Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-22

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 often have disagreements regarding the practice of sharing every possible information in scientific research, business and the academic world. Some people support the practice while few others strictly condemn the same, stating that some information is too important or valuable to be shared freely. In my opinion, people should never refrain from sharing any information that could be useful for mankind.

Research, businesses and academics need valuable input for development and improvement over time. Any crucial information must be shared without even considering money. Although it does not seem profitable in the beginning, it has an impact in human life later on, in terms of quality education, advancements in science, medicine etc. Overall, it can enhance our life and well-being. People who oppose sharing information, should consider thinking about these long term benefits which result only by sharing every information.

People who oppose the view may be doing so because they would lose the monetary benefit they get by sharing information which they would have got otherwise. However I strongly suggest that such information which will be of importance to human life and development in future, shouldn't be considered as a means to earn money. Instead they should consider it as a humanitarian contribution to the society. The respect people can earn by doing so is incomparable to the money they earn from it. An example will be contributions of the great scientist Newton in the field of science.

Science wouldn't have been as developed as we see today if he had chosen not to share his findings. A large number of applications in our daily life is the result of contributions made by similar people.

In conclusion, sharing important information to research, business and academic world would only make our life and future much better. Therefore it is important for people to look at such things beyond its monetary value and focus on contributing to mankind.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal position. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the benefits of sharing information, the counter-argument regarding why some information should be kept private (e.g., national security, trade secrets, or patient privacy) is not explored in sufficient depth. The essay relies heavily on general statements about 'humanitarian contribution' rather than providing concrete, nuanced examples. To reach a higher band, ensure that the opposing view is given more analytical weight, and provide more specific, real-world examples beyond a general reference to Newton to support your points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For instance, the transition between ideas often relies on simple connectors like 'However' or 'In conclusion'. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to create a smoother flow between sentences and paragraphs. Additionally, ensure that referencing is precise; at times, the connection between the 'monetary benefit' argument and the 'humanitarian' counter-argument could be more tightly linked.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the message to be conveyed clearly. You use some relevant terms such as 'monetary benefit' and 'humanitarian contribution'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a tendency to use repetitive phrasing, such as 'sharing information' and 'important'. To achieve a higher score, incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to intellectual property, corporate strategy, or scientific collaboration. Additionally, be careful with word choice; for example, 'every possible information' is grammatically incorrect as 'information' is an uncountable noun and should be phrased as 'all possible information' or 'as much information as possible'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist. For example, 'every possible information' is incorrect, and 'the great scientist Newton' would be better phrased as 'the scientist Isaac Newton'. There are also minor punctuation issues, such as the unnecessary comma in 'later on, in terms of'. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more consistent control over complex structures. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct usage of articles and uncountable nouns.

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