Plan this opinion essay about science with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Computers and artificial intelligence will soon make human scientists unnecessary because machines will make all important discoveries.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Some people predict that computers and artificial intelligence will soon make human scientists unnecessary because machines will make all important discoveries. I disagree with this view, although I accept that machines will play a growing part in research.
Machines clearly possess strengths. Computers can process enormous amounts of data in minutes, spot patterns that humans would miss and run thousands of simulations without tiring. AI systems have already helped to predict the structure of proteins and to identify possible new drugs, work that would have taken researchers years. As these tools improve, they will undoubtedly speed up progress in fields such as medicine, chemistry and astronomy.
However, science is more than calculation. Important discoveries often begin with human curiosity, creativity and the willingness to ask unusual questions, such as Einstein imagining what it would be like to ride alongside a beam of light. Machines work with the data and goals that people give them, and they have no real understanding of what matters or why a result is surprising. Humans also decide which problems deserve attention, design experiments in the real world, interpret findings in context and judge the ethical consequences of new technology, such as genetic engineering. Without human judgement, an AI could produce results that are impressive but meaningless or even dangerous. In addition, society is more likely to trust discoveries that are explained and checked by accountable people.
The most realistic future is a partnership, in which scientists use artificial intelligence to handle the heavy computation while they provide ideas, supervision and wisdom. Rather than replacing researchers, machines will make them more productive.
In conclusion, AI will become an essential research tool, but human creativity and responsibility will remain central, so I disagree that scientists will become unnecessary.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| data analysis | examining information to find patterns |
| breakthrough | important discovery |
| human intuition | instinct and insight |
| machine learning | computers learning from data |
| scientific method | way of testing ideas |
| ethical judgement | deciding what is right |
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