Culture & SocietyAgree / DisagreeIntermediateHigh Frequency

Researching Other Planets

Prompt

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?

#space_exploration#Mars#government_spending#future_planning#resource_allocation

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Band 7 → 9 — Band 7 students present either-or positions with supporting reasons, while Band 9 students demonstrate sophisticated understanding that space research investment needn't exclude Earth-focused spending, and they discuss realistic timeline and risk factors.

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Key concepts in this essay

cost-benefit analysis
long-term vs. short-term priorities
technological spillovers
human survival and species backup
practical necessity vs. scientific curiosity

Pitfalls the model essay avoids

Treating space research as purely aspirational without discussing practical spinoff benefits or technological advancement
Ignoring immediate Earth problems (poverty, climate, healthcare) without conceding their importance while still defending space research
Oversimplifying cost arguments; failing to acknowledge that space research is a tiny fraction of government budgets

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