Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-01

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)

It is sometimes argued whether information in the fields of science, business and academia should be shared openly or kept confidential. While some people believe that open access to information promotes progress, others contend that certain information is too sensitive to be made public. In my opinion, although sharing knowledge is essential for development, some information must be protected for security and economic reasons.

On the one hand, there are strong reasons to support the free sharing of information. Some people argue that openness accelerates progress and equality. In scientific research, for example, when data on diseases or climate change is shared freely, scientists around the world can collaborate and develop solutions more quickly, as was seen in the rapid creation of COVID-19 vaccines. Similarly, in the academic world, open-access research allows students and researchers in developing countries to access valuable knowledge without financial barriers.

On the other hand, others believe that some information is too important or valuable to be shared freely. In the business world, companies invest huge amounts of money in research and development, and if their trade secrets were made public, they would lose their competitive advantage and have less incentive to innovate. For instance, formulas like that of Coca-Cola are kept secret for commercial survival. Furthermore, in scientific research, some discoveries, such as those related to nuclear weapons or advanced biotechnology, could pose a serious threat to global security if they fell into the wrong hands.

In conclusion, while I recognise that sharing information in science, business and academia brings significant benefits such as faster progress and greater equality, I believe that a balance must be struck. Valuable and sensitive information that could endanger security or undermine innovation should be protected.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the task thoroughly and presents a clear position throughout. The introduction sets up both views and outlines the writer's stance. In the body paragraphs, both sides of the argument are explored with relevant extensions and support. For instance, the mention of COVID-19 vaccines and Coca-Cola's trade secrets provides concrete examples that extend the ideas well. The conclusion successfully summarises the discussion and reinforces the writer's opinion. To reach the highest band, the ideas could be developed with even greater depth and nuance, perhaps by further exploring the specific long-term consequences of intellectual property laws versus open scientific collaboration, avoiding any slight tendency to over-generalise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

There is a clear logical organisation and progression throughout the essay. The response is divided into logical paragraphs, with a distinct introduction, two well-balanced body paragraphs exploring opposing views, and a concluding paragraph. Cohesive devices such as 'While some people believe', 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used flexibly and appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is managed effectively, and referencing throughout the text is clear. To achieve an even higher band, cohesive devices could be integrated with absolute unobtrusiveness, ensuring that the transitions between sentences flow with complete naturalness without relying on standard organisational markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items such as 'confidential', 'accelerates progress', 'competitive advantage', and 'commercial survival' are used effectively with a good awareness of style and collocation. Word choices are generally appropriate, and spelling is accurate throughout the text. Occasional minor inaccuracies or standard phrasings prevent it from reaching the highest tier of lexical control. To move closer to top-tier performance, the writer could incorporate more sophisticated, less common idiomatic or academic collocations and demonstrate a wider stylistic variety.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response displays a wide range of complex structures used with a high degree of control. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer handles subordinate clauses, conditional elements, and participial phrases skillfully, as seen in sentences like 'when data on diseases or climate change is shared freely, scientists around the world can collaborate'. Grammar and punctuation are managed very well, with only very occasional minor slips that do not impede communication. To attain the absolute highest band, the writer would need to maintain a virtually flawless execution of complex syntactic structures across the entire text with complete absence of minor mechanical slips.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.