Healthcare is a crucial topic that frequently appears in IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. Based on past trends and current global issues, questions related to government prioritization of healthcare are likely to continue being relevant in future tests. Let’s examine a specific question on this topic and analyze some sample essays at different band levels.
Government prioritizing healthcare
Analyzing the Question
Some people believe that governments should spend more money on healthcare than on other sectors. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
This question asks for your opinion on whether governments should prioritize healthcare funding over other sectors. Key points to consider:
- The statement presents a view that healthcare should receive more funding.
- You need to express your level of agreement or disagreement.
- You should discuss reasons for your position and potentially consider counterarguments.
- Remember to provide examples to support your points.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
In an era where global health crises have highlighted the critical importance of robust healthcare systems, the allocation of government funds has become a topic of intense debate. While I acknowledge the significance of healthcare, I partially agree with the notion that governments should prioritize it over all other sectors, as a balanced approach to national development is crucial for overall societal well-being.
Undoubtedly, investing heavily in healthcare yields numerous benefits for a nation. A well-funded healthcare system ensures better access to medical services, reduces mortality rates, and improves the overall quality of life for citizens. For instance, countries like Japan and Sweden, which allocate substantial portions of their GDP to healthcare, consistently rank high in global health indices. Moreover, a healthy population is more productive, which indirectly contributes to economic growth and stability.
However, exclusively prioritizing healthcare at the expense of other sectors could lead to imbalanced national development. Education, infrastructure, and environmental protection are equally vital for a country’s progress. A well-educated workforce drives innovation and economic growth, while robust infrastructure facilitates trade and improves living standards. For example, Singapore’s success story is attributed to its balanced investment in healthcare, education, and infrastructure, creating a holistic approach to national development.
Furthermore, many health issues are intrinsically linked to other sectors. Poor sanitation infrastructure can lead to the spread of diseases, while inadequate education can result in a lack of health awareness. Therefore, a more integrated approach that considers the interconnectedness of various sectors is necessary. The Netherlands exemplifies this by implementing policies that promote cycling, simultaneously addressing transportation, environmental, and health concerns.
In conclusion, while healthcare is undeniably crucial, governments should strive for a balanced allocation of resources across all sectors. The ideal approach would be to prioritize healthcare alongside other essential areas, recognizing their interdependence and collective contribution to national well-being. By adopting this holistic strategy, nations can ensure comprehensive development and a higher quality of life for their citizens.
(Word count: 309)
Analysis of Band 8-9 Essay
This essay demonstrates characteristics of a high band score:
Task Response: The essay directly addresses the question, presenting a clear position (partial agreement) and fully developing ideas with relevant examples.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear paragraphing. Ideas flow logically, and cohesive devices are used effectively (e.g., “However,” “Furthermore,” “In conclusion”).
Lexical Resource: A wide range of vocabulary is used accurately and appropriately (e.g., “allocation,” “robust,” “mortality rates,” “holistic approach”).
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay showcases a variety of complex structures with minimal errors (e.g., “While I acknowledge…”, “Undoubtedly, investing heavily in healthcare yields…”).
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
In recent years, there has been a debate about whether governments should spend more money on healthcare than other areas. While healthcare is very important, I partially agree with this idea because other sectors also need funding for a country to develop well.
Investing in healthcare has many advantages for a country. When the healthcare system is good, people can get medical treatment easily and live healthier lives. For example, in countries with good healthcare, like Canada, people often live longer and have better quality of life. Also, when people are healthy, they can work better and help the economy grow.
However, only focusing on healthcare and ignoring other sectors can cause problems. Education and infrastructure are also very important for a country’s growth. If people are not well-educated, they might not understand how to stay healthy or get good jobs. Good roads and transportation are needed for people to reach hospitals and for the economy to work well. For instance, some developing countries have built new hospitals but people can’t reach them because the roads are bad.
It’s also important to remember that health is connected to other areas of life. If the environment is polluted, people will get sick more often. If people don’t have good jobs because the economy is weak, they might not be able to afford healthy food or medical care. Therefore, governments need to think about all these things together.
In conclusion, while healthcare is very important, I believe governments should balance their spending between healthcare and other important sectors. This way, they can improve the overall quality of life for their citizens and help the country develop in all areas.
(Word count: 278)
Analysis of Band 6-7 Essay
This essay demonstrates characteristics of a mid-range band score:
Task Response: The essay addresses the main parts of the task and presents a clear position, but the ideas could be more fully developed.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is organized logically, but the use of cohesive devices is sometimes repetitive (e.g., frequent use of “Also” and “However”).
Lexical Resource: There is a sufficient range of vocabulary, but more sophisticated words and phrases could be used (e.g., “good” is used repeatedly where more precise adjectives could be employed).
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentences with generally good control, but there’s room for more variety in structures.
Key Vocabulary
Allocate (verb) /ˈæləkeɪt/: to give something officially to someone or for a specific purpose
Robust (adjective) /roʊˈbʌst/: strong and healthy; able to withstand or overcome adverse conditions
Mortality rate (noun) /mɔːrˈtæləti reɪt/: the number of deaths in a given area or period, or from a particular cause
Infrastructure (noun) /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər/: the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
Holistic (adjective) /hoʊˈlɪstɪk/: characterized by the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole
Sanitation (noun) /ˌsænɪˈteɪʃn/: conditions relating to public health, especially the provision of clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal
Intrinsically (adverb) /ɪnˈtrɪnzɪkli/: in an essential or natural way
Interdependence (noun) /ˌɪntərdɪˈpendəns/: the dependence of two or more people or things on each other
Conclusion
The topic of government prioritization of healthcare is likely to remain relevant in IELTS Writing Task 2. To prepare, practice writing essays on related themes such as:
- The impact of healthcare spending on economic growth
- Balancing healthcare with environmental protection
- The role of education in improving public health
Remember to structure your essay clearly, use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, and provide relevant examples to support your arguments. Feel free to share your practice essays in the comments section for feedback and discussion with other learners.
