Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · 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 9.0)

Access to clean water is widely considered a fundamental human right. Consequently, many argue that every household should be provided with a domestic water supply entirely free of charge. While I agree that governments must guarantee that water is universally accessible, I disagree that it should be completely free due to infrastructure costs and the risk of resource wastage.

On the one hand, ensuring everyone can access clean water is essential for safeguarding public health and maintaining social equity. When water is treated strictly as a paid commodity, low-income families are disproportionately affected. This often forces them to resort to contaminated, unsafe sources, leading to the rapid spread of waterborne diseases. For instance, public health data shows that subsidizing basic utility access in developing regions directly lowers child mortality rates. Therefore, securing a baseline amount of clean water is vital for human survival and dignity.

On the other hand, providing unlimited water completely free of charge is financially unsustainable and environmentally risky. Treating and piping safe drinking water to millions of homes requires massive infrastructure and continuous maintenance. If water utilities generate zero revenue, these critical distribution networks can quickly fall into disrepair. Furthermore, when a precious resource has no financial cost, consumers lose the incentive to conserve it. Free access would inevitably lead to negligence, such as overwatering lawns or ignoring leaks, which exacerbates global water scarcity.

In conclusion, although access to clean water is an undeniable human right, it should not be provided without financial regulation. A superior approach is a tiered pricing system, where a baseline amount for essential daily needs is free, while excess consumption is charged to promote conservation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction, acknowledging the human right to water while arguing against it being entirely free. The body paragraphs provide well-developed arguments for both sides, balancing the need for public health equity with the practical realities of infrastructure costs and resource management. The conclusion effectively synthesizes these points by proposing a nuanced solution—a tiered pricing system. Your ideas are relevant, well-supported with logical reasoning, and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the complexities involved in the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, starting with a clear topic sentence. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Consequently,' 'On the one hand,' 'Furthermore,' and 'In conclusion,' which guide the reader smoothly through your argument. The transition between the humanitarian perspective and the economic/environmental perspective is seamless. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the two main arguments, and the conclusion, ensuring the structure is easy to follow and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary throughout the essay. Phrases such as 'fundamental human right,' 'disproportionately affected,' 'financially unsustainable,' and 'tiered pricing system' show a high level of lexical control. The vocabulary is not only accurate but also appropriate for an academic context. You successfully avoid repetition and use collocations naturally, such as 'waterborne diseases' and 'critical distribution networks.' There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling, and the language used is sophisticated and well-suited to the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The essay exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with high accuracy. You effectively employ conditional structures ('If water utilities generate zero revenue...'), participial phrases ('Treating and piping safe drinking water...'), and varied sentence lengths to maintain interest. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There is a high level of control over complex sentence forms, and the grammar supports the clarity of your argument perfectly. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high degree of grammatical competence.

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