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Cambridge IELTS 17 · Test 2 · Band 6

Cambridge IELTS 17 Test 2 — Band 6 model essay

263 words · 16 sentences · IELTS Writing Task 2

Writing Task 2 prompt

Some people believe governments should censor harmful online content. Others think that this threatens freedom of speech. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

有人认为政府应审查有害网络内容;另一些人认为这会威胁言论自由。讨论双方并给出观点。

Band 6 model answer

The internet is full of information, but some of this content is harmful. Some people think that governments should censor harmful online content, while others believe that this threatens the freedom of speech. In this essay I will discuss both views and give my opinion.

On one hand, there are strong reasons for censorship. The internet contains a lot of dangerous content, such as violence, fake news and material that teaches people to hurt others. This content can be very bad, especially for children, who can easily see it. If the government controls this content, it can protect people and stop the spread of dangerous ideas. So many people believe that some censorship is necessary for the safety of the society.

On the other hand, other people worry that censorship threatens freedom of speech. They say that people have the right to share their opinions and information freely, even if the government does not like it. If the government controls the internet too much, maybe it will also hide the truth and stop people from criticising the leaders. This is very dangerous, because it can lead to an unfair society. In some countries, too much control has been used to keep bad leaders in power for a long time.

In my opinion, some censorship is necessary, but it must have clear limits. The government should remove content that is truly dangerous, like violence and material that harms children, but it should not censor normal opinions and news. In conclusion, I believe that protecting people and protecting freedom of speech must be balanced carefully.

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Frequently asked questions

How many words should an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay be?

IELTS Writing Task 2 requires a minimum of 250 words. This Cambridge IELTS 17 Test 2 model answer is 263 words, comfortably above the minimum without padding.

What makes this a Band 6 IELTS essay?

A Band 6 answer addresses the task with a clear position and adequate vocabulary, but development is uneven and it contains noticeable grammar errors that do not prevent understanding.

How do I use this model essay to improve my IELTS writing?

Read the model to see how a high-band answer is structured and argued, then practise typing it on Typehush to build the speed and accuracy the computer-based IELTS Writing test demands.