Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-03
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 5.5)
Nowadays, clean water plays an indispensable role in human life. It is believed that access to clean water is a basic human right. Therefore, every house should have a water supply that is provided free of charge. I partly agree with the given statement.
To begin with, clean water is essential for human survival because everyone needs safe drinking water. Many people cannot live without clean water because it plays a significant role in their daily lives. In addition, clean water improves public health because it reduces infections and helps people live healthier lives. For example, many poor families can stay healthy if the government provides free clean drinking water. Water is as important as healthcare and education because it helps prevent diseases and other health problems. Moreover, clean water improves sanitation and hygiene because it helps people wash, cook, and clean safely.
On the other hand, water treatment is very expensive, so some people cannot afford it. Nevertheless, the government should provide financial support to improve water quality and maintain water supply systems. If water is completely free, many individuals may waste it and may not use it responsibly. For example, people may leave taps running unnecessarily, which leads to water wastage. In addition, the government can provide free water to poor families while encouraging everyone to use water responsibly and avoid unnecessary waste.
To conclude, I partly agree that clean water should be provided free of charge because it is essential for human life and public health. However, governments should also encourage people to use water responsibly and protect this valuable natural resource.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. You have successfully balanced the argument by acknowledging the importance of clean water as a right while also highlighting the practical concerns regarding cost and potential wastage. The ideas are relevant and supported by logical reasoning, such as the link between free water and potential misuse. To reach a higher band, ensure that your examples are more specific; for instance, instead of 'many poor families', you could refer to a specific region or a hypothetical scenario involving government subsidies to add more depth to your arguments.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'In addition', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' to link your points effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear, meeting the requirements for a high band in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. Phrases like 'indispensable role', 'public health', and 'valuable natural resource' are used appropriately. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks the 'less common' or 'sophisticated' items that would push the score into the 8.0+ range. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'clean water' and 'free'. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms or collocations related to economics and public policy to show a more flexible command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences ('If water is completely free, many individuals may waste it') and relative clauses effectively. The grammar is generally accurate, and there are very few errors that impede communication. Most sentences are error-free, which is a strong indicator of control. To move higher, try to vary your sentence length and structure even further, perhaps by using more passive constructions or inversion to add stylistic variety to your writing.
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