Space exploration is much too expensive and the money should be spent on more important things. What is your opinion?
Sample Response
There is an argument that exploring space is a waste of money and that there are more urgent problemsneeds to be addressed on Earthearth, such as reducing poverty and preventing environmental destruction. However, I completely disagree with this opinion for two reasons.
First of all, many of the technologies we take for granted today originated through space researchwere originated thanks to space research. Take satellite technology, for example, which we depend on for broadcasting and weather forecasting. Without satellites, we would not be able to follow global events as they happen, nor provide populations with any warninggive populations any warning of approaching storms. Space research has also led to the development of new lightweight materials that provide heat protectionoffer us heat protection and enable food preservation. Therefore, the challenge of sending human beings into space has often driven the development of new technologies that benefit our dailyeveryday lives.
Second, we cannot predict what the distant future holdsforesee the distant future, so we ought to develop the capability to leave Earthescape from the earth. Gradually, we are learning how humans can survive for long periods in space and even travel to other planets in the future. If space exploration is halted, we will never acquire this valuable knowledgethis valuable knowledge will never be acquired. It is true that environmental destruction is also a serious issue, but it is also true that we remain dependent on our environment if we never accept the challenge of exploring other worlds.
In conclusion, while we undoubtedly face serious problems on our own planet, it is imperative that we continue to explore space. This will promote further technological advances as well as provide a possible means of escape should Earth become uninhabitable in the futureuninhabitable in future. Ideally, all nations should cooperate to advance space researchcooperate in the advancement of space research.
Why this response received Band 8.5
The response establishes an unequivocal position and develops two distinct reasons with clear explanations and relevant illustrations, particularly the account of practical technologies derived from space research. Its main limitation is that the future-escape argument is speculative and does not fully engage with the opportunity cost raised by the prompt. The highest-priority improvement is to defend that argument through a more realistic comparison of long-term benefits and urgent terrestrial spending.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear throughout, and both supporting reasons are substantially developed with relevant consequences and examples.
Address the cost trade-off directly and give the long-term survival claim a more evidence-based qualification.
Coherence and Cohesion
Paragraphing is purposeful, progression is highly logical, and cohesive links guide the reader without becoming mechanical.
Make the contrast in the second body paragraph slightly more explicit by linking environmental urgency back to spending priorities.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a wide and precise range of vocabulary for technology, environmental risk, and future capability.
Replace the awkward phrase were originated with originated or were developed to maintain fully natural word choice.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex clauses and varied sentence patterns are used flexibly and accurately, with only a very minor construction error.
Check verb patterns in passive constructions so isolated errors such as were originated are eliminated.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Space exploration is much too expensive and the money should be spent on more important things. What is your opinion?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.