Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-08

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 7.0)

Clean water is essential for human life, and everyone should have access to it. However, I partly disagree with the idea that water should be completely free for every household. my inclination will be discussed in the following paragraphs.In my opinion, governments should provide a basic amount of clean water at little or no cost, while people who use more water should pay for it.

First of all, clean water is necessary for maintaining good health and hygiene. People need water for drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning. If water is expensive, poor families may not be able to afford enough for their basic needs. Therefore, governments should ensure that every household has access to a minimum amount of safe water. This could help reduce diseases and improve the quality of life, especially for low-income families.

On the other hand, making all water completely free could lead to wastage and overuse. If people do not have to pay anything, they may be less careful about their consumption. For example, some people might leave taps running or use excessive amounts of water for gardening and washing cars. In addition, governments need money to maintain water-treatment plants, pipelines and other infrastructure. Charging people for excessive consumption can help cover these costs.

In conclusion, I believe that basic access to clean water should be free or highly affordable, particularly for disadvantaged people. However, households should pay for water beyond their basic needs. This approach would protect people’s right to clean water while also encouraging responsible consumption.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have taken a clear position—partially disagreeing with the notion of completely free water—and maintained this stance throughout the essay. The arguments are well-developed, balancing the humanitarian need for basic access with the economic and environmental necessity of charging for excessive usage. Each paragraph provides relevant supporting points, such as the impact on low-income families and the potential for wastage. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your position. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific real-world examples or data to further substantiate your claims, but the current development is sufficient for a strong score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion is smooth. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'First of all', 'On the other hand', and 'In addition'. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. The flow of the argument is natural and easy to follow. There are no significant issues with cohesion, and the structure supports the reader's understanding of your position throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the academic context. Phrases like 'maintaining good health and hygiene', 'excessive amounts', and 'disadvantaged people' show a solid command of language. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the topic well, it is mostly functional. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations and idiomatic expressions related to economics or public policy. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your ideas with precision, and there are no errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences ('If water is expensive, poor families may not be able to afford...') and modal verbs effectively. The grammar is generally accurate, with only minor slips such as the lack of capitalization at the start of the second sentence in the introduction ('my inclination...'). Punctuation is generally sound, and the sentence structures are varied enough to maintain interest. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which demonstrates a strong command of English grammar.

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