Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-19

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 5.5)

People have different views about whether sharing as much information as they can in scientific research, business and the academic world or whether some information should be kept confidential because it is too important or valuable. I acknowledge that people have the right to share all the information they have but I believe that only the necessary information should be shared, while sensitive or valuable information should be kept confidential.

On the one hand, few people believe to share all the information they have to encourage people, accelerate the research. Knowledge transfer is one of the best things we can do freely without causing harm.For example, a scientist who shares the findings of their research can allow other researchers to build on that knowledge and develop new discoveries.

On the other hand, it is important to check that only the correct information should be spread amongst the new researches. Sharing too much information can be harm to the public as the human brain cannot handle too much information at once. Sensitive or harmful information should not be made publicly available. For example, Coca-Cola has kept its secret formula hidden. It has only revealed general information about the product.

In conclusion, although sharing as much information can help in scientific research, business and academic world can be beneficial/necessary in certain circumstances but sharing only the required information offers greater advantages.

I believe sharing less but more relevant information is a better approach, as it allows people to benefit from useful knowledge while protecting sensitive or valuable information from potential misuse.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding the 'human brain' being unable to handle information is a weak point that lacks logical depth. The example of Coca-Cola is relevant but could have been expanded to better illustrate the tension between transparency and commercial secrecy. While the task is addressed, the supporting points remain somewhat superficial, preventing a higher score. To improve, ensure that each main point is supported by a more robust explanation or a more detailed example.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. The use of cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' helps guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing within sentences could be smoother. For example, the sentence 'sharing as much information can help in scientific research... can be beneficial' is grammatically clunky and disrupts the flow. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the logical structure is sufficient to follow the writer's argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at more academic phrasing, such as 'knowledge transfer' and 'confidential'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional inaccuracies, such as 'can be harm' instead of 'can be harmful' and 'new researches' instead of 'new research'. The word choice is functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Expanding the range of collocations and using more precise academic terminology would significantly improve the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'few people believe to share' (should be 'believe that sharing is necessary'), 'can be harm' (should be 'can be harmful'), and the awkward phrasing in the conclusion: 'although sharing... can be beneficial... but sharing... offers'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do indicate a lack of control over more complex structures. Increasing the variety of error-free complex sentences would help raise the score in this criterion.

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

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