Some people believe that space exploration is a necessary investment in humanity's future. Others regard it as a luxury the world cannot justify.
A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan, ideas you can use, and the vocabulary that fits this topic.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Some people believe that space exploration is a necessary investment in humanity's future. Others regard it as a luxury the world cannot justify.
Discuss both opinions and give your own view.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
How to read this question
The opposing view rests on an implied trade-off — that space budgets could be spent on problems at home — and the single most effective thing you can do is test it. Space agencies typically receive well under one per cent of national spending, so the money is not the reason those problems persist. Establishing that reframes the debate from cost to purpose, which is where the interesting argument actually is.
Paragraph plan
Introduction — Paraphrase both views, then state a position: the cost objection fails on scale, but the strongest case for space is practical rather than visionary.
Body 1 — The case against — real opportunity cost, and the fair point that grand projects attract funding while unglamorous needs do not.
Body 2 — The case for — most of the value is already in orbit and in daily use, and the exploratory part earns its keep through capability rather than discovery.
Conclusion — Worth funding, but defended honestly on infrastructure and capability rather than on the survival-of-humanity argument.
Model essay
Band 8.5–9.0 model essay
326 words
According to some, space exploration represents a necessary investment in humanity's long-term future, whereas others regard it as an unjustifiable luxury given the world's pressing problems. In my view, although space exploration should not take precedence over urgent humanitarian needs, it remains a worthwhile investment when pursued alongside them.
On the one hand, supporters argue that space exploration yields scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit life on Earth. To clarify, research conducted for space missions has historically produced innovations later adapted for everyday use, ranging from satellite communication to medical imaging technology. For instance, satellite systems developed through space programmes now underpin global weather forecasting, enabling countries to prepare for natural disasters that would otherwise cause devastating loss of life.
On the other hand, critics contend that the enormous sums allocated to space programmes could be far better spent addressing immediate crises, such as poverty, hunger and disease. This is attributable to the fact that billions of people worldwide still lack access to clean water or basic healthcare, while governments continue to fund missions whose benefits, if any, are unlikely to be felt for decades. In their view, prioritising distant planets over pressing human suffering is difficult to justify.
From my perspective, space exploration and humanitarian investment need not be mutually exclusive, since space budgets typically represent a small fraction of national expenditure compared with sectors such as defence. To explain, provided that governments continue to allocate sufficient resources to poverty reduction and healthcare, the comparatively modest funding devoted to space research can still generate valuable technological spillovers without meaningfully depriving other sectors of support.
To conclude, despite the disagreement over whether space exploration is essential or extravagant, I believe it remains a justifiable investment, provided that it does not come at the expense of more urgent humanitarian priorities.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to read the rest of this essay and unlock every model on the site.
This is a discussion (discuss both views) question. The essay above shows you what a strong answer looks like when it is finished. What it cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in forty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the essay is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Introduction: Paraphrase both views on whether space exploration is a necessary investment or an unjustifiable luxury and state the conditional opinion that it is worthwhile alongside humanitarian spending.
Body 1: Argue that space research generates technological breakthroughs, such as satellite systems, that benefit life on Earth, including disaster forecasting.
Body 2: Argue that the enormous sums spent on space programmes could instead address urgent problems like poverty, hunger and disease affecting billions today.
Body 3: State that space and humanitarian investment are not mutually exclusive, since space budgets are a small fraction of expenditure compared with sectors like defence.
Conclusion: Restate that space exploration remains justifiable provided it does not come at the expense of urgent humanitarian priorities.
Word or phrase
Meaning
Used in a sentence
breakthroughs
important discoveries or advances after effort or research
supporters argue that space exploration yields scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit life on Earth
satellite communication
the transmission of signals via satellites orbiting the Earth
innovations later adapted for everyday use, ranging from satellite communication to medical imaging technology
devastating
causing severe damage or harm
enabling countries to prepare for natural disasters that would otherwise cause devastating loss of life
allocated
officially assigned for a particular purpose
critics contend that the enormous sums allocated to space programmes could be far better spent
mutually exclusive
unable to occur or coexist at the same time
space exploration and humanitarian investment need not be mutually exclusive
expenditure
the total amount of money spent
space budgets typically represent a small fraction of national expenditure compared with sectors such as defence
spillovers
secondary or indirect benefits that spread beyond the original purpose
the comparatively modest funding devoted to space research can still generate valuable technological spillovers
extravagant
excessively costly or wasteful
despite the disagreement over whether space exploration is essential or extravagant
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to see the ideas and vocabulary for this topic and unlock every model on the site.
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Common questions
Is it effective to challenge the numbers in a question?
Very — when the opposing view depends on an assumption about scale, checking it is the most powerful move available. Say plainly that the trade-off is smaller than it appears, then continue arguing. What you should not do is treat the numerical point as the whole answer; the fairness objection survives it.
Should I reject arguments on my own side?
If they are weak, yes. The Band 8.5 model dismisses the survival-of-humanity argument while still supporting space spending, and that demonstrates judgement rather than advocacy. Examiners read it as control of the topic, and it makes the remaining arguments more credible.
Do I need scientific knowledge for this topic?
No. Everyday examples — satellite navigation, weather forecasts, climate monitoring — carry the argument entirely. Technical detail you are unsure of tends to produce awkward grammar and earns nothing extra under any criterion.
