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Opinion (Agree / Disagree) Science Task 2

Some people say that more money should be invest…: Some people say that more money should be invested in science than in other subjects. Do you agree or disagree

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 say that more money should be invest…: Some people say that more money should be invested in science than in other subjects. Do you agree or disagree

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

You are given one statement and asked how far you agree. The examiner is checking that you take a clear position in the introduction and hold it consistently to the conclusion — a partial agreement is fine, an unclear one is not.

Paragraph plan

Introduction — Paraphrase the prompt and state a clear, conditional position — agree but acknowledge limits.

Body 1 — Explain the main case for prioritising science — be specific and logical.

Body 2 — Explain the condition or limitation — when or why other subjects must not be neglected.

Conclusion — Restate the conditional position clearly — do not introduce new ideas or contradict the introduction.

Model essay

Band 8.5–9.0 model essay

326 words

Some maintain that governments and educational institutions should allocate greater funding to scientific disciplines than to other subjects. In my view, while science undeniably merits substantial investment given its transformative societal impact, channelling resources exclusively into it at the expense of other fields would be misguided.

To begin, scientific research deserves considerable investment because it directly drives tangible improvements in human welfare. To clarify, breakthroughs in medicine, engineering and technology have historically eradicated diseases, extended life expectancy and improved living standards on a global scale. For instance, the accelerated development of vaccines during recent health crises demonstrated how well-funded scientific research can save millions of lives within a remarkably short timeframe. Moreover, technological innovations stemming from scientific research, such as renewable energy solutions, are indispensable in addressing pressing global challenges like climate change. Given these far-reaching benefits, it is reasonable that science should receive a considerable share of available funding.

However, disproportionately privileging science over other disciplines would ultimately prove counterproductive. This is attributable to the fact that subjects such as literature, history and philosophy cultivate critical thinking, ethical reasoning and cultural understanding, competencies that are equally essential for a well-functioning society. Without adequate investment in the humanities and social sciences, societies risk producing technically proficient individuals who lack the ethical judgement necessary to responsibly apply scientific advancements. For example, the ethical dilemmas surrounding artificial intelligence and genetic engineering require not only scientific expertise but also philosophical and social insight to navigate responsibly. Consequently, other disciplines should continue to receive meaningful, rather than merely symbolic, funding.

To conclude, although science merits substantial funding owing to its capacity to transform human welfare, I believe other disciplines, particularly the humanities, should not be systematically underfunded, since a balanced educational investment ultimately produces a more capable and ethically grounded society, better equipped to navigate the complex challenges of the future.

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Ideas & vocabulary for this topic

Ideas you can use

  • Introduction: Paraphrase the claim and state the balanced position that science merits strong funding but not exclusive funding.
  • Body 1: Argue that science deserves greater investment because it drives major medical and technological breakthroughs, illustrated by rapid vaccine development during health crises.
  • Body 2: Give the exception: humanities and social sciences build the ethical reasoning needed to responsibly apply scientific advances, illustrated by the ethical dilemmas of AI and genetic engineering.
  • Conclusion: Restate that funding should remain balanced across disciplines rather than concentrated solely in science.
Word or phraseMeaningUsed in a sentence
transformativecausing a marked change in form or characterscience undeniably merits substantial investment given its transformative societal impact
eradicatedcompletely destroyed or got rid of somethingbreakthroughs in medicine, engineering and technology have historically eradicated diseases
indispensableabsolutely necessarytechnological innovations... are indispensable in addressing pressing global challenges like climate change
disproportionatelyto an extent that is too large or small in relation to something elsedisproportionately privileging science over other disciplines would ultimately prove counterproductive
counterproductivehaving the opposite effect to the one intendeddisproportionately privileging science over other disciplines would ultimately prove counterproductive
ethical reasoningthe process of thinking through moral questions and principlessubjects such as literature, history and philosophy cultivate critical thinking, ethical reasoning and cultural understanding
philosophicalrelating to the study of fundamental questions about knowledge, values and existenceethical dilemmas... require not only scientific expertise but also philosophical and social insight
symbolic fundingfunding that is only a token gesture rather than a meaningful amountother disciplines should continue to receive meaningful, rather than merely symbolic, funding

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