Question
Space exploration is much too expensive and the money should be spent on more important things.
What is your opinion?
Model answer
There is an argument that exploring space is a waste of money and that there are more urgent needs to be addressed on earth, such as reducing poverty and preventing environmental destruction. However, I completely disagree with this opinion for two reasons.
First of all, many of the technologies we take for granted today were originated thanks to space research. Take satellite technology, for example, which we depend on for broadcasting and weather forecasting. Without satellites, we would not be able to follow global events as they happen, nor give populations any warning of approaching storms. Space research has also led to the development of new lightweight materials that offer us heat protection and enable food preservation. Therefore, the challenge of sending human beings into space has often driven the development of new technologies that benefit our everyday lives.
Second, we cannot foresee the distant future, so we ought to develop the capability to escape from the earth. Gradually, we are learning how humans can survive for long periods in space and even travel to other planets in the future. If space exploration is halted, this valuable knowledge will never be acquired. It is true that environmental destruction is also a serious issue, but it is also true that we remain dependent on our environment if we never accept the challenge of exploring other worlds.
In conclusion, while we undoubtedly face serious problems on our own planet, it is imperative that we continue to explore space. This will promote further technological advances as well as provide a possible means of escape should earth become uninhabitable in future. Ideally, all nations should cooperate in the advancement of space research.
Break down
1. Task Response
What the candidate does well
- Answers the question directly.
- The position is completely clear: “I completely disagree with this opinion for two reasons.”
- The conclusion maintains exactly the same position.
- Provides two distinct arguments.
- Space exploration produces technological advances that benefit humanity.
- Space exploration could become important for humanity’s long-term survival.
- The arguments are relevant to the question.
- The essay does not simply describe space exploration; it explains why spending money on it can be justified.
- Ideas are supported with examples.
- Satellite technology → broadcasting and weather forecasting.
- New materials → heat protection and food preservation.
- Long-term space travel → possibility of human survival beyond Earth.
- The candidate also acknowledges the opposing perspective:
- “It is true that environmental destruction is also a serious issue…”
- This is useful because it shows awareness that money could legitimately be spent elsewhere.
2. Coherence & Cohesion
Strengths
- Excellent overall structure:
- Introduction
- Main idea 1
- Main idea 2
- Conclusion
- Each paragraph has a clear central purpose.
- Topic sentences are effective:
- “First of all, many of the technologies we take for granted today were originated thanks to space research.”
- “Second, we cannot foresee the distant future…”
- Ideas progress naturally within the paragraphs.
- Linking devices are used appropriately:
- “First of all”
- “For example”
- “Therefore”
- “Second”
- “It is true that…”
- “In conclusion”
- “as well as”
- There is good referencing:
- “this valuable knowledge”
- “this”
- “these technologies” / related references
3. Lexical Resource
This is one of the strongest aspects of the essay.
Strong vocabulary
The candidate uses a good range of topic-specific and academic expressions:
- “space research”
- “satellite technology”
- “broadcasting”
- “weather forecasting”
- “approaching storms”
- “lightweight materials”
- “heat protection”
- “food preservation”
- “development of new technologies”
- “environmental destruction”
- “valuable knowledge”
- “uninhabitable”
- “technological advances”
- “advancement of space research”
These are appropriate for IELTS Task 2 and demonstrate a strong vocabulary range.
Good collocations
Examples include:
- “approaching storms”
- “global events”
- “space research”
- “technological advances”
- “environmental destruction”
- “uninhabitable”
- “space exploration”
Vocabulary problems
There are a few noticeable issues.
1. “were originated”
“many of the technologies we take for granted today were originated thanks to space research.”
This is incorrect.
Better:
“many of the technologies we take for granted today originated from space research.”
Or more naturally:
“many of the technologies we take for granted today were developed as a result of space research.”
This is actually more of a grammar/collocation issue than a vocabulary-range problem.
2. “escape from the earth”
“develop the capability to escape from the earth.”
This sounds slightly unnatural and overly dramatic.
Better:
“develop the capability to survive beyond Earth”
or:
“develop the capability to establish human settlements beyond Earth”
3. “on our own planet”
This is understandable, but somewhat repetitive because the essay has already established the Earth/space contrast.
4. Grammatical Range & Accuracy
The essay demonstrates a wide range of grammatical structures, including:
- complex sentences
- subordinate clauses
- relative clauses
- conditional structures
- concessive structures
- modal verbs
- participle constructions
Examples:
“Without satellites, we would not be able to follow global events as they happen…”
Excellent conditional structure.
“It is true that environmental destruction is also a serious issue, but it is also true that…”
Good complex/concessive construction.
“This will promote further technological advances as well as provide a possible means of escape…”
Good parallel structure.
5. Introduction — Assessment
The introduction is effective:
“There is an argument that exploring space is a waste of money and that there are more urgent needs to be addressed on earth…”
Strengths
- Paraphrases the question.
- Introduces the opposing position.
- Gives a clear personal opinion.
- Previews two reasons.
Excellent feature
The sentence:
“However, I completely disagree with this opinion for two reasons.”
makes the position unmistakable.
6. Body Paragraph 1 — Assessment
This is probably the strongest paragraph.
Why it works
The argument is clear:
Space exploration → scientific research → technological innovation → everyday benefits
The satellite example is particularly effective because it is easy for the examiner to understand.
The paragraph also explains the example rather than simply mentioning it.
For example:
“Without satellites, we would not be able to follow global events as they happen, nor give populations any warning of approaching storms.”
This demonstrates the actual consequence of satellite technology.
Examiner perspective
This is exactly the kind of development IELTS examiners reward: claim → explanation → example → consequence.
7. Body Paragraph 2 — Assessment
The second paragraph is interesting but slightly weaker.
Main strength
It introduces a long-term perspective, which gives the essay intellectual depth.
The idea is:
We cannot predict the future → humanity may eventually need alternatives to Earth → space research prepares us for this possibility.
That’s a legitimate argument.
A stronger version would focus on risk management rather than “escape”:
- asteroid impacts
- climate-related risks
- resource limitations
- planetary disasters
- long-term survival of the human species
The candidate could then argue that space research is a form of long-term investment and risk reduction.
8. Conclusion
The conclusion is strong and concise.
“In conclusion, while we undoubtedly face serious problems on our own planet, it is imperative that we continue to explore space.”
Strengths
- Clearly restates the position.
- Summarises the two main arguments.
- Does not introduce a completely new argument.
- Ends with a reasonable recommendation:
“Ideally, all nations should cooperate in the advancement of space research.”
This is a good final sentence because international cooperation is relevant to the enormous cost of space exploration.
Estimated examiner score
Task Response: 8
- Fully addresses the topic.
- Clear and consistent position.
- Main ideas are relevant and sufficiently developed.
- Slightly limited discussion of the cost/priorities aspect of the question.
Coherence & Cohesion: 8
- Clear progression.
- Effective paragraphing.
- Good use of cohesive devices.
- Some linking is slightly formulaic.
Lexical Resource: 8
- Wide vocabulary.
- Strong topic-specific language.
- Good collocations.
- A few awkward/incorrect expressions.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: 8
- Wide range of structures.
- Generally accurate.
- A few grammatical/collocational errors.
- Not quite the consistently precise control expected at Band 9.
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