Scorify.uzThe question
Some people say that governments should not spend money on space exploration because there are more important problems on Earth. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Write at least 250 words.
What the question asks
Decide whether space spending is a waste when problems like poverty and disease exist. Provide a clear position and evidence of benefits or drawbacks.
Essay plan
- Introduction: State that you partly agree: priorities matter, but space research brings useful benefits.
- Body 1: urgent problems: Hunger, healthcare and education need funding; space budgets are large.
- Body 2: benefits of space: Satellites, weather forecasts, medical and materials technology developed through space programmes.
- Conclusion: Space spending should be modest and linked to practical benefits.
Band 7+ sample essay
Space programmes cost billions of dollars every year, leading some people to argue that this money should be used to solve problems on our own planet. I partly agree with this view, since basic needs must come first, but I do not think space exploration should be abandoned.
The argument against space spending is easy to understand. Millions of people still lack clean water, adequate healthcare or access to education, and even a small proportion of a space budget could build many schools or hospitals. When governments face economic difficulties, it seems unfair to spend public money on missions that will not improve daily life in the short term.
However, space research has produced technologies that benefit everyone. Satellites provide weather forecasts that warn communities about storms, support navigation systems and allow global communication. Medical devices, water purification systems and lightweight materials have been developed or improved through work originally done for space. These advances often justify the investment by saving lives and creating new industries. It is also worth noting that space agencies employ many thousands of engineers and technicians, so the money is not simply thrown away; it supports skilled jobs and inspires young people to study science, which strengthens the wider economy for years afterwards.
Moreover, studying other planets helps scientists understand climate change and the future of the Earth itself.
In conclusion, because people's basic needs are a priority, space budgets should remain moderate and be linked to practical outcomes, but eliminating them entirely would cost society valuable scientific progress.
254 words.
Why this essay scores well
- Task Response: every part of the question is answered and the position stays consistent from the introduction to the conclusion.
- Coherence and Cohesion: each paragraph has one clear idea, linked with natural connectors rather than a list of memorised phrases.
- Lexical Resource: topic vocabulary is precise and varied, without forcing rare words.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with conditionals and relative clauses used accurately.
Useful vocabulary
- priority — something treated as most important
- public funds — money from taxes
- navigation system — technology that shows where you are
- spin-off technology — useful products created from other research
- justify — show to be reasonable
- modest budget — a fairly small amount of money
- scientific progress — advances in knowledge
Common mistakes on this question
- Only listing problems on Earth without answering the question about space.
- Giving examples that are too general, such as “technology is good”.
- Using “I think” in every sentence.
Study guides
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Frequently asked questions
What type of essay is this IELTS Task 2 question?
It is a opinion (agree/disagree) question. Decide whether space spending is a waste when problems like poverty and disease exist. Provide a clear position and evidence of benefits or drawbacks.
How many words should the essay be?
Write at least 250 words. Most strong answers are 260–290 words, planned in about five minutes and completed in 40 minutes.
How many paragraphs should I write?
Four paragraphs work well: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph needs one main idea, an explanation and an example.