Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-23

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 6.5)

Nowadays, medical research plays an important role in improving people’s health and treating diseases. Although many research projects are funded by private companies, I believe that medical research should mainly be carried out by governments, with support from private companies and individuals.

There are several reasons why governments should take responsibility for medical research. First, the government has access to large amounts of public

money and can invest in research that may not produce immediate financial benefits. For example, research into rare diseases may be expensive and may not be profitable for private companies. However, such research can still save many lives. Therefore, government funding can ensure that important medical problems are not ignored.

Another advantage is that governments can make sure that research is conducted for the benefit of society rather than mainly for profit. Private companies may focus on developing medicines or treatments that can generate high profits. In contrast, governments can support research into diseases that affect poorer communities or people who cannot afford expensive treatments. This can make healthcare more equal and accessible.

However, private companies also have an important role in medical research. They often have advanced technology, skilled researchers and large financial resources. They can also develop new medicines more quickly because they have strong financial motivation. For this reason, cooperation between governments and private companies could be an effective approach. Individuals can also contribute through donations and participation in medical studies.

In conclusion, I believe governments should have the main responsibility for medical research because their primary goal is public welfare. Nevertheless, private companies and individuals should also contribute money, technology and expertise. Cooperation between all three groups can help medical research progress and benefit society as a whole.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing who should carry out medical research and presenting a clear position that governments should take the lead while cooperating with private companies and individuals. The student presents well-developed ideas, such as explaining how government funding supports rare diseases that lack immediate financial profitability, and how state oversight ensures healthcare remains accessible to poorer communities. These points are extended logically and supported with clear reasoning throughout the essay, meeting the criteria for a Band 7.0 or Band 8.0. Because the arguments are coherent and well-supported without major omissions, this warrants a solid Band 7.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt, such as government responsibility, societal benefits, and the role of private companies. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'First', 'Another advantage is', 'In contrast', and 'However'. Referencing throughout the text is clear, ensuring that the relationships between ideas are easy to follow. This level of organisation aligns closely with Band 7.0 descriptors, where progression is clear throughout and paragraphing is logical.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses an adequate and natural range of vocabulary suitable for an academic discussion, including terms like 'financial benefits', 'public welfare', 'accessible', and 'advanced technology'. There is a successful attempt to use less common academic vocabulary, such as 'oversight', 'profitability', and 'cooperation'. Word choices are generally accurate and appropriate in context, with only occasional reliance on standard collocations. Although it does not consistently reach the sophisticated lexical control required for a Band 8.0, it comfortably exceeds the requirements of Band 6.0 by demonstrating flexibility and precision in places.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and subordinate clauses such as 'Although many research projects are funded by private companies, I believe that...' and '...research that may not produce immediate financial benefits.' Grammatical control is strong, with a high proportion of error-free sentences. Punctuation and verb tenses are managed well throughout the response. While there is a good variety of structures, the range of complex forms is somewhat standard rather than fully flexible, placing the grammar firmly at a Band 7.0 level.

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