Some people believe that using taxpayer funds to look for life on other planets is important. Others, however, think that it is a waste of public money because there are much more important issues requiring funding on our own planet. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Sample Response
The search for extraterrestrial life has been a topic of discussion and debate for many years. While some people believe that using taxpayer funds to find life on other planets is essential, others see it as a poor use of public money.
Those who believe in the importance of searching for extraterrestrial life argue that this is an opportunity to answer one of the biggest questions in science and human history: are we alone in the universe? They also believe that such a search will have tremendous scientific and technological benefits, including the development of new instruments, techniques, and methods of exploration that can be used for other purposes. Moreover, the discovery of extraterrestrial life, even if only in the form of microbial organisms, would have a profound impact on our understanding of the universe and the origin of life itself.
That said, I personally hold the view that though such research is important, the money spent on this should be balanced against other important needs and should not come at the expense of other critical programs. There are many pressing issues on our own planet that require funding, such as the major problems of poverty, hunger, disease, and environmental degradation. These are all urgent issues that affect millions of people around the world. We need to be mindful of the limited resources available to us and make sure that they are used in a responsible and effective manner.
In conclusion, the search for extraterrestrial life is an important and fascinating endeavour, but it must be balanced against other critical needs. The investment in this area should be used wisely and effectively, taking into account the benefits and limitations of the research, and should not be to the detriment of other important programs.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove redundancy Original: a topic of discussion and debate Suggested revision: a subject of debate Why it matters: Discussion and debate overlap in meaning, so the shorter phrase is more concise.
- 2. Use precise wording Original: using taxpayer funds to find life Suggested revision: using taxpayer funds to search for life Why it matters: Search for accurately describes the funded activity without implying a guaranteed discovery.
- 3. Clarify the reference Original: others see it as a poor use Suggested revision: others regard such spending as a poor use Why it matters: Naming the spending removes the slightly vague pronoun reference.
- 4. Name the subject clearly Original: this is an opportunity Suggested revision: the search offers an opportunity Why it matters: The explicit subject makes the reference clearer and creates a more direct clause.
- 5. Use measured language Original: tremendous Suggested revision: substantial Why it matters: Substantial presents the claimed benefits in a more measured academic register.
- 6. Use natural phrasing Original: the origin of life itself Suggested revision: the origins of life Why it matters: The origins of life is the more natural expression for this scientific question.
- 7. Specify the funding Original: the money spent on this Suggested revision: funding for this research Why it matters: The revision replaces the vague demonstrative with a precise reference to research funding.
- 8. Avoid repeated wording Original: other important needs Suggested revision: other priorities Why it matters: Priorities avoids repeating important and expresses competing funding claims concisely.
- 9. Remove needless wording Original: the major problems of poverty Suggested revision: poverty Why it matters: Poverty already names the problem, so the surrounding words are unnecessary.
- 10. Use concise adverbs Original: in a responsible and effective manner Suggested revision: responsibly and effectively Why it matters: The adverbial form expresses the same meaning more concisely.
- 11. Keep spelling consistent Original: programs Suggested revision: programmes Why it matters: Programmes matches the British spelling used elsewhere in endeavour.
- 12. Sentence rewrite Original: The investment in this area should be used wisely and effectively, taking into account the benefits and limitations of the research, and should not be to the detriment of other important programs. Suggested revision: Investment in this area should be managed wisely, with the benefits and limitations of the research taken into account, and should not come at the expense of other important programmes. Why it matters: The rewrite improves the collocations and balances the sentence while preserving the stated funding priority.
Suggested Rewrites
- a topic of discussion and debate a subject of debate
- using taxpayer funds to find life using taxpayer funds to search for life
- others see it as a poor use others regard such spending as a poor use
- this is an opportunity the search offers an opportunity
- tremendous substantial
- the origin of life itself the origins of life
Why this response received Band 8.0
The essay presents a clear, nuanced opinion while explaining the scientific value of extraterrestrial research and the competing need to fund urgent problems on Earth. The principal limitation is that the case against such spending is developed more as a call for balance than as a full explanation of why it may be wasteful; expanding that reasoning would make the discussion of both views more even and incisive.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both views are discussed with relevant support, and the writer's qualified opinion is clear, consistent, and directly responsive to the task.
Develop the opposing view beyond competing priorities by explaining more explicitly why uncertain outcomes could make public investment inefficient.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay progresses logically from the two perspectives to a balanced conclusion, with cohesive links that support rather than interrupt the argument.
Give the opposing perspective a slightly more distinct internal structure so that its reasoning matches the depth of the scientific-benefits paragraph.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is wide, precise, and appropriately academic, particularly in discussing scientific benefits, resource allocation, and global problems.
Reduce small repetitions of important and critical by selecting more varied terms that preserve the exact distinctions in the argument.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex clauses and sentence patterns are used accurately and flexibly throughout, with only rare minor awkwardness.
Polish occasional heavy constructions in the conclusion so that the final recommendations are expressed more directly and economically.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people believe that using taxpayer funds to look for life on other planets is important. Others, however, think that it is a waste of public money because there are much more important issues requiring funding on our own planet. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.