Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-05
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)
It has been observed that , water plays a significant role in one's life.So , some people believe that clean water is accessible to each and everyone free of charge.I firmly disagree with the given statement . My inclination is elaborated in ensuing paragraph and relevant examples.
The foremost argument to justify my stand is that people will overuse the water if it is provided free.In result, it would cause a shortage of water and people will not value to it.Government also charges some proportion of taxes from the people so that people understands the value of water.For instance , if people will not pay for water they will overuse it without any limits.Besides this, it is also true that water is a basic human need but it does not mean to waste it.As there are so many cases which lead to a water shortage in the particular area.
Furthermore , the other reason to prove my point is that charge on the water supply would discourage people to overuse water.In addition to this ,in order to enhance the quality of the water, organisations require funding to clean and treat water which can be funded by the taxes given by the people of the area.For instance , supply of fresh drinking water requires a lot of process which can only be possible with the help of charges.
To conclude the discussion ,it can be said that despite the fact of making water supply free my reasons for adding a charge to water are logically acceptable.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by clearly stating a position against free water supply. The main arguments—preventing overuse and funding infrastructure—are relevant. However, the development is somewhat repetitive; the idea of 'overuse' is mentioned in both body paragraphs. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the economic or social implications of your argument rather than restating the same point. The conclusion is also quite brief and does not fully synthesize the points made. Overall, the response is clear and the position is maintained throughout, but the depth of analysis is limited.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'In addition to this', and 'To conclude', which help the reader follow your argument. However, some transitions feel mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'In result' (which should be 'As a result') and 'My inclination is elaborated in ensuing paragraph'. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes repetitive. Improving the variety of your linking words and ensuring they are used naturally would enhance the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'infrastructure' (implied), 'funding', and 'treat water'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'charge on the water supply' (better: 'charging for water supply') and 'value to it' (should be 'value it'). The range is somewhat limited, and you rely on simple phrasing. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and ensure collocations are natural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('the' water), incorrect preposition usage ('charges some proportion of taxes from the people'), and punctuation issues (spaces before commas). Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'it does not mean to waste it'. While these errors do not prevent communication, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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