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 fewer resources 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 without limit, 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 mechanism 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 8.5

The response fully addresses the prompt by taking a clear position against free water for all, while offering a nuanced alternative. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the argument regarding the strain on public finances and the potential for resource mismanagement. The student effectively balances the argument by suggesting targeted support for underprivileged communities rather than a blanket policy. The response is well-structured and maintains a consistent focus on the prompt throughout, demonstrating a strong understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the disagreement and the proposed alternative is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'In addition', and 'On the other hand' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body arguments, and conclusion. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'sustainable approach', 'underprivileged communities', and 'incentive mechanism'. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it lacks the occasional 'less common' or idiomatic flair that would push it into the highest band. However, the word choice is consistently accurate, and there are no errors that impede communication or cause confusion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a good variety of complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the control over grammar and punctuation is strong. There are minor slips, such as 'it is must be considered' (a redundant 'is') and 'under the circumstance that', which is slightly unnatural phrasing. However, these are rare and do not detract from the overall clarity of the writing. The majority of the sentences are well-constructed and demonstrate a high level of grammatical competence.

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