The topic of animal testing has been a recurring theme in IELTS Writing Task 2 exams, reflecting its relevance in contemporary ethical debates. Based on past exam trends and current global discussions, it’s highly likely that questions related to banning animal testing worldwide will continue to appear in future IELTS tests. Let’s examine a recent exam question on this subject and analyze sample essays across different band scores.

Some people think that animal testing should be banned worldwide, while others believe it is necessary for the development of science. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Analysis of the Question

This question requires candidates to:

1. Discuss arguments for banning animal testing globally
2. Discuss arguments for continuing animal testing in scientific research
3. Present and justify their own opinion on the matter

It’s crucial to address all parts of the question to achieve a high band score. Let’s look at sample essays for different band scores, starting with a Band 8-9 level response.

Band 8-9 Sample Essay

Animal experimentation is a contentious issue that has sparked heated debates in scientific and ethical circles. While some advocate for a global ban on animal testing, others argue that it remains essential for scientific progress. This essay will examine both perspectives before presenting my own viewpoint.

Proponents of banning animal testing worldwide argue that it is cruel and unethical. They contend that animals suffer unnecessarily in experiments, often enduring pain, distress, and death. Furthermore, they point out that many animal tests are unreliable when applied to humans, citing examples where drugs deemed safe in animal trials later proved harmful to people. Additionally, advocates for a ban argue that alternative methods, such as computer simulations and human cell cultures, can often replace animal testing without compromising scientific rigor.

On the other hand, supporters of animal testing argue that it is crucial for advancing medical research and ensuring human safety. They maintain that many life-saving treatments, including insulin for diabetes and vaccines for various diseases, were developed through animal experimentation. Moreover, they assert that complex biological systems cannot be fully replicated by alternative methods, making animal testing indispensable for understanding diseases and developing new therapies. They also point out that strict regulations already exist to minimize animal suffering in research settings.

In my opinion, while the ethical concerns surrounding animal testing are valid, a complete global ban would be premature and potentially detrimental to scientific progress. Instead, I believe a more nuanced approach is necessary. This could involve stricter regulations to ensure animal welfare, increased funding for the development of alternative testing methods, and limiting animal experiments to cases where no viable alternatives exist. By balancing ethical considerations with scientific needs, we can work towards reducing animal testing while still allowing for crucial medical advancements.

In conclusion, the debate over animal testing is complex, with valid arguments on both sides. While a complete ban may not be feasible at present, continued efforts to reduce animal experimentation and develop alternative methods should be prioritized to address ethical concerns while maintaining scientific progress.

[Word count: 329]

should animal testing be banned globally

Explanation of Band 8-9 Score

This essay would likely receive a Band 8-9 score for the following reasons:

1. Task Achievement: The essay fully addresses all parts of the question, discussing both views and clearly stating the writer’s opinion.

2. Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear paragraphing and effective use of cohesive devices.

3. Lexical Resource: It demonstrates a wide range of vocabulary used accurately and appropriately.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a variety of complex structures with minimal errors.

5. Critical Thinking: The response shows in-depth analysis and a nuanced understanding of the issue.

Now, let’s examine a Band 6-7 level essay on the same topic.

Band 6-7 Sample Essay

Nowadays, animal testing is a big topic of discussion. Some people think it should be stopped everywhere, but others say it’s important for science. I will talk about both sides and give my opinion.

People who want to ban animal testing say it’s cruel to animals. They think animals suffer a lot in experiments and this is not fair. Also, they say that sometimes the results from animal tests don’t work the same for humans, so it’s not always useful. They believe we can use other ways to do research, like using computers or testing on human cells.

On the other hand, people who support animal testing say it’s very important for medical research. They say many medicines we use today were made because of animal testing. They also think that some diseases are too complicated to study without using animals. They believe that there are already rules to make sure animals don’t suffer too much in labs.

