Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-01

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)

Clean water is one of the necessities that individuals need to use on a daily basis. For this reason, some believe that governments ought to provide households with free water. I disagree with this statement as it may put a strain on financial departments and encourage the general public to overuse natural resources.

First and foremost, it will consume a significant amount of public money if elected officials decide to provide free water. Besides basic human needs, there are still several aspects of society that we need to consider, such as education and employment. For instance, allocating more resources to water supply in some remote areas, namely Tibet, results in less resource remaining for young people who are trying to reach an achievement in an academic field, which is not a sustainable approach. In addition, it is must be considered that ordinary families might consume more water than usual under the circumstance that governments provide free water, leading to unnecessary waste.

On the other hand, the intention of providing free water is understandable, yet we need to put this thought into action strategically. For example, instead of allowing everyone to access free resources unlimitedly, authorities can focus on underprivileged communities where residents do not even have sufficient money to pay for bills. The underlying idea is that we should not waste the public money, but need to pay attention to people who cannot make ends meet. Additionally, an incentive machanism may be needed, governments can introduce policies that reward households using less water and charge a higher price for overused water. As a result, citizens will be more responsible for their usage of water, fundamentally changing the current situation.

In conclusion, providing free water without any restriction has negative impacts on the financial system and may even cause households to waste natural resources. In order to strike a balance, governments can prioritize some remote areas first and implement policies that encourage people to bear their responsibilities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have clearly addressed all parts of the prompt, maintaining a consistent position throughout the essay. Your arguments regarding the financial burden on the state and the risk of resource wastage are relevant and well-developed. You provide a balanced view by suggesting a more targeted approach for underprivileged communities, which demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the issue. The ideas are extended with logical reasoning, such as the suggestion of an incentive mechanism to manage water usage. To reach a higher band, ensure that all examples, such as the mention of Tibet, are fully explained in relation to the broader economic argument to avoid any potential ambiguity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'As a result' to link your points effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the argument against free water and the proposed alternative solution is smooth. The flow of information is easy to follow, and the relationship between ideas is clearly signaled throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'financial departments', 'sustainable approach', 'underprivileged communities', and 'incentive mechanism' show a good command of topic-specific language. There are occasional minor inaccuracies, such as 'reach an achievement' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'machanism' (a spelling error). However, these do not impede communication. To improve, focus on using more collocations and idiomatic expressions to enhance the naturalness of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. There are a few minor slips, such as 'it is must be considered' (a double verb error) and 'access free resources unlimitedly' (where 'without limit' might be more natural). Punctuation is generally accurate, and your complex sentences are well-constructed. The errors present are non-systematic and do not interfere with the clarity of your arguments.

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