As people live longer and longer, the idea of cloning human beings in order to provide spare parts is becoming a reality. The idea horrifies most people, yet it is no longer mere science fiction. To what extent do you agree with such a procedure? Have you any reservations?
Sample Response
The cloning of animals has been practisedoccurring for a number of years now, and this has now opened up the possibility of cloning humans too. Although there are clear benefits to humankind fromof cloning as a source of replacement body partsto provide spare body parts, I believe it raises a number of worrying ethical issues.
Due to breakthroughs in medical science and improved diets, people are living much longer than in the past. This, though, has brought with it problems. As people age, their organs can fail, soorgans can fail so they need replacing. If humans were cloned, their organs could then be used to replace those of sick people. It is currently the case that there are often not enough available organ donorsorgan donors around to meetfulfil this need, so cloning humans would address this shortageovercome the issue as there would be a ready supply of organsthen be a ready supply.
However, for good reasons, many people view this as a worrying development. Firstly, there are religious arguments against it. It would involve creating other human beings and then eventually killing them in order to use their organs, an act that could be regarded as murderwhich it could be argued is murder. This is obviously a sin according to religious texts. Also, dilemmas would arise over the rights these people should havewhat rights these people have, as surely they would be humans just like the rest of us. Furthermore, if we have the ability to clone humans, it has to be questioned where this cloning will end. Is it then acceptable for people to start cloning relativesrelatives or family members who have died?
To conclude, I do not agree with this procedure due to the ethical issues and dilemmas it would create. Cloning animals has been a positive development, but this is where it should end.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a clear position and develops a logically organised case, with the ethical reservations providing its strongest and most persuasive material. Some supporting claims, particularly the religious objection and the assumed practical benefit of cloning, remain rather general. The highest-priority improvement is to deepen one or two arguments with more precise explanation of their implications instead of moving quickly across several concerns.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response directly answers both questions, maintains a clear position, and develops relevant benefits and ethical reservations.
Develop the practical and ethical reasoning more precisely so that key claims are fully substantiated rather than asserted.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through a clear paragraph structure, and cohesive devices are used naturally without distracting repetition.
Strengthen the internal sequencing of the ethical paragraph by grouping closely related objections before introducing the slippery-slope concern.
Lexical Resource
A broad and generally precise vocabulary communicates medical and ethical ideas effectively, with only minor repetition and occasional imprecision.
Use more exact terms for the status and treatment of cloned people to sharpen the ethical analysis.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is handled accurately, and the few awkward constructions do not impede communication.
Refine pronoun reference in long sentences, especially constructions such as the clause explaining why killing clones could constitute murder.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
As people live longer and longer, the idea of cloning human beings in order to provide spare parts is becoming a reality. The idea horrifies most people, yet it is no longer mere science fiction. To what extent do you agree with such a procedure? Have you any reservations?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.