Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-22

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 the modern knowledge economy, the question of whether information should be freely shared or protected is highly debated. While open sharing can accelerate progress, I believe some information must be restricted for economic and security reasons.On the one hand, sharing information has clear benefits. In science and academia, open access allows researchers to build on each other's work, avoid duplication, and speed up discoveries. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid sharing of the virus genome enabled laboratories worldwide to develop vaccines in less than a year. If that data had been kept secret, millions more lives would have been lost. Similarly, in education, free access to research papers and data helps students and scholars in developing countries, like Pakistan, who cannot afford expensive journals. In business, transparency can also build trust with customers.On the other hand, unrestricted sharing can be harmful. Businesses invest huge amounts of money and time in research and development. If a company invents a new technology and is forced to share it immediately, it will lose its competitive advantage and may not recover its costs, which discourages innovation. For instance, tech companies like Apple or pharmaceutical companies rely on patents to protect their products. Furthermore, some information is sensitive for national security or public safety. Detailed instructions for making biological weapons or hacking banking systems should obviously not be freely available.In my opinion, a balanced approach is necessary. Basic scientific knowledge, especially that related to health, climate change, and education, should be shared as openly as possible. However, commercial secrets, personal data, and information that could threaten public safety should be legally protected.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—the benefits of open scientific and academic sharing versus the necessity of protecting sensitive or commercial data—and clearly states a well-developed personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant and specific examples, such as the COVID-19 pandemic vaccine development and pharmaceutical patent protections used by companies like Apple. The position is maintained logically and consistently throughout the essay, demonstrating a high level of task fulfillment. There are no missing elements or under-developed arguments, showing an excellent engagement with the topic, which aligns comfortably with the top descriptors for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression from the introduction through the body paragraphs to the conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with distinct paragraphs dedicated to each side of the argument and the final stance. Cohesive devices are managed well to signal transitions, as seen with phrases like 'On the one hand', 'Similarly', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore'. Referencing is clear throughout, and the flow of ideas is natural and easy to follow. While cohesion is slightly straightforward rather than entirely unobtrusive, the overall structure supports the argument effectively without noticeable mechanical faults.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Less common items and collocations are used with good awareness of style, such as 'knowledge economy', 'competitive advantage', 'unrestricted sharing', and 'basic scientific knowledge'. Word choices are generally precise, and there are only occasional minor inaccuracies or predictable collocations. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the response, allowing the reader to navigate the arguments smoothly. The vocabulary is more than adequate to convey nuanced ideas regarding security, economics, and academic access.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer uses a wide variety of complex sentence structures with good control, such as conditional sentences ('If that data had been kept secret...') and subordinate clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly. Grammar and punctuation control remains strong from start to finish, with only very minor or negligible slips. The balance between simple and complex forms is well-maintained, allowing for sophisticated articulation of complex concepts without any impediment to communication. The grammatical range fully supports the conveyance of abstract ideas.

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