Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18

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 6.5)

Few individuals trust that it is good to portion as much knowledge as possible technological research, business, and the academic world. Others additional accept that some detail is too major or too valuable to be shared freely. This essay will examine both perspectives before arguing that a balanced approach, which safe guards commercial and security secrets while promoting collaborative research, is the most beneficial.

On the hand, proponents of open information argue that transparency human progress and innovation. when scientists and academic publish their findings without restriction, researchers worldwide can validate, critique, and build upon that foundation. A prime example of this was the global collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic, where scientists freely shared the genetic sequencing of the virus, leading to the unprecedentedly rapid the development of life -saving vaccines, In the academic world, open- source data democratizes education, ensuring that researches from underfunded institutions have equal opportunities to contributes to global knowledge.

On the hand, there are compelling reasons, why certain information must remain confidential. In the corporate sector, data is often the primary source of a company's competitive advantage. Intellectual property, proprietary algorithms, and trade secrets - such as Coca-Cola's secret formula or Google's search algorithms- require immense financial investment to develop. If businesses were forced to share this data freely , they would lose their profitability, destroying the economic incentive to innovate. Furthermore, in fields like nuclear physics or biotechnology , unrestricted access to dangerous research could pose severe national security risks if weaponized by malicious actors.

In my opinion, neither absolute secrecy nor complete openness is ideal. instead, a regulated frame work is fundamental scientific data and public health discoveries should be university accessible to benefit humanity as a whole. However, commercial properties and technologies linked to public safety must remain protected by robust patent laws and security protocols to incentivize and maintain order.

In conclusion, while the free exchange of data fuels scientific breakthroughs and academic growth, protecting propriety business information and security-sensitive data is essential foe economic stability and global safety. Striking a careful balance between transparency and restriction is crucial for sustainable progress.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, discussing both sides of the argument and providing a clear personal opinion. Your ideas are well-developed, particularly the use of the COVID-19 vaccine example to support the benefits of open information and the mention of trade secrets to illustrate the necessity of confidentiality. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, ensure that all arguments are fully extended; for instance, the point about national security could be slightly more detailed to fully explore the implications of unrestricted access to sensitive research. Overall, the response is well-focused and relevant.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' to link your points effectively. However, there are some minor mechanical errors in your transitions, such as 'On the hand' (missing 'other'), which slightly affects the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise and that cohesive devices are used without minor grammatical slips to maintain a smoother, more professional flow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including terms like 'unprecedentedly', 'democratizes', 'proprietary', and 'malicious actors'. This shows an ability to use less common lexical items with some awareness of style. However, there are some word choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'Few individuals trust that it is good to portion' (instead of 'believe' and 'share') and 'fundamental scientific data' (missing a connector or punctuation). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching the highest bands. Focusing on precise collocations will help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'transparency human progress' (missing a verb), 'researches from underfunded institutions' (should be 'researchers'), and 'is fundamental scientific data' (missing a conjunction or punctuation). Additionally, there are minor punctuation issues, such as the spacing around hyphens and commas. While these errors are noticeable, they rarely impede the reader's understanding. To improve, focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that all complex sentences are grammatically complete.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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