Cambridge 12: Academic IELTS Test 5 Writing task 2 sample essay (Information Technology)

Sample essay:

One of the basic human rights that people exercise freely nowadays is the right to information. The advent of information technology paved the way for us to make information, whether from scientific research, business and academic world, more accessible. Although many people agree that this has good benefits, some insist that there should be a limit to what information can be shared to the public. This essay will focus on the pros and cons of these two ideas.

Technological advancements have made it possible for us to search for and gain information with much ease and convenience. In fact, most people rely on and utilize the internet more than ever. We can study just about anything we can think of when you find the right resources on the web. There has been an upsurge of distance learning courses offered by different institutions. This kind of learning has attracted not only students but also professionals who unfortunately, do not have the luxury of time to go to a proper school due to their work schedule. In addition, some courses are also offered for free. This can be of benefit to those who are willing to study but are financially constrained.

Of course, all things good can come with a price. One downfall that should be considered is the fact that people can literally share and give knowledge to anyone without limits. To explain briefly, one can learn how to “make explosives” just by watching tutorial videos that are readily available on the internet. Once this kind of information reaches someone with a motive to do harm and terror to others, we cannot blame the person who uploaded and shared what he knows on the internet since everyone has the right to give and receive information in any means they want. Another disadvantage is that learning through distance courses can not necessarily qualify an individual. There are instances that learners should acquire more training and practices to deserve a certification.

In summary, as with other human rights, there should be limits in what information we share publicly. 

Word count: 345