Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-01

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)

There are some people who have perception that it is good to share most of the information in scientific research, business and academic world, while other have opposing view that some information is very precious and must not transferred in free.

One group of the society think that educated section of the society should transfer their knowledge. By transferring the important information to scientific research leads to more advancements in the technology, healthcare and environmental development. All the factors contribute to a better future and a healthy society. Similarly, when employees share more information to improve their firm, it will help improve the business operations. Furthermore, if students share information during class lectures and labs with each other, it will help reduce the knowledge gap between classmates. For instance, when we were doing networking lab task in university, when I told my groupmates how switches works in routing my groupmates were not aware of it. Therefore, sharing information help to create better future.

On the other hand, some people think that knowledge is gained through consistent struggle and hardworking, and it must not be transferred in free. If educated people share their information to others in free, it does not give them the actual reward they deserve for their consistency and hardworking. And all the important information must be paid. In my opinion, I strongly believe that it must be shared, because if we share the information, it will result in more educated and sophisticated society.

In conclusion, it is good to share as much information as possible in scientific research, business and academics as it reduces the knowledge gap and help promote the society.

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. While you mention scientific research, business, and academia, the arguments remain quite general. For instance, the point about 'consistent struggle' in the second body paragraph is a good start but lacks depth; it could be strengthened by discussing intellectual property rights or the economic necessity of patents. The conclusion is brief and does not fully synthesize the points made. To reach a higher band, ensure that each argument is supported by more detailed reasoning or specific, well-explained examples rather than brief personal anecdotes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices like 'Similarly,' 'Furthermore,' and 'On the other hand' to link your thoughts. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition from the general idea of sharing information to the personal networking lab example is a bit abrupt. Additionally, the use of referencing could be more precise to avoid repetition. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence clearly connects to the previous one will enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'scientific research,' 'advancements,' and 'knowledge gap.' However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'must not transferred in free' instead of 'must not be shared for free' and 'consistent struggle and hardworking' instead of 'hard work.' These errors occasionally distract the reader. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary rather than relying on basic descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Common issues include missing articles ('the academic world'), incorrect verb forms ('sharing information help' should be 'helps'), and preposition errors ('in free' instead of 'for free'). While you attempt complex sentences, they often contain errors in subject-verb agreement or word order. To achieve a higher band, you need to focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with articles, verb tenses, and prepositions, and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed with greater precision.

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

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