Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-10

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)

Access to clean and safe drinking water is undoubtedly an essential human necessity. However, I disagree with the view that every household should receive an unlimited water supply completely free of charge. As my opinion is given further.

On one hand, providing free access to basic amount of clean water could have significant social benefits. Water is indispensable for drinking, cooking and maintaining personal hygiene, and people should not be deprived of it simply because they are unable to afford it. In many developing countries, low-income families struggle to obtain safe drinking water, which can increase the risk of disease and poor sanitation. Therefore, government should ensure that every household has access to a sufficient quantity of clean water, particularly for essential daily needs. For instance, authorities could provide a basic amount of water free of charge to disadvantaged households.

On the other hand, making water completely free could lead to unnecessary consumption and place pressure on already limited water resource. When people do not have anything for a resource, they maybe less motivated to conserve it. This is particularly concerning in regions that experience droughts and water shortages. Furthermore, maintaining water-treatment plants, pipelines and sewage systems requires substantial public expenditure. If governments were responsible for covering all these costs, they might have to increase taxes or reduce spending on other important services, such as healthcare and education. A more sustainable approach would therefore be to provide a basic quantity free or at a heavily subsidised rate while charging households for excessive consumption.

In conclusion, although clean water should be regarded as a fundamental human right, I do not believe that unlimited water should be provided free of charge to every household. Governments should guarantee affordable access to essential water while using reasonable charges to encourage responsible consumption and maintain the water infrastructure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response clearly addresses all parts of the prompt. You have taken a balanced position, acknowledging the humanitarian aspect of water access while arguing against the economic feasibility of providing it entirely free of charge. Your ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between basic needs and excessive consumption. The argument is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes your main points. To reach a higher band, you could further expand on the 'social benefits' mentioned in the first body paragraph with a more specific example or a deeper analysis of the long-term economic impact of water-borne diseases on a nation's productivity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the other hand,' 'Furthermore,' and 'A more sustainable approach would therefore be.' The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. The referencing is generally clear, though the transition in the introduction ('As my opinion is given further') is slightly awkward and could be phrased more naturally, such as 'My reasons are outlined below.' Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the clarity of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'indispensable,' 'maintaining personal hygiene,' 'substantial public expenditure,' and 'heavily subsidised rate' show a good command of topic-specific language. There are no significant spelling errors, and your word choices are generally accurate. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to move beyond 'adequate' range. For example, instead of 'do not have anything for a resource,' you could use 'do not bear the financial burden of a resource.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. There are a few minor slips, such as 'government should ensure' (should be 'the government') and 'limited water resource' (should be plural 'resources'). Additionally, 'When people do not have anything for a resource' is slightly imprecise. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. You show good control over punctuation and sentence variety, which supports the clarity of your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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