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 subject of debatea topic of discussion and debate for many years. While some people believe that using taxpayer funds to search for lifeusing taxpayer funds to find life on other planets is essential, others regard such spending as a poor useothers see it as a poor use of public money.
Those who believe in the importance of searching for extraterrestrial life argue that the search offers an opportunitythis 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 substantialtremendous 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 origins of lifethe origin of life itself.
That said, I personally hold the view that though such research is important, funding for this researchthe money spent on this should be balanced against other prioritiesother important needs and should not come at the expense of other critical programmesprograms. There are many pressing issues on our own planet that require funding, such as povertythe 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 responsibly and effectivelyin 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.
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.
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
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.