Space exploration and spending: IELTS Task 2 essay #3, band 7.0
A student’s answer to this repeated IELTS question, shared without their name and marked by Axiom on the four criteria. Select a highlighted passage to see how it could be revised, and why.
323 words. Marked by Axiom on 28 June 2025. Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.
Task 2323 words
Space exploration is waste of resources. It would be better to spend that money for improving people’s lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is though that space exploration is just waste of money and resources, in my opinion, it is better to deal with problems on earth.
However, this spending rarely helps people who are struggling with basic needs such as food, housing and health care. While, space agencies such as NASA and SpaceX aim to explore Mars or other distant planets, these missions do not reduce poverty, cure diseases or create jobs for ordinary people. In fact, they take away public money which could be used to improve life on Earth. If even part of this money were spent on building hospitals, supporting low-income families or improving education system, it would directly help millions of people. Spending it on sending machines to Mars, by contrast, brings to immediate benefits.
Lexical resource
RevisedSpace exploration is extremely expensive and, in the opinion of some, does not address real human problems.
The revised sentence provides a more nuanced expression of the idea.
Grammar & accuracy
RevisedSpace exploration requires billions of dollars for rockets, satellites, and missions to other planets.
The revised sentence corrects a minor error in punctuation.
Grammar & accuracy
RevisedFor example, in 2020, NASA had an overall budget of about 20 billion dollars.
The revised sentence corrects a minor error in grammar and improves the overall clarity of the example.
Governments try to conceive people saying that space missions can find new resources or help to invent new technologies. But it may take decades to appear, if it appears at all. People need help now, not 50 years later. For instance, some of these missions hope to find the way how to mine resources from asteroids in the future.
Coherence & cohesion
RevisedIn addition, the benefits of space exploration, which can take years or even decades and are uncertain, often outweigh the immediate needs of humans on Earth.
The revised sentence provides a clearer connection between the ideas and improves the flow of the argument.
Lexical resource
RevisedHowever, investing in social services, clean water and better schools can provide immediate results.
The revised sentence provides a more accurate and formal expression of the idea.
Coherence & cohesion
RevisedIt is more reasonable to use this money to address significant public needs rather than investing in the unpredictable results of space exploration.
The revised sentence provides a clearer and more concise expression of the idea.
Lexical resource
RevisedBut it is just a hope, which means it can be risky.
The revised sentence provides a more accurate and formal expression of the idea.
Coherence & cohesion
RevisedIn conclusion, while space exploration aims to find new resources and invent technologies, we must not forget the significant number of people struggling with basic needs such as access to clean drinking water or housing.
The revised sentence provides a clearer and more direct conclusion, and improves the flow of the argument.
Select a highlighted passage to see its suggested revision.
What Axiom wrote for each criterion: why the answer earned its band, and what to work on next.
Coherence & cohesion
Band 7.0/ 9
The essay is logically organized and ideas are connected well. However, there are a few areas where the flow of ideas could be improved. The essay follows a logical structure, but transitions between paragraphs and within paragraphs could be smoother. The introduction sets up the topic well, but the connection between different points could be enhanced with more explicit linking phrases. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points but could be more comprehensive. Clearer topic sentences and more explicit linking phrases would help guide the reader through the essay. Ensuring consistent punctuation and spacing will also improve readability.
Suggestions
- Use more linking words to improve the flow of ideas.
- Ensure that each paragraph has a clear main idea.
Sentence revisions 3
RevisedIn addition, the benefits of space exploration, which can take years or even decades and are uncertain, often outweigh the immediate needs of humans on Earth.
The revised sentence provides a clearer connection between the ideas and improves the flow of the argument.
RevisedIt is more reasonable to use this money to address significant public needs rather than investing in the unpredictable results of space exploration.
The revised sentence provides a clearer and more concise expression of the idea.
RevisedIn conclusion, while space exploration aims to find new resources and invent technologies, we must not forget the significant number of people struggling with basic needs such as access to clean drinking water or housing.
The revised sentence provides a clearer and more direct conclusion, and improves the flow of the argument.
Grammar & accuracy
Band 7.0/ 9
The essay uses a variety of complex structures. However, there are a few grammatical errors and awkward constructions. The essay contains a few grammatical errors that affect clarity and readability. These include issues with punctuation, subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. For example, "Space exploration requires billions of dollars for rockets, satellites and missions to other planets" should be "Space exploration requires billions of dollars for rockets, satellites, and missions to other planets." Proofreading for these errors and simplifying complex sentences would improve the overall clarity and readability of the essay.
Sentence revisions 3
RevisedSpace exploration requires billions of dollars for rockets, satellites, and missions to other planets.
The revised sentence corrects a minor error in punctuation.
RevisedFor example, in 2020, NASA had an overall budget of about 20 billion dollars.
The revised sentence corrects a minor error in grammar and improves the overall clarity of the example.
RevisedIt is more reasonable to use this money to address significant public needs rather than wasting it on the unpredictable results of space exploration.
The revised sentence corrects several grammatical errors and improves the overall clarity of the example.
Lexical resource
Band 7.0/ 9
The essay uses a wide range of vocabulary and there is evidence of some less common and idiomatic language. However, there are a few instances of awkward or incorrect word choice. For example, "It is though that space exploration is just waste of money and resources" should be "It is thought that..." The essay uses a variety of sentence structures, but there are some instances of awkward phrasing and grammatical errors that can be distracting. For example, "Spending it on sending machines to Mars, by contrast, brings to immediate benefits" should be "On the other hand, spending it on sending machines to Mars brings no immediate benefits." Proofreading for errors and improving sentence structure would enhance the overall clarity and professionalism of the essay.
Sentence revisions 3
RevisedSpace exploration is extremely expensive and, in the opinion of some, does not address real human problems.
The revised sentence provides a more nuanced expression of the idea.
RevisedHowever, investing in social services, clean water and better schools can provide immediate results.
The revised sentence provides a more accurate and formal expression of the idea.
RevisedBut it is just a hope, which means it can be risky.
The revised sentence provides a more accurate and formal expression of the idea.
Task response
Band 7.0/ 9
The essay addresses the task and presents a clear position throughout the response. However, the argument could be more fully developed and supported. The essay effectively addresses the prompt by presenting a clear argument that space exploration is a misuse of resources and that these resources could be better used to address the needs of people on Earth. The essay provides relevant examples and logical reasoning to support this argument. However, the essay could be improved by providing a more balanced discussion that also considers the potential long-term benefits of space exploration. Additionally, the conclusion could be more comprehensive and provide a stronger, more nuanced position.
Suggestions
- Provide a more balanced discussion that also considers the potential long-term benefits of space exploration.
- Make the conclusion more comprehensive and provide a stronger, more nuanced position.
Check your own essay on this question
Write your answer and Axiom marks it the same way: a band for each criterion, and revisions for your own sentences. How the Task 2 checker works.
Check an essay free