Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-07

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)

today's world, information plays an important role in scientific research, business, and education. Some people believe that information should be shared as widely as possible because it can help society develop. Others argue that certain information is too valuable or important to be shared freely. This essay will discuss both views and explain my opinion.

On the one hand, sharing information can have many benefits. In scientific research, researchers can learn from each other's discoveries and work together to find solutions to important problems. For example, if scientists share information about diseases, other researchers can use it to develop better medicines and treatments. Similarly, in education, sharing knowledge allows students and teachers to access more resources and improve their understanding. In business, sharing some information can also encourage cooperation and innovation between companies.

On the other hand, there are situations where information should not be shared freely. Some information requires a large amount of money, time, and effort to produce. For example, a company may spend years developing a new technology or product. If its competitors can obtain this information for free, the company may suffer financial losses. In addition, sensitive information such as personal data, business secrets, or dangerous scientific discoveries could cause serious problems if it is made publicly available. Therefore, some information needs to be protected.

In my opinion, information should be shared whenever it can benefit society, but it should not always be completely free or unrestricted. Scientific knowledge that can improve people's lives should generally be shared among researchers and institutions. However, private, sensitive, or commercially valuable information should be protected through appropriate rules and agreements. This approach can encourage both cooperation and innovation.

In conclusion, sharing information can promote scientific progress, education, and cooperation, while protecting valuable information can prevent financial losses and security problems. I believe that a balance between sharing and protecting information is the best approach

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You clearly discuss both perspectives—the benefits of open information sharing and the necessity of protecting valuable or sensitive data—and provide a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are well-developed, such as the example of scientific collaboration regarding disease research and the business perspective on protecting intellectual property. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your arguments by exploring the 'academic world' mentioned in the prompt more specifically, perhaps discussing the tension between open-access publishing and proprietary research, which would add more depth to your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the two sides of the argument is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The use of referencing is generally clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more; while the current ones are functional, using a wider range of linking words or phrases (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'conversely') would enhance the flow and make the connections between sentences feel more sophisticated and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'intellectual property' (implied), 'commercially valuable', and 'sensitive information' are used correctly. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks a high degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the score to an 8.0. For instance, instead of 'important role', you could use 'pivotal role', and instead of 'good to share', you might use 'advantageous to disseminate'. The spelling is accurate throughout, and there are no word-choice errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences ('If scientists share...', 'If its competitors can obtain...') and complex noun phrases effectively. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. However, there is a lack of more advanced grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions (e.g., 'Information is often perceived as...') or inverted structures, which would demonstrate greater flexibility. The punctuation is mostly correct, though ensure you capitalize the first letter of every sentence, as 'today's world' in the opening was lowercase. Overall, the control is strong, and errors are rare.

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