This is a practice question for IELTS Writing Task 2.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task and write at least 250 words.
Remember to plan your essay before you start writing and leave time to review your work at the end.
Writing Task 2#
Write about the following topic:
Some people believe that the exploration of space should be a priority for governments and space agencies, while others argue that the resources used for space exploration would be better spent addressing issues on Earth.
Discuss both perspectives and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Sample Answer Outline#
Body Paragraph 1: Arguments in favor of prioritizing space exploration mind map ideas
- Advances in space technology have yielded numerous practical applications that benefit life on Earth (e.g., satellite technology, medical innovations, etc.)
- Space exploration fuels scientific progress and human curiosity, driving technological innovation
- Potential discovery of habitable exoplanets or resources on other celestial bodies could benefit humanity
- Inspiring the next generation and fostering international cooperation
Body Paragraph 2: Arguments against prioritizing space exploration mind map ideas
- Significant financial resources are required for space programs that could be better utilized to address poverty, healthcare, education, and environmental issues on Earth
- Risks and potential dangers of human space exploration (e.g., accidents, contamination of extraterrestrial environments)
- Developing countries may have more pressing needs than investing in space programs
- Opportunity cost of allocating resources to space over other societal priorities
Body Paragraph 3: Balanced perspective and personal opinion Mind map ideas:
- You may acknowledge the merits of both arguments and propose a balanced approach that allocates resources to both space exploration and addressing earthly problems
- Emphasize the importance of striking the right equilibrium between the two
- Suggest potential solutions, such as increased private sector involvement or international cooperation to share the burden
Model answer (Band 8 style)
Write your own answer first, then compare structure and vocabulary. Task 2 · 271 words.
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Space exploration has produced some of humanity’s greatest achievements, yet it remains extremely expensive. While some argue that governments should make it a priority, others feel the money would be better used to solve problems on Earth. In my view, space research deserves continued funding, but not at the expense of urgent human needs.
Those who oppose large space budgets point to the scale of suffering on our own planet. Millions of people still lack clean water, healthcare and education, and the billions spent on a single mission could build hospitals or schools. From this perspective, sending probes to distant planets while children go hungry seems morally difficult to justify, particularly in poorer countries.
On the other hand, space programmes have delivered benefits that most people use every day. Satellite technology underpins weather forecasting, GPS navigation and global communications, and research originally designed for space has led to advances in medical imaging and water purification. Moreover, monitoring the Earth from orbit is essential for tracking climate change and responding to natural disasters. In this sense, looking upwards often helps us solve problems down here.
Weighing these arguments, I believe the choice is not as stark as it first appears. Space agencies typically receive a small fraction of national budgets, and international cooperation can reduce costs further. The sensible approach is to fund space research steadily while ensuring that spending on health and poverty reduction is never sacrificed for it.
In conclusion, although the needs on Earth are pressing, space exploration produces practical knowledge and technologies that benefit everyone, so it should remain a priority alongside, rather than instead of, social spending.
Task Response
Both views are developed in separate paragraphs, and the opinion (continued funding, but not at the expense of human needs) is stated early and confirmed in the conclusion.
Coherence & Cohesion
Each body paragraph has a clear topic sentence; linking is varied: “On the other hand”, “Moreover”, “In this sense”, “Weighing these arguments”.
Lexical Resource
Precise vocabulary: underpins, morally difficult to justify, at the expense of, international cooperation, pressing.
Grammatical Range
Complex sentences with relative clauses, passive forms (“research originally designed for space”) and contrast structures (“alongside, rather than instead of”).
Want your own writing scored? Paste it into the Worddemy App and get a band score with feedback on all four criteria.
Evaluation Criteria#
- Task Achievement
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
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