Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-06
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)
Water is most important thing for both humans and animals. It is essential to have clean drinkable water supply.
Clean water is basic human right but if you ask that if water should be free or not then a person should definitely think again before answering the question. Many people may not afford it if it is paid and many people may waste clean water if it is free.
Right now we have a lot of water resources but after a if years we may not have water available like now. Water is being wasted in Asia and once if water is finished then there is no coming back like Africa. People in Asia are mostly uneducated they use water like it is in unlimited quantity. Major factor of water wastage is agriculture in Asia because most of the people in Asia use flood irrigation method in their fields even when they need less water for a certain crop like cotton.This thing may suggest us that water supply should not be free.
On the other hand if water supply is limited and paid in that case many people may not be able to afford it because if one thing is made from free to paid in that case it is really hard to control the supply chain and price of the product because tanker mafia may try to control supply and rate. People may try to find certain means of irrigation if there is any limit for farmers.
After the analysis of both things in my opinion water should be free for all but with certain terms and conditions to save water.
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 discussing both sides of the argument regarding free water. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While you mention the risk of wastage and the potential for a 'tanker mafia' to exploit a paid system, these points are not fully extended with concrete examples or logical depth. The conclusion is a bit abrupt and introduces a new idea ('terms and conditions') without explaining how this would work in practice. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph provides a clear, well-supported argument that directly relates to the prompt's core tension between human rights and resource management.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into distinct paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'On the other hand' and 'After the analysis of both things' are used, but the transitions between sentences within paragraphs are often abrupt. For example, the jump from discussing agriculture to the 'tanker mafia' lacks a smooth logical bridge. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally into the next would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your ideas clearly. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'irrigation', 'supply chain', and 'resources'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'after a if years' (likely meaning 'a few years') and 'no coming back like Africa'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and collocations, and ensure that your word choices are consistently accurate to convey your arguments with more sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading, such as 'Water is most important thing' (missing article), 'if you ask that if water should be free' (redundant 'if'), and 'most of the people in Asia use flood irrigation method' (missing article). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your main points, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement, article usage, and sentence punctuation to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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