Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-15

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 7.5)

In today’s world, information plays an essential role in scientific research, business and education. While some people believe that information should be shared as widely as possible, others argue that certain information is too valuable or sensitive to be made freely available. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I believe information should generally be shared, with reasonable limitations.

On the one hand, sharing information can provide significant benefits to society. In scientific research, researchers can build on the findings of others instead of repeating the same experiments. This can accelerate discoveries and lead to improvements in areas such as medicine, technology and environmental protection. Similarly, in the academic world, students and teachers benefit from access to research papers, educational materials and new ideas. In business, sharing some knowledge within an organisation can also encourage teamwork, innovation and better decision-making. For example, medical researchers sharing information about a disease may help scientists develop effective treatments more quickly.

On the other hand, not all information should be shared freely. Some information has considerable commercial value, and companies may need to protect their inventions, business strategies and research until they are ready to release them. If competitors obtained such information without permission, a company could suffer financial losses. Furthermore, certain information may be dangerous or sensitive. For instance, detailed information about harmful biological experiments or confidential personal data should not be publicly available because it could be misused or threaten people’s privacy and safety.

In my opinion, information should be shared whenever doing so can contribute to scientific progress, education and social development. However, this should not mean that everything is made publicly available. Information involving personal privacy, national security, commercial secrets or potential harm should be protected and shared only with authorised people.

In conclusion, although sharing information can promote cooperation and accelerate progress, some information is too sensitive or valuable to be freely distributed. Therefore, a balanced approach that encourages responsible information sharing while protecting confidential material is the most appropriate solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—the benefits of open information sharing and the necessity of protecting sensitive or valuable information—while clearly stating their own opinion throughout the essay. Ideas are well developed and supported with relevant examples, such as medical researchers collaborating on treatments and commercial companies protecting their intellectual property. The position is maintained consistently from the introduction through to the conclusion, meeting all requirements for a Band 8 performance under this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced, and the essay demonstrates clear progression throughout. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with distinct paragraphs for the introduction, each viewpoint, the personal opinion, and the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'For example' are managed well to guide the reader through the arguments. Referencing is clear and natural, warranting a solid Band 8 score for cohesion and structural flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Less common lexical items and collocations are used skillfully, such as 'accelerate discoveries', 'commercial value', 'confidential personal data', and 'social development'. Word choice and collocations are accurate, with only occasional minor inaccuracies, placing this performance comfortably at Band 7.5 or Band 8. The vocabulary effectively supports precise and sophisticated communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

A wide range of grammatical structures is used effectively throughout the essay. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring a strong mix of complex structures such as conditional concepts, participial phrases, and dependent clauses (e.g., 'While some people believe that information should be shared as widely as possible, others argue...'). Minor errors are virtually absent, and punctuation is handled with excellent control. This clearly meets the criteria for a Band 8 descriptor.

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