This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of researching and living on other planets in the future.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Researching Other Planets

In the future, people may have to live on other planets. Some think that it is therefore important to spend money researching other planets such as Mars.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Real Past IELTS Exam/Test

It is becoming increasingly likely that humanity will have to someday resort to the colonisation of other planets. Though some suggest that we should divert important resources towards research of other planets now, I believe it is more pragmatic to focus on our current planet.

Advocates of increased funding for interplanetary research hold that leaving Earth is inevitable. This conclusion is underpinned by studies showing the potentially irreversible and undoubtedly catastrophic effects of climate change. So far the habitats devastated have belonged to remote polar regions and the fragile ecosystems of already vulnerable animals. Climate scientists believe this degradation will rapidly extend to the lives of ordinary people and result in a global scarcity of natural resources and more intense natural disasters. If these predictions are accurate then we need a backup plan involving the evacuation of Earth to ensure human survival and prosperity for future generations.

However, the best safeguard against the doomsday scenarios laid out above is to salvage the planet we currently inhabit. It would require an immense amount of time, money, and resources to colonise even the nearest neighbor to Earth, Mars. Instead of directing those energies towards a fantastical plan to terraform an alien planet, the easier option is to invest more in protecting Earth’s environment. Governments could enact stricter regulations on individuals and private companies to cut carbon emissions, while also funding clean energy initiatives. By collectively signing the numerous international accords, policymakers could strike a balance between economic development and environmental conservation. These solutions are both more realistic in terms of the sacrifices entailed and have a much better chance of actual success.

In conclusion, investing in colonising other planets should not be a priority when there are better solutions to current global problems. Interplanetary dreams should be left to private companies or wealthy individuals who are passionate about humanity’s future in space.

Analysis

1. It is becoming increasingly likely that humanity will have to someday resort to the colonisation of other planets. 2. Though some suggest that we should divert important resources towards research of other planets now, I believe it is more pragmatic to focus on our current planet.

  1. Paraphrase the overall topic for the whole essay.
  2. Write a clear opinion and include your main ideas if you can.

1. Advocates of increased funding for interplanetary research hold that leaving Earth is inevitable. 2. This conclusion is underpinned by studies showing the potentially irreversible and undoubtedly catastrophic effects of climate change. 3. So far the habitats devastated have belonged to remote polar regions and the fragile ecosystems of already vulnerable animals. 4. Climate scientists believe this degradation will rapidly extend to the lives of ordinary people and result in a global scarcity of natural resources and more intense natural disasters. 5. If these predictions are accurate then we need a backup plan involving the evacuation of Earth to ensure human survival and prosperity for future generations.

  1. Write a clear topic sentence with a main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea or give some background.
  3. Develop your main idea with specific details.
  4. Continue to develop it specifically.
  5. Tie your conclusions back to the main idea.

1. However, the best safeguard against the doomsday scenarios laid out above is to salvage the planet we currently inhabit. 2. It would require an immense amount of time, money, and resources to colonise even the nearest neighbor to Earth, Mars. 3. Instead of directing those energies towards a fantastical plan to terraform an alien planet, the easier option is to invest more in protecting Earth’s environment. 4. Governments could enact stricter regulations on individuals and private companies to cut carbon emissions, while also funding clean energy initiatives. 5. By collectively signing the numerous international accords, policymakers could strike a balance between economic development and environmental conservation. 6. These solutions are both more realistic in terms of the sacrifices entailed and have a much better chance of actual success.

  1. Write another clear topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. I start here with a counter-example…
  3. Then move on to explaining my main idea.
  4. Use specific examples – the more specific the better.
  5. Draw out your examples fully and don’t switch to a new main idea.
  6. Conclude with a strong statement and the final results.

1. In conclusion, investing in colonising other planets should not be a priority when there are better solutions to current global problems. 2. Interplanetary dreams should be left to private companies or wealthy individuals who are passionate about humanity’s future in space.

  1. Summarise your opinion and arguments.
  2. Finish summarising and add in an extra detail.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Use the sentences to try to figure out the meaning of difficult words:

It is becoming increasingly likely that humanity will have to someday resort to the colonisation of other planets. Though some suggest that we should divert important resources towards research of other planets now, I believe it is more pragmatic to focus on our current planet.

