Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-18

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)

In recent years, a growing proportion of medical research has been financed and conducted by private companies. While governments and individual researchers can make valuable contributions to scientific progress, I believe that medical research should primarily be carried out through a partnership between governments and private organisations. This approach combines public accountability with the financial resources and innovation of the private sector.

There are several reasons why private companies should play a major role in medical research. First, pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms generally have access to substantial financial resources, advanced technology and highly specialised personnel. Medical research is often extremely expensive and can take many years before a treatment becomes available to patients. Private investment can therefore accelerate the development of new medicines, vaccines and diagnostic technologies. For example, the rapid development of several COVID-19 vaccines demonstrated how collaboration between governments, universities and pharmaceutical companies can transform scientific discoveries into widely available medical products within a relatively short period.

However, relying exclusively on private companies could create serious problems. Commercial organisations are ultimately expected to generate profits, which may encourage them to prioritise diseases affecting large or wealthy markets rather than conditions that primarily affect poorer populations. There is also a risk that research findings could be influenced by financial interests, particularly when a company's future revenue depends on the success of a particular drug. Government involvement is therefore essential because public authorities can fund research into neglected diseases, establish ethical standards and require greater transparency. Government-funded institutions and universities can also undertake basic scientific research whose benefits may not be immediately profitable but which can later lead to major medical breakthroughs.

Individuals and independent researchers likewise have an important role, particularly in generating innovative ideas and challenging established assumptions. Nevertheless, most modern medical research requires expensive laboratories, large datasets and multidisciplinary teams, meaning that individuals rarely possess sufficient resources to conduct major projects independently. Their work is therefore likely to be most effective when supported by universities, governments or research organisations.

In conclusion, although private companies are indispensable because of their investment, technology and capacity for innovation, neither the private sector nor individuals should have sole responsibility for medical research. A cooperative model involving governments, private companies and independent researchers would provide the best balance between scientific innovation, public interest and ethical accountability.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by evaluating the roles of private companies, individuals, and governments in medical research. You present a clear, well-developed position right from the introduction, arguing for a collaborative model. Your ideas are thoroughly extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines to illustrate the benefits of public-private partnerships. You also thoughtfully balance this by acknowledging the profit-driven limitations of private firms and the necessity of government oversight for neglected diseases. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay, demonstrating a high level of task fulfillment that aligns closely with the Band 8 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

Your essay is marked by clear logical organisation and a smooth progression of ideas from one paragraph to the next. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt (private companies, government oversight, individual researchers, and a concluding synthesis). Cohesive devices such as 'First', 'However', 'There is also a risk', and 'In conclusion' are used flexibly and naturally to guide the reader through your arguments without becoming mechanical. Referencing and substitution are handled securely, ensuring that the relationships between your ideas remain transparent throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical resource that enables precise expression of complex scientific and socio-economic concepts. You incorporate sophisticated, uncommon vocabulary effectively, such as 'pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms', 'diagnostic technologies', 'neglected diseases', and 'ethical accountability'. Word choice and collocations are generally very natural, as seen in phrases like 'accelerate the development' and 'multidisciplinary teams'. While there are occasional minor slips or standard choices, these never impede communication and reflect the control expected at the Band 8 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of complex sentence structures used accurately and flexibly. You handle subordination, conditional elements, and participial phrases with ease, as demonstrated in sentences like 'Medical research is often extremely expensive and can take many years before a treatment becomes available to patients.' The vast majority of your sentences are error-free, and any rare slips do not disrupt the flow or meaning of the text. Punctuation is handled with a high degree of precision, supporting the overall readability and sophisticated tone of your essay.

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