Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-30

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 significant amount of medical research is funded by private companies. Although private organisations and individuals can make valuable contributions to scientific development, I believe that governments should take the leading role in funding and conducting medical research because public health should not depend primarily on commercial interests.

One major advantage of private companies conducting medical research is that they often have substantial financial resources and can work efficiently. Competition between companies can also encourage researchers to develop new medicines and treatments more quickly. For example, pharmaceutical companies have invested heavily in vaccines, cancer treatments and new drugs, many of which have significantly improved patients' quality of life. In addition, private organisations may be more willing to take financial risks when they believe that a successful discovery could eventually become commercially profitable.

However, relying too heavily on private companies can create conflicts between public health needs and profit. Companies are naturally more likely to invest in diseases and treatments that have a large potential market, while less profitable problems may receive insufficient attention. For instance, diseases that mainly affect poor populations may not attract the same level of investment as conditions that are common in wealthy countries. Government-funded research can help address these gaps because governments have a responsibility to protect the health of the entire population rather than maximize profits.

Individuals can also contribute to medical research through donations, charitable organisations and independent scientific work. Nevertheless, most individuals do not have the financial resources, laboratories or large teams required for major medical research projects. Governments, on the other hand, can provide long-term funding and coordinate universities, hospitals and research institutions. Public funding is particularly important for basic research, where the benefits may not be immediately profitable but can eventually lead to major medical breakthroughs.

In conclusion, private companies and individuals both have important roles to play in medical research, especially by providing investment and innovation. However, I believe governments should have the primary responsibility because they can fund research according to public health needs and ensure that important areas of medicine are not neglected simply because they are unprofitable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing the roles of private companies, individuals, and governments in medical research, and clearly presents a well-developed position throughout the essay. The introduction establishes a clear stance that governments should take the leading role. Body paragraphs are well-supported with logical arguments and relevant examples, such as pharmaceutical investments in vaccines and the disparity in funding for diseases affecting poor populations. The conclusion effectively summarises the main points and reinforces the writer's stance. The ideas are extended appropriately, meeting all requirements for Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with private funding advantages, moving to its limitations, discussing individual contributions, and concluding with a balanced summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'One major advantage', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the structure supports the overall argument naturally, aligning well with the descriptors for Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student exhibits a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Words and phrases like 'commercial interests', 'financial resources', 'potential market', and 'medical breakthroughs' demonstrate good control over topic-specific terminology. There is also effective use of less common items with general awareness of collocation. While the language is natural and precise enough to convey complex ideas effortlessly, occasional minor inaccuracies prevent it from reaching the highest band levels, placing this comfortably in Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, successfully incorporating complex sentences featuring subordinate clauses, conditional elements, and participial phrases (e.g., 'Although private organisations and individuals can make valuable contributions...', 'Companies are naturally more likely to invest in diseases and treatments that have a large potential market...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled well throughout. Grammatical control is strong, with only very occasional, minor awkwardness that never impedes communication, fully satisfying the Band 8 criteria.

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