Advocates of increased funding for interplanetary research hold that leaving Earth is inevitable. This conclusion is underpinned by studies showing the potentially irreversible and undoubtedly catastrophic effects of climate change. So far the habitats devastated have belonged to remote polar regions and the fragile ecosystems of already vulnerable animals. Climate scientists believe this degradation will rapidly extend to the lives of ordinary people and result in a global scarcity of natural resources and more intense natural disasters. If these predictions are accurate then we need a backup plan involving the evacuation of Earth to ensure human survival and prosperity for future generations.

However, the best safeguard against the doomsday scenarios laid out above is to salvage the planet we currently inhabit. It would require an immense amount of time, money, and resources to colonise even the nearest neighbor to Earth, Mars. Instead of directing those energies towards a fantastical plan to terraform an alien planet, the easier option is to invest more in protecting Earth’s environment. Governments could enact stricter regulations on individuals and private companies to cut carbon emissions, while also funding clean energy initiatives. By collectively signing the numerous international accords, policymakers could strike a balance between economic development and environmental conservation. These solutions are both more realistic in terms of the sacrifices entailed and have a much better chance of actual success.

In conclusion, investing in colonising other planets should not be a priority when there are better solutions to current global problems. Interplanetary dreams should be left to private companies or wealthy individuals who are passionate about humanity’s future in space.

Answers

increasingly likely more and more possible it will happen

resort have to do

colonisation taking over/living on other planets

suggest propose

divert redirect

pragmatic useful

current right now

advocates supporters

interplanetary research learning about other planets

inevitable definitely going to happen

underpinned sourced, the foundation of

potentially irreversible maybe can’t be fixed

undoubtedly catastrophic effects definitely really bad impact

climate change global warming

so far to this point

habitats devastated homes hurt

belonged to were part of

remote polar regions far away cold places like Antarctica

fragile ecosystems delivate habitats

vulnerable easily hurt, weak

degradation getting worse

rapidly extend quickly move to

ordinary people everyday citizens

result in the effect will be

global scarcity of natural resources running out of oil, gas, trees, water, etc.

intense natural disasters powerful hurricanes, tsunamis, etc.

backup plan another option just in case

evacuation escape from

ensure human survival safeguard humanity’s future

prosperity growth

future generations people in the future

best safeguard against top way to protect

doomsday scenarios laid out worst case situations explained before

salvage save what is left of

currently inhabit where we live now

require need

immense amount a lot of

nearest neighbor closest planet

directing those energies focusing on

fantastical plan delusional ideas

terraform make more like Earth

easier option feasible solution

invest more put more money into

enact stricter regulations pass tougher laws

cut carbon emissions reduce reliance on fossil fuels

funding clean energy initiatives giving money for wind, solar, etc.

collectively signing the numerous international accords all together agree on the same laws/regulations

policymakers politicians

strike a balance find the middle ground

economic development jobs, companies doing well

environmental conservation saving the environment

realistic possible, may actually happen

sacrifices entailed what must be given up

actual success could really work

investing putting money into

priority more important

interplanetary dreams desire to go to other planets

wealthy individuals rich people

passionate really caring about

Pronunciation

Listen and repeat:

ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈlaɪkli 
rɪˈzɔːt 
ˌkɒlənaɪˈzeɪʃən 
səˈʤɛst 
daɪˈvɜːt 
prægˈmætɪk 
ˈkʌrənt 
ˈædvəkɪts 
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈplænɪtəri rɪˈsɜːʧ 
ɪnˈɛvɪtəbl
ˌʌndəˈpɪnd 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəli ˌɪrɪˈvɜːsəbl 
ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk ɪˈfɛkts 
ˈklaɪmɪt ʧeɪnʤ
səʊ fɑː 
ˈhæbɪtæts ˈdɛvəsteɪtɪd 
bɪˈlɒŋd tuː 
rɪˈməʊt ˈpəʊlə ˈriːʤənz 
ˈfræʤaɪl ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəmz 
ˈvʌlnərəbl 
ˌdɛgrəˈdeɪʃən 
ˈræpɪdli ɪksˈtɛnd 
ˈɔːdnri ˈpiːpl 
rɪˈzʌlt ɪn 
ˈgləʊbəl ˈskeəsɪti ɒv ˈnæʧrəl rɪˈsɔːsɪz 
ɪnˈtɛns ˈnæʧrəl dɪˈzɑːstəz
ˈbækʌp plæn 
ɪˌvækjʊˈeɪʃən 
ɪnˈʃʊə ˈhjuːmən səˈvaɪvəl 
prɒsˈpɛrɪti 
ˈfjuːʧə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃənz
bɛst ˈseɪfgɑːd əˈgɛnst 
ˈduːmzdeɪ sɪˈnɑːrɪəʊz leɪd aʊt 
ˈsælvɪʤ 
ˈkʌrəntli ɪnˈhæbɪt
rɪˈkwaɪə 
ɪˈmɛns əˈmaʊnt 
ˈnɪərɪst ˈneɪbə 
dɪˈrɛktɪŋ ðəʊz ˈɛnəʤiz 
fænˈtæstɪkəl plæn 
təˈreəfɔːm 
ˈiːzɪər ˈɒpʃən 
ɪnˈvɛst mɔː 
ɪˈnækt ˈstrɪktə ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃənz 
kʌt ˈkɑːbən ɪˈmɪʃənz
ˈfʌndɪŋ kliːn ˈɛnəʤi ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪvz
kɒˈlɛktɪvli ˈsaɪnɪŋ ðə ˈnjuːmərəs ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl əˈkɔːdz
ˈpɒlɪsiˈmeɪkəz 
straɪk ə ˈbæləns 
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk dɪˈvɛləpmənt 
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl ˌkɒnsə(ː)ˈveɪʃən
rɪəˈlɪstɪk 
ˈsækrɪfaɪsɪz ɪnˈteɪld 
ˈækʧʊəl səkˈsɛs
ɪnˈvɛstɪŋ 
praɪˈɒrɪti 
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈplænɪtəri driːmz 
ˈwɛlθi ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz
ˈpæʃənɪt 

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

It is becoming i_____________________y that humanity will have to someday r________t to the c_________________n of other planets. Though some s_________t that we should d_________t important resources towards research of other planets now, I believe it is more p______________c to focus on our c____________t planet.

A_______________s of increased funding for i________________________h hold that leaving Earth is i_____________e. This conclusion is u________________d by studies showing the p_______________________e and u____________________________s of c__________________e. S_________r the h______________________d have b________________o r___________________s and the f__________________________s of already v_______________e animals. Climate scientists believe this d___________________n will r____________________d to the lives of o_____________________e and r___________n a g___________________________s and more i_____________________________s. If these predictions are accurate then we need a b_________________n involving the e_________________n of Earth to e_________________________l and p_______________y for f______________________s.

However, the b_________________________t the d____________________________t above is to s_____________e the planet we c____________________t. It would r____________e an i___________________t of time, money, and resources to colonise even the n____________________r to Earth, Mars. Instead of d________________________s towards a f______________________n to t_____________m an alien planet, the e_______________n is to i_______________e in protecting Earth’s environment. Governments could e________________________s on individuals and private companies to c_____________________________s, while also f_______________________________s. By c____________________________________________________________s, p____________________s could s__________________e between e_____________________t and e________________________n. These solutions are both more r_____________________c in terms of the s___________________d and have a much better chance of a____________________s.

In conclusion, i___________________g in colonising other planets should not be a p______________y when there are better solutions to current global problems. I____________________________s should be left to private companies or w________________________s who are p___________________e about humanity’s future in space.

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Learn more about terraforming Mars here:

Reading Practice

Read a Wired article on this topic:

https://www.wired.com/story/mars-colonization-photo-gallery/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real speaking exam:

Science

Do you like science?

Did you learn about science in primary school?

How often do you read about science?

Why is science important to learn about?

Real Past IELTS Speaking Exam

Writing Practice

Write about the related topic below then check with my sample answer:

Research into medical treatments are essential to improve health and fight disease.

Who do you think should fund this research: individuals, private companies or governments?

Real Past IELTS Exam

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