a particular product. For instance, government-supported universities can investigate the safety and effectiveness of medicines without being driven primarily by commercial interests. As a result, medical discoveries may be more reliable and beneficial to society.

In conclusion, although private companies can make a significant contribution to medical research, I believe that governments should have the primary responsibility for funding and overseeing it. This is mainly because public research can prioritize social needs and maintain scientific independence.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student addresses the prompt effectively by stating a clear position that the government should lead medical research. The main body paragraphs develop two distinct arguments regarding public health priorities versus profit motives, and scientific independence versus commercial pressure. Examples, such as research into rare diseases and independent university investigations, are appropriately integrated. However, the response has a minor negative impact on Task Achievement due to length: the text contains 245 words, falling short of the required 250-word minimum specified in the task instructions. Because of this slight under-length penalty, the score is capped at 6.0, despite the strong conceptual development.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with a strong introduction, followed by two body paragraphs featuring clear topic sentences ('To begin with, the main reason why...' and 'Another important reason is that...'), and ending with a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'For example', 'Therefore', 'In other words', and 'As a result'. Paragraphing is handled appropriately, ensuring that ideas are grouped logically and flow smoothly from one point to the next, which aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task, incorporating less common lexical items such as 'disadvantaged communities', 'commercially attractive', 'independence and transparency', and 'commercial interests'. Word choice is generally accurate and natural, though there is some reliance on standard academic phrases. Spelling and word formation are entirely correct throughout the piece. While the vocabulary is effective and successfully communicates the writer's ideas without causing any difficulty for the reader, it does not consistently display the broader flexibility or more sophisticated uncommon phrasing required for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses ('diseases that affect disadvantaged communities') and conditional/participial elements ('without being driven primarily by commercial interests'). Grammatical accuracy is generally high, with the majority of complex sentences constructed correctly and punctuation managed effectively throughout. There are no notable grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over grammar and sentence patterns reflects solid upper-intermediate proficiency, fitting comfortably within the Band 7 descriptor for frequency of error-free sentences and variety of structures.

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