Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-19

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 5.0)

Recently, Most of the medical research programs financed by private companies. It is important to conduct research in the medical field because it helps to find new medicines. There are lots of diseases, like cancer, where doctors and researchers are still researching. I don't think research can only be done by public or private.

In human history, there have been lots of diseases human are gone through it, and by researching, they find medicines for those diseases, so it does not matter which company researches those diseases, but it matters which company or person finds the medicines for the diseases. For example, a few years ago we all went through the COVID-19 pandemic; at that time, every company was researching the disease.

In my view, it does not matter which company researches, but it matters how we find the medicine for the diseases. We all need to focus on the research, not only one company or person. I think in the pandemic, like COVID, we need to be together for each other. If we work together, both the private and public sectors, we can achieve more than now.

In conclusion, a research project is not finished without the combined work of multiple companies, so we need to do combined research, which helps to achieve more than now. In recent times, most companies are funded by private companies, but the government needs to give funds to the government's research centres. Government and private companies have to do combined research on various fields because there are lots of things without government resources or private sector knowledge; if we research together, we can find lots of medicines for diseases.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing who should fund and carry out medical research, offering a clear stance that public and private sectors should collaborate. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive and simplistic. The student reiterates points about working together, such as 'we need to do combined research' and 'if we research together, we can find lots of medicines,' without deeply exploring the economic, ethical, or practical implications of private versus government-funded research. While the prompt is addressed and a position is maintained, the supporting arguments lack variety and depth, aligning with a Band 5 or 6 descriptor. Because the ideas are relevant and a clear conclusion is reached, a Band 6 is appropriate, though more sophisticated elaboration is needed for higher bands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into four paragraphs, showing an attempt at a logical structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, progression is frequently hindered by repetitive phrasing and weak cohesive ties. Phrases like 'In my view, it does not matter which company researches, but it matters how we find the medicine' create circular arguments rather than forward progression. Cohesive devices are basic and sometimes misused, as seen in the transition 'In human history, there have been lots of diseases human are gone through it'. Paragraphing is present, but the internal flow of ideas lacks sophisticated linking, making the overall arrangement mechanical. This corresponds well to the Band 5 descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive, with frequent reliance on simple words like 'research', 'companies', 'diseases', and 'medicines'. The student attempts some less common phrasing, such as 'COVID-19 pandemic' and 'public sectors', but lexical control is limited. There are noticeable word choice and collocation issues, such as 'companies are funded by private companies' (companies are typically funded by investors or governments, or research projects are funded). While the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the basic message, the frequent repetition and lack of a wider lexical range restrict the score to a Band 5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay exhibits a limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex structures often result in faulty punctuation or grammatical errors, such as run-on sentences ('Recently, Most of the medical research programs financed by private companies' missing a verb, and 'there have been lots of diseases human are gone through it'). Punctuation is frequently problematic, with comma splices connecting independent clauses. Errors are frequent and occasionally cause the reader some difficulty, particularly regarding missing subjects, incorrect verb forms, and awkward prepositions. This profile fits the Band 5 descriptor for grammatical range and accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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