Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-07
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 6.5)
Access to clean water is essential for human survival and good health. I completely agree that every household should receive a basic supply of clean water free of charge because it is a fundamental human right and plays a crucial role in protecting public health. However, excessive water consumption should still be charged to prevent waste.
To begin with, providing free access to clean water ensures that everyone's basic needs are met, regardless of their financial situation. Water is not a luxury but a necessity for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and maintaining personal hygiene. If low-income families cannot afford clean water, they may be forced to use unsafe sources, increasing the risk of diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Therefore, governments have a moral responsibility to guarantee a minimum amount of safe water for every citizen.
Furthermore, free access to clean water benefits society as a whole by improving public health. When people have reliable access to safe water, the spread of infectious diseases decreases, reducing pressure on hospitals and healthcare systems. In the long run, investing in water infrastructure can save governments significant healthcare costs while improving citizens' quality of life. For example, many developed countries provide subsidised or free basic water services to ensure that no household is deprived of this essential resource.
Nevertheless, this does not mean that unlimited water should be free. If people are not charged for excessive use, they may waste large amounts of water, especially in regions facing water shortages. A practical solution would be to provide a basic daily allowance free of charge while requiring households to pay for any additional consumption. This approach balances human rights with environmental sustainability.
In conclusion, I strongly agree that every household should receive a basic supply of clean water free of charge because it is essential for life and public health. However, charging for excessive usage is a sensible way to encourage responsible consumption and conserve this valuable resource.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt. Your position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the essay. You provide a balanced argument by acknowledging the necessity of free water while introducing a logical caveat regarding excessive consumption. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the link between water access and public health benefits. The inclusion of a practical solution—a tiered system of free basic allowance versus paid excess—demonstrates a sophisticated level of critical thinking. The response is well-structured and directly answers the question posed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, starting with the fundamental right to water, moving to public health benefits, and concluding with a nuanced counter-argument. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', 'Nevertheless', and 'In conclusion', which guide the reader smoothly through your argument. Referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The flow of information is natural and coherent throughout.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'fundamental human right', 'excessive water consumption', 'environmental sustainability', and 'investing in water infrastructure' show good control of topic-specific language. You use less common items with awareness of style and collocation. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate, it could be elevated further to reach the highest band by incorporating more sophisticated, academic collocations or idiomatic expressions related to policy and economics, but the current level is strong and precise.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of complex structures used throughout the essay. You successfully employ conditional sentences ('If low-income families cannot afford...'), relative clauses, and passive constructions ('...should be charged', '...is provided'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The range of structures is sufficient to support a high-level argument, and the overall control is consistent and reliable.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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