It Is Acceptable To Test Medicine Intended For People On Animals

IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write at least 250 words.

Some people say that it is acceptable to test medicine intended for people on animals Others, however, believe that it is not right to use animals in this research

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.


Sample Answer:

Nowadays, animal testing has become a widely discussed topic in the context of medical research. While some people argue that it is necessary to use animals in order to be able to test the efficacy of new medicines, others maintain that it is wrong to do so. This essay will discuss both views before giving a personal opinion.

On the one hand, there are those who claim that testing medicines on animals is an appropriate practice. Firstly, it can be argued that animal testing allows us to obtain a better understanding of the effects of a medicine on a living organism. Moreover, animal testing is thought to be a reliable way of assessing the safety of a new medicine, before it is tested on humans. Therefore, animal testing can be seen as an invaluable tool in the medical research process, allowing us to make sure that medicines are safe for human consumption.

On the other hand, some people oppose animal testing and believe that it is wrong to use animals in this way. Firstly, there is a moral issue of using animals for human benefit. In addition, animal testing has been criticised for being unreliable and for not being able to mimic the human body accurately enough. Furthermore, it has been argued that the suffering caused to animals through animal testing is not justified, especially when there are other methods available such as computer modelling.

In my opinion, animal testing should only be done when there is no other suitable alternative. Therefore, if computer modelling or other methods are available, then these should be used instead. However, if animal testing is the only viable option, then it should be done in a humane way and in accordance with ethical guidelines. Although animal testing can be beneficial in the development of new medicines, I believe that its use should be kept to a minimum and be monitored closely.