Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-31
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)
It is often believed that it is beneficial to share the maximum amount of information in scientific research, business and the academic world, whereas others argue that some information is too important or too valuable to be shared freely. In my opinion, people should avoid sharing sensitive information that could potentially cause harm to humanity.
On the first hand, sharing as much information as possible in various fields could be better in several terms. First, it might be helpful in new developments and researches when some scientists share their work with others that can lead to benefiting society, as sometimes the problems not solved by one can easily be sorted by others. Moreover, it can help the development of new techniques that can provide humans with multiple job opportunities in businesses and industries. In academic institutions, sharing valuable knowledge can enable many people with skills that they may use in future to serve mankind and to be financially independent. For example, when some intelligent students teach dull students, they may learn various ideas and acquire skills that can help them to secure jobs they need to be financially stable.
On the other hand, I completely agree with the other view that it is not necessary to share every kind of information because doing so may sometimes have severe ramifications. During their research, many scientists may initially choose not to share their findings and ideas because others could use their work and achieve their goals before them, potentially causing them to lose recognition or a competitive advantage. Furthermore, companies may also need to protect their ideas and important information because competitors could copy their strategies, products, or inventions and gain an unfair advantage. For example, disclosing information before launching the product could provide competitors with an opportunity to copy the original idea, attract more customers and build a stronger reputation by launching a similar product first.
In conclusion, although sharing information can promote scientific and academic progress, I believe that sensitive or commercially valuable information should not always be made freely available, as its disclosure could cause harm or give others an unfair advantage.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both sides of the argument and providing a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the discussion on competitive advantage in business. However, the example provided in the second paragraph regarding 'intelligent students teaching dull students' is somewhat simplistic and does not fully align with the academic/scientific research context of the prompt. Despite this, the position is consistent throughout the essay, and the main arguments are logically extended.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices like 'On the first hand' (though 'On the one hand' is the standard idiom) and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two viewpoints. While some cohesive devices are slightly mechanical, the overall flow is clear and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a band 7.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some precision. The student uses terms like 'ramifications', 'competitive advantage', and 'financially independent' effectively. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'sorted by others' (better as 'resolved by others') and the slightly awkward phrasing 'in several terms'. However, the range is adequate to convey complex ideas, and the errors do not impede communication. The student demonstrates a good awareness of topic-specific vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over punctuation and sentence construction. While there are occasional errors, such as the non-standard idiom 'On the first hand' and minor prepositional slips, the majority of sentences are error-free. Complex structures are attempted and generally successful, such as the conditional 'if... then' logic used in the third paragraph. The grammar is sufficiently accurate to support clear communication throughout the response.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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