Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)
Some people believe that as much information as possible should be shared in scientific research, business and the academic world. However, others argue that some information is too important or valuable to be shared freely. This essay will discuss both views and give my opinion.
On the one hand, sharing information can have several benefits. In scientific research, researchers can learn from each other's work and develop new ideas. When scientific findings are shared, other scientists can use them to conduct further research and find better solutions to different problems. For example, if scientists share medical research about a disease, other researchers may use this information to develop more effective treatments. Similarly, sharing information in the academic world can help students and teachers gain more knowledge and improve their understanding of different subjects.
On the other hand, some information should not be shared freely because it can be valuable or sensitive. In the business world, companies often spend a large amount of money and time developing new products and ideas. If this information is shared with competitors, they may copy it and the original company could suffer financial losses. For instance, a company may develop a new product design and keep it confidential until the product is officially launched. In addition, some scientific research may contain private information about individuals. Sharing such information without permission could cause privacy problems.
In my opinion, information should generally be shared when it can benefit society and help people develop new ideas. However, valuable business information and sensitive personal information should be protected. There should be a balance between sharing useful knowledge and protecting information that could cause harm if it is made public.
In conclusion, sharing information can encourage cooperation and progress in science and education, while some valuable or sensitive information needs to remain private. Therefore, I believe that information should be shared responsibly rather than completely freely.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both sides of the argument and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the mention of medical research and business product development. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of ideas could be slightly more nuanced, perhaps by exploring the 'academic world' aspect mentioned in the prompt more specifically, as the current focus leans heavily on science and business. However, the task is fully addressed with a logical structure.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Similarly', 'In addition', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear, meeting the requirements for a high band in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'confidential', 'competitors', 'sensitive personal information', and 'cooperation'. While the range is adequate and allows for precise expression, it lacks the 'less common' or 'sophisticated' lexical items that would characterize a band 8 or 9. The word choices are accurate and natural, and there are no spelling errors. The language is functional and clear, though it stays within a relatively standard range of academic vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional 'If this information is shared with competitors, they may copy it'. The grammar is accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. To achieve a higher score, the student could incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions or more varied subordinate clauses, to demonstrate greater flexibility in sentence construction.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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