Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)
Access to clean water is considered a basic human right, and some people believe that every household should receive a free water supply. I partly agree with this view because everyone should have access to safe drinking water, but unlimited free water may not be practical.
On the one hand, clean water is essential for human life and good health. Every person needs safe water for drinking, cooking, and maintaining hygiene. Without clean water, people are more likely to suffer from diseases and poor living conditions. Therefore, governments should ensure that all citizens, especially low-income families, have access to a basic amount of free clean water. For example, providing free water for essential daily needs can improve public health and reduce poverty.
On the other hand, supplying all water free of charge could create financial and environmental problems. Treating and delivering clean water requires expensive infrastructure, maintenance, and skilled workers. If people do not pay anything, they may waste water because they do not realize its value. Charging a reasonable fee for water used beyond basic needs can encourage people to use it responsibly and help governments maintain the water supply system.
In conclusion, I partly agree that access to clean water is a fundamental human right. However, while every household should receive enough free water for essential needs, additional water should be paid for to promote responsible use and support the cost of providing this important 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 | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by presenting a balanced view on the provision of free water. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout. However, the response is 12 words under the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. While the ideas are relevant and logically developed, the brevity limits the depth of your arguments. To improve, you should expand on your examples or provide more detailed explanations for your points to ensure the word count is comfortably met and the arguments are fully extended.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is well-structured with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving from the necessity of water to the practical challenges of universal free supply. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Therefore', which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The flow is smooth and the progression of thought is easy to follow throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'fundamental human right', 'expensive infrastructure', and 'promote responsible use' are used accurately. There is a good attempt to use topic-specific terminology. While the vocabulary is appropriate and clear, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would push the score into the higher bands. The word choice is consistently accurate, and there are no spelling errors that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The grammar is generally accurate, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional structures ('If people do not pay...') and modal verbs ('should ensure', 'could create') effectively to express your arguments. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are very few grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which indicates a strong command of English syntax. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence forms, such as passive voice or more advanced relative clauses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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