IELTS Writing Task 2: Private Vs Public Research — Band 9.0 Sample with Full Breakdown
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The Prompt
Prompt: Some people believe that private research should be encouraged more than publicly funded research. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Model Answers
Band 6.0 Answer
Answer:
In my opinion, private research should be encouraged more than public research. Private companies have more money and can do better research. They can find new things faster. Public research is slow and not always useful. Private research helps the economy more. Governments should give money to private companies for research.
Scoring Breakdown:
- Task Response (TR): 5.0 - Presents a position but with limited development and support.
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC): 6.0 - Ideas are logically organized but with some repetition and lack of clear progression.
- Lexical Resource (LR): 6.0 - Uses some appropriate vocabulary but with frequent errors and limited range.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 6.0 - Uses simple sentence forms with some errors and limited complex structures.
Band 7.0 Answer
Answer:
While both private and public research are important, I believe that publicly funded research should be prioritized. Public research often focuses on areas that benefit society as a whole, such as healthcare and education. For example, many medical breakthroughs have come from publicly funded research. Private research, on the other hand, tends to focus on profitable areas, which may not always align with societal needs. Governments should allocate more funds to public research to ensure that critical areas are adequately addressed.
Scoring Breakdown:
- Task Response (TR): 7.0 - Presents a clear position with some development and support.
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC): 7.0 - Ideas are logically organized with clear progression and some use of cohesive devices.
- Lexical Resource (LR): 7.0 - Uses a mix of appropriate vocabulary with some errors and limited range.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 7.0 - Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with some errors.
Band 8.0 Answer
Answer:
The debate over whether private or public research should be prioritized is a complex one. While private research can drive innovation and economic growth, publicly funded research often addresses critical societal needs. For instance, public research has led to significant advancements in areas such as climate change and public health. Private research, although profitable, may not always align with the greater good. Therefore, a balanced approach is necessary. Governments should continue to fund public research while also creating incentives for private sector involvement in areas of mutual benefit.
Scoring Breakdown:
- Task Response (TR): 8.0 - Presents a clear position with thorough development and support.
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC): 8.0 - Ideas are logically organized with clear progression and effective use of cohesive devices.
- Lexical Resource (LR): 8.0 - Uses a wide range of appropriate vocabulary with some errors.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 8.0 - Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with some errors.
Band 9.0 Answer
Answer:
The notion that private research should be encouraged more than publicly funded research is a contentious one. While private research can drive innovation and economic growth, publicly funded research often addresses critical societal needs. For example, public research has led to significant advancements in areas such as climate change mitigation and public health. Private research, although profitable, may not always align with the greater good. Therefore, a balanced approach is necessary. Governments should continue to fund public research while also creating incentives for private sector involvement in areas of mutual benefit. This dual approach ensures that both economic and societal needs are met, fostering a more equitable and progressive society.
Scoring Breakdown:
- Task Response (TR): 9.0 - Presents a clear position with thorough development and support, using relevant and extended examples.
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC): 9.0 - Ideas are logically organized with clear progression and effective use of cohesive devices.
- Lexical Resource (LR): 9.0 - Uses a wide range of appropriate vocabulary with rare errors and advanced collocations.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 9.0 - Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with rare errors and sophisticated structures.
Vocabulary Highlights
- Contentious (adj.): Controversial or disputed.
- Example: The debate over private vs public research is contentious.
- Mitigation (n.): The action of reducing the severity of something.
- Example: Public research has led to significant advancements in climate change mitigation.
- Equitable (adj.): Fair and impartial.
- Example: A balanced approach ensures an equitable society.
- Incentives (n.): A thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.
- Example: Governments should create incentives for private sector involvement.
- Aligned (adj.): In agreement or harmony.
- Example: Private research may not always align with the greater good.
- Breakthroughs (n.): A sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.
- Example: Many medical breakthroughs have come from publicly funded research.
- Allocate (v.): Distribute something as it is needed.
- Example: Governments should allocate more funds to public research.
- Prioritized (v.): Give something higher priority than other tasks.
- Example: Publicly funded research should be prioritized.
- Profitable (adj.): Yielding a financial gain.
- Example: Private research is often profitable.
- Critical (adj.): Of decisive importance in determining the nature of something.
- Example: Public research addresses critical societal needs.
- Driven (adj.): Guided or motivated by something.
- Example: Private research is driven by profit.
- Economic (adj.): Relating to the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth.
- Example: Private research can drive economic growth.
- Societal (adj.): Relating to the structure, organization, and administration of a society.
- Example: Public research addresses societal needs.
- Balanced (adj.): Having a balanced or proportionate arrangement.
- Example: A balanced approach is necessary.
- Innovation (n.): The introduction of new ideas, methods, or devices.
- Example: Private research can drive innovation.
- Advancements (n.): A forward or upward movement.
- Example: Public research has led to significant advancements.
- Progressive (adj.): Happening or developing gradually, typically over a considerable period of time.
- Example: A balanced approach fosters a progressive society.
- Sector (n.): A part or division of a country, society, or community.
- Example: The private sector can contribute to research.
- Mutual (adj.): Shared or experienced in common by each of two or more parties.
- Example: Areas of mutual benefit should be encouraged.
- Ensures (v.): Make certain that something will occur or be the case.
- Example: A balanced approach ensures that both economic and societal needs are met.
Common Mistakes
- Lack of Clear Position: Some students fail to present a clear position, making their argument weak and unclear.
- Insufficient Support: Many students do not provide enough examples or evidence to support their arguments.
- Repetition: Some answers repeat the same points without adding new information or examples.
- Grammatical Errors: Common grammatical errors include subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and article usage.
- Vocabulary Limitations: Students often use limited vocabulary, which can make their answers sound repetitive and less sophisticated.
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