In my opinion, I think animal testing is sometimes necessary, but we should try to use it less. I believe we should make the rules stricter to protect animals more. We should also spend more money on finding other ways to do research without animals. But for now, I think we still need some animal testing for important medical research.

To conclude, animal testing is a difficult issue with good points on both sides. We should try to reduce it and find better ways to do research, but we can’t ban it completely right now because it’s still important for some scientific work.

[Word count: 267]

Explanation of Band 6-7 Score

This essay would likely receive a Band 6-7 score for the following reasons:

1. Task Achievement: The essay addresses all parts of the question, but the discussion and opinion are less developed compared to the Band 8-9 essay.

2. Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a clear structure, but the use of cohesive devices is less sophisticated.

3. Lexical Resource: It uses an adequate range of vocabulary, but lacks the precision and sophistication of higher band scores.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses some complex structures but with occasional errors.

5. Critical Thinking: The response shows some analysis, but lacks the depth and nuance of higher band scores.

importance of regulating the sale of genetically modified foods

Finally, let’s look at a Band 5-6 level essay to understand the differences.

Band 5-6 Sample Essay

Animal testing is a big problem today. Some people say we should stop it everywhere, but others think it’s good for science. I will write about both ideas and what I think.

People who don’t like animal testing say it’s bad for animals. They think animals get hurt in tests and that’s not good. They also say sometimes animal tests don’t help humans, so it’s not useful. They think we can use computers or other things instead of animals.

But other people say animal testing is important. They say we made many medicines because of animal tests. They think some diseases are hard to study without animals. They say there are rules to keep animals safe in labs.

I think animal testing is sometimes needed, but we should do less of it. We should make better rules to protect animals. We should also try to find other ways to do tests without animals. But right now, we still need some animal tests for important medicine research.

In the end, animal testing is a hard question. We should try to do less of it and find better ways, but we can’t stop it all now because it’s still important for some science work.

[Word count: 196]

Explanation of Band 5-6 Score

This essay would likely receive a Band 5-6 score for the following reasons:

1. Task Achievement: The essay addresses the main parts of the question but in a limited way.

2. Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a basic structure, but paragraphing and cohesive devices are limited.

3. Lexical Resource: It uses simple vocabulary with some repetition and lack of precision.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay mainly uses simple sentences with some errors.

5. Critical Thinking: The response shows basic understanding but lacks depth in analysis.

Animal testing alternatives in scientific research

Key Vocabulary to Remember

1. Contentious (adjective) /kənˈten.ʃəs/: causing or likely to cause disagreement
2. Ethical (adjective) /ˈeθ.ɪ.kəl/: relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong
3. Advocate (verb) /ˈæd.və.keɪt/: to publicly support or recommend a particular cause or policy
4. Indispensable (adjective) /ˌɪn.dɪˈspen.sə.bəl/: absolutely necessary
5. Nuanced (adjective) /ˈnjuː.ɑːnst/: characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression
6. Viable (adjective) /ˈvaɪ.ə.bəl/: capable of working successfully; feasible
7. Detrimental (adjective) /ˌdet.rɪˈmen.təl/: causing harm or damage
8. Rigorous (adjective) /ˈrɪɡ.ər.əs/: extremely thorough and careful
9. Prioritize (verb) /praɪˈɒr.ɪ.taɪz/: to organize things so that the most important thing is done or dealt with first
10. Replicate (verb) /ˈrep.lɪ.keɪt/: to copy something exactly

In conclusion, the topic of banning animal testing worldwide is a complex and relevant issue for IELTS Writing Task 2. As you prepare for your exam, consider practicing with similar topics such as:

• The ethics of using animals for entertainment (e.g., zoos, circuses)
• Balancing environmental conservation with economic development
• The role of technology in replacing traditional research methods

Remember to structure your essay clearly, address all parts of the question, and support your arguments with relevant examples. Practice writing essays on these topics and share them in the comments section below for feedback and discussion. This active engagement will help you improve your writing skills and prepare effectively for the IELTS exam.