Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Access to clean water is a basic human right. Therefore every home should have a water supply that is provided free of charge.

Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

Water is the most needed source for every living being. Consequently it is stated that every household has to have water supplies that doesn't cost people anything. However, I strongly object to this idea, as providing free water can lead to severe drawbacks. Primarily, giving free water encourages excessive usage and waste, placing an unsustainable financial burden on government budgets.

On the one hand, it could be argued that providing free water offers certain benefits, such as ensuring that low-income families have uninterrupted access to clean water, which is vital for basic sanitation and public health. Moreover, it alleviates the financial burden, allowing them to spend their limited income on other essentials like food and healthcare. For example, in developing nations, providing free water in impoverished communities has significantly reduced desies outbreaks and improved child mortality rates.

On the other hand, providing completely free water to every household has major drawbacks. Primarily, when people do not have to pay for water, they often tend to waste it. For instance, people might leave taps running or use excessive amounts for non-essential activities like washing cars, leading to serious shortages. Furthermore, maintaining water infrastructure requires a massive budget. If governments bear all the costs, it could strain public funds and take money away from other important sectors like education and public transport.

In conclusion, although making water free can help poor households meet their basic daily needs, I strongly believe it is not a sustainable idea. Instead, governments should provide targeted subsidies for low-income families while charging reasonable fees to prevent waste.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, clearly stating your position against free water and providing supporting arguments for both sides of the debate. Your ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between the benefits for low-income families and the potential for waste and financial strain on the state. The conclusion provides a balanced alternative, which strengthens your overall argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that your examples are slightly more specific; for instance, while you mention developing nations, naming a specific region or a more detailed scenario would further enhance the depth of your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Consequently,' 'On the one hand,' 'Moreover,' and 'Furthermore,' which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the topic. The transition between the counter-argument and your own position is smooth. The structure is coherent throughout, and the use of referencing is clear, ensuring that the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'unsustainable financial burden,' 'uninterrupted access,' and 'targeted subsidies' are used correctly and appropriately for an academic context. There is a minor spelling error ('desies' instead of 'diseases'), but this does not impede communication. You show an awareness of style and collocation, which allows for a natural flow of ideas. To improve, try to incorporate slightly more sophisticated or less common lexical items to demonstrate a wider range, though your current usage is already quite effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You use a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses and relative clauses. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally strong. There are very occasional minor slips, such as 'doesn't cost' (which could be more formal as 'does not incur a cost') and the aforementioned spelling error. However, these do not detract from the overall clarity of your writing. Your grammar is consistent and supports the logical flow of your arguments well, meeting the criteria for a high band.

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