Plan this discussion 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:
Some people think that scientific research should be funded and controlled by governments. Others believe that private companies should take the lead.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
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
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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 believe that governments should fund and control scientific research, while others think private companies should lead. In my opinion, both have important roles, but governments should be responsible for the basic research that benefits everyone.
Those who support government control make a strong case. Governments can fund long-term projects that may take decades to produce results, which companies would find too risky or unprofitable. Many fundamental discoveries, such as the structure of atoms or the foundations of the internet, came from publicly funded laboratories and universities. Public ownership also ensures that results are published and shared, so that the whole of society benefits and other researchers can build on them. In areas such as public health and climate science, governments can direct research towards the needs of citizens rather than the interests of shareholders.
On the other hand, private companies bring speed, efficiency and money. Because they compete to bring products to market, they often develop practical applications quickly; the rapid creation of several coronavirus vaccines, for instance, relied heavily on pharmaceutical firms. Businesses also invest enormous sums in research that public budgets could never match, and they have a strong incentive to avoid waste. The danger is that commercial motives lead them to concentrate on profitable products, such as cosmetics, while neglecting rare diseases or keeping results secret.
For this reason, I believe the best system combines the two. Governments should fund basic science and set ethical rules, while companies develop practical applications and bring them to the public.
In conclusion, neither government nor business alone is ideal, but public funding is essential for fundamental research, with private firms playing a complementary role in turning discoveries into useful products.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| publicly funded research | studies paid by the state |
| commercial interests | wish for profit |
| research and development | R&D, work on new products |
| patent | legal right to an invention |
| long-term project | work taking many years |
| private sector | businesses not owned by government |
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