Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-27

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 7.0)

Nowadays, a large amount of medical research is funded by private companies. In my opinion, medical research should mainly be supported by governments, although private companies and individuals can also make valuable contributions.

The main reason why governments should take responsibility for medical research is that healthcare is an essential public service. Government-funded research can focus on diseases and health problems that may not be profitable for private companies. For example, research into rare diseases may not provide a large financial return, but it can still greatly improve the lives of patients. Governments can also make sure that important research is available to the public rather than being controlled entirely by companies.

However, private companies also have an important role to play. They usually have more financial resources and can invest heavily in developing new medicines, treatments and medical technologies. In addition, competition between companies can encourage researchers to develop new products more quickly. For instance, pharmaceutical companies spend large amounts of money on developing medicines and testing new treatments.

Individuals can contribute as well, particularly through donations and charitable organisations. Such funding can support specific areas of research that might otherwise receive less attention. Nevertheless, relying mainly on individuals would be unreliable because donations can vary considerably.

In conclusion, I believe that governments should be the main source of funding for medical research because they can focus on public health needs rather than profit. At the same time, cooperation between governments, private companies and individuals can provide greater financial support and lead to more medical discoveries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing government, private companies, and individuals as potential sources of funding for medical research. The student takes a clear position in the introduction, stating that medical research should mainly be supported by governments while acknowledging the contributions of private entities and individuals. Ideas are well developed with relevant explanations and examples, such as mentioning government support for rare diseases and private investments in pharmaceutical testing. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay, demonstrating a strong understanding of the prompt requirements and satisfying the Band 7 or 8 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with the introduction and position, moving through government, private company, and individual funding, and concluding with a balanced summary. Cohesive devices such as 'The main reason why', 'However', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, and referencing throughout the text remains clear and unambiguous, earning a solid Band 7.5 score for this criterion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses an adequate and appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic essay. Phrases such as 'essential public service', 'financial return', 'pharmaceutical companies', and 'charitable organisations' demonstrate a good control of lexical resource. There are occasional attempts at less common vocabulary, and although the range is slightly restricted compared to higher bands, the words chosen are accurate and communicate the ideas clearly. Spelling and word choice are generally very reliable, leading to a comfortable Band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a good control of grammar and punctuation, employing a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Examples such as 'Government-funded research can focus on diseases and health problems that may not be profitable for private companies' show a clear ability to construct multi-clause sentences. The majority of sentences are error-free, and any minor slips do not impede communication. Punctuation is handled well, ensuring smooth readability from start to finish. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 7.0 descriptors.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.