Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-12
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)
It is often argued that it is better to share valuable data as much as possible in the research field, business and the academic world, while others believe that some data is so valuable and vital it should not be given to anyone. I will discuss both views in this essay and give an explanation why I believe that the valuable and the most important information related to personal work should not be shared freely.
On the one hand, sharing the knowledge with others is very beneficial because it can help in many ways to understand that field efficiently. For instance, you can help others in the subjects, by sharing knowledge on how to start up your own business, and mainly in the research field by giving them suggestions on how you can do research. Therefore, sharing the knowledge that benefits both parties is advantageous.
On the other hand, it is important to not share personal data exclusively related to your business, research field and studies that indirectly harm you. For example, if you share your research work and results freely to anyone, then it might be possible that they steal your work and publish with their own names. Additionally, if they are not in your favour and become jealous, then in business they might try to harm you. Therefore, they can make you suffer from financial challenges and might destroy your company reputation.
In conclusion, while it is good to share knowledge with others to help them grow, it is better to not share your personal data because everybody is not trustworthy.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—sharing knowledge versus protecting valuable data—and provides a clear personal opinion in the introduction and body paragraphs. Ideas are generally relevant, but the development leans towards generalisation and lacks specific, well-known real-world examples. For instance, mentioning specific industries like pharmaceuticals or tech startups would have strengthened the support. Nevertheless, the position is maintained throughout and the main points of the prompt are covered, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptor for addressing all parts of the task with relevant ideas, though some extension is limited.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into a clear four-paragraph structure comprising an introduction, two body paragraphs representing opposing views, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal transitions, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and progression are sometimes mechanical or slightly repetitive, as seen with 'sharing the knowledge' and 'personal data'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas logically, but overall progression within the second body paragraph could be smoother. This corresponds well to a Band 6 level where there is a coherent overall arrangement and logical sequence, despite some mechanical cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with attempts at less common phrasing such as 'financial challenges', 'company reputation', and 'advantageous'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'publish with their own names' instead of 'publish under their own names', and 'if they are not in your favour' which sounds unnatural in an academic context. Spelling and word choice errors do not impede communication, placing the response solidly in the Band 6 category where an adequate range is shown alongside attempts at more complex vocabulary that contain minor inaccuracies.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses ('if you share your research work and results freely to anyone') and relative clauses. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasing choices, including missing prepositions or incorrect verb forms ('publish with their own names', 'everybody is not trustworthy' instead of 'not everybody is trustworthy'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, and errors rarely impede communication. This balance of mixed structures and occasional grammatical inaccuracies matches the Band 6 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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