Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-05

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Write about the following topic: Some people believe that it is good to share as much information as possible in scientific research, business and the academic world. Others believe that some information is too important or too valuable to be shared freely. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

People have different opinions about whether information related to scientific research, business, and education should be shared openly or kept confidential. This essay will discuss both viewpoints before explaining why I believe that knowledge should generally be shared, although sensitive information should remain private.

On the one hand, sharing information freely can bring many benefits to society. In scientific research, open access to information allows researchers from different countries to work together and develop new technologies or medicines more quickly. Likewise, students and teachers can improve the quality of education by using research papers and educational resources that are available online. As a result, sharing knowledge encourages innovation, improves learning opportunities, and helps solve global problems more efficiently. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists around the world shared research findings, which helped speed up the development of vaccines.

On the other hand, some information should not be shared because it is valuable or sensitive. Businesses spend a great deal of time and money developing new products, and sharing their ideas freely could allow competitors to copy them. In addition, governments must keep certain information confidential to protect national security and public safety. Furthermore, some scientific research could be misused if it fell into the wrong hands. Therefore, keeping sensitive information private is necessary to protect both organizations and society.

In conclusion, although sharing information can promote scientific progress, education, and international cooperation, I believe that confidential business information, national security data, and potentially dangerous research should remain protected. A balanced approach that encourages openness while safeguarding sensitive information is the best solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the benefits of open information sharing and the necessity of confidentiality. The position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, with relevant examples provided, such as the mention of the COVID-19 pandemic to illustrate the benefits of scientific cooperation and the reference to national security to justify confidentiality. The arguments are logical and directly answer the prompt's requirements. The essay is well-structured and provides a balanced view, fulfilling all criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Likewise', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore'. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The use of referencing is accurate, and the flow of information is natural. The essay is easy to follow, and the relationship between ideas is clearly established throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is sufficient and appropriate for an academic essay. The student uses a range of topic-specific vocabulary such as 'confidential', 'innovation', 'national security', and 'safeguarding'. While the range is adequate and conveys meaning precisely, it lacks the 'less common' or 'sophisticated' lexical items that would push the score into the 8.0 or 9.0 range. However, there are no errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication, and the language is consistently natural and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay exhibits a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'although sharing information can promote...', 'if it fell into the wrong hands'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of the arguments. There are no significant grammatical errors that distract the reader. The control over complex structures is consistent, and the overall grammatical accuracy is high, meeting the requirements for a strong band 7 or 8.

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