Some people want governments to spend money looking for life on other planets. Others, however, think this is a waste of public money when there are so many problems on earth.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some people want governments to spend money looking for life on other planets. Others, however, think this is a waste of public money when there are so many problems on earth.

Space Exploration Money Waste vs Solving Earth Problems - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 9 · 393 words.

The question of whether government funds should be allocated to searching for extraterrestrial life or directed towards pressing earthly issues is a subject of vigorous debate. While some argue that space exploration is a vital scientific endeavour, others contend that it is an irresponsible use of public money when millions suffer from poverty, disease, and environmental degradation. In my view, although addressing terrestrial problems must remain the top priority, a modest investment in space research is still justifiable.

On the one hand, those who oppose funding for the search for alien life raise compelling arguments. They point to the myriad crises currently facing humanity—climate change, food and water shortages, inadequate healthcare, and widening inequality. For instance, billions of dollars are needed annually to combat global warming and transition to renewable energy. Diverting even a fraction of that budget towards speculative projects like scanning the cosmos for radio signals seems ethically questionable when children go hungry and treatable diseases remain deadly in developing nations. Furthermore, past space programmes have often produced limited tangible returns for ordinary citizens, leading many to view such expenditure as a luxury only wealthy nations can afford—and one that they should perhaps forgo.

On the other hand, proponents of space exploration contend that the search for life beyond Earth is not merely a curiosity but a fundamental driver of scientific progress. Technologies developed for space missions—from satellite communications to medical imaging—have repeatedly found practical applications that benefit life on Earth. Moreover, the pursuit of knowledge about our universe inspires future generations to study science and engineering, fostering innovation that can ultimately help solve our planet's problems. They also argue that the amounts spent on space exploration are relatively small compared to military budgets or agricultural subsidies, and that a balanced approach does not require choosing one over the other entirely.

In my opinion, while Earth's urgent challenges cannot be ignored, completely abandoning space research would be short-sighted. Governments should allocate the vast majority of their budgets to solving immediate issues such as poverty and climate change, but they should also reserve a small percentage—perhaps 1–2% of their science budgets—for cosmic exploration. This balanced approach ensures that we address present suffering without sacrificing long-term scientific advancement.

In conclusion, although public money must primarily serve earthly needs, a limited investment in the search for alien life is a reasonable and forward-thinking choice.

Examiner feedback

This is an exceptional essay that meets the Band 9 criteria across all four categories. It demonstrates sophisticated language use, flawless grammatical control, and a very mature approach to the argument that considers the complexities of both sides of the debate.

Task Response - 9

- Fully addresses all parts of the task by exploring both viewpoints and providing a clear personal position. - Presents a fully developed position with relevant, fully extended, and well-supported ideas. - The conclusion perfectly synthesizes the arguments presented.

Coherence & Cohesion - 9

- Skilfully manages paragraphing with a clear central topic in each paragraph. - Cohesion is used in such a way that it attracts no attention; transitions between ideas are seamless. - Sequencing of information is logical and the progression is clear from the introduction to the conclusion.

Lexical Resource - 9

- Uses a wide range of vocabulary with natural and sophisticated control (e.g., 'speculative projects', 'tangible returns', 'environmental degradation'). - Excellent use of collocations and precise meanings throughout. - No errors in spelling or word formation are present.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- Uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy. - The majority of sentences are error-free; punctuation is used with sophisticated control. - Complex structures are handled naturally (e.g., 'Diverting even a fraction... seems ethically questionable').

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