Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-20

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 6.0)

There are contrasting opinions regarding the sharing of information in scientific research, business and the academic world. Some people argue that the knowledge is everyone's right so we should share it as much as possible for the sake of benefit, while other people believe some information is too valuable to be shared freely so it should remain confidential. We will examine the both opinions in this essay before giving my own perspective.

To begin with, all the innovation in today's world is a result of informative collaboration over the centuries. It is necessary for growth of the technology to share scientific or academic information related to new ideas or inventions, as the famous saying "one invention opens the door to many", so it will assist us to develop more. For instance, Chinese invented gunpowder, at first they did not share the technique, but later they shared with Europeans and Arabs during trade, then Europeans developed more advanced weapons than the Chinese Dynasties using the same mechanism. This shows the importance of sharing, as others can use those ideas to invent something more unique.

Nevertheless, some people demand that sharing of the information among public should remain limited, the crucial point they stated, "sometimes it can cause devastating results". For instance, USA tested the first nuclear bomb in 1945, they kept the internal information confidential, as they knew the consequences. However, some other nations still copied the nuclear secrets, and today we are at the verge of nuclear disaster. So, it showed us how important is to keep some secrets confidential.

In conclusion, while some information is too valuable to be shared freely due to unpredictable consequences, I believe we should see the postive side, as sharing the information in scientific research, businesses and the academic world can assist us to invent more for the ease of humanity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—the benefits of free sharing in scientific research, business, and academia, and the arguments for keeping certain sensitive information confidential. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay, culminating in a balanced conclusion. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the historical spread of gunpowder and the development of nuclear weapons. Although the example regarding nuclear weapons touches on complex geopolitical and security issues with some over-generalisation, the arguments remain entirely relevant to the prompt. The response meets all task requirements with appropriate depth and fulfills the criteria well, earning a solid Band 7.0 for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are presented coherently, with a traditional introduction, two distinct body paragraphs exploring opposing viewpoints, and a clear concluding paragraph. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as "To begin with," "Nevertheless," and "In conclusion," though some transitional phrases feel slightly formulaic or mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct themes. Referencing is mostly clear, although minor awkwardness in referencing phrases like "the both opinions" slightly disrupts the flow. Overall, the structural progression satisfies the requirements for a Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and functional range of vocabulary suitable for the task. Less common lexical items are attempted, such as "confidential," "devastating results," and "unpredictable consequences." However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and phrasing, such as "informative collaboration" instead of "information sharing," "growth of the technology" lacking an article, and "the verge of nuclear disaster." Spelling is generally accurate, but awkward phrasing like "how important is to keep some secrets" indicates limited lexical flexibility in more complex contexts. These errors do not impede communication, placing the response comfortably at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a willingness to construct longer, multi-clause sentences. However, there are frequent grammatical errors and punctuation slips throughout the text. Examples include article omissions ("growth of the technology"), incorrect pronoun usage ("we will examine the both opinions"), missing subject-verb inversion or auxiliary control in indirect questions ("how important is to keep"), and run-on structures with comma splices ("...invention opens the door to many", so it will..."). While these errors are noticeable and require the reader to occasionally re-read parts of sentences, they rarely impede overall communication. This performance aligns with the Band 6.0 descriptors.

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