Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-11

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 7.5)

Access to clean drinking water is essential for human health and wellbeing. While some people argued that every household should receive a water supply free of cost, I partially agree with this statement because access to unlimited water supply may place the financial strain on the government and also it is not a practical and sustainable solution.

On the one hand, I agree with the statement to some extent because access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right. People should at least have cost-free water supply to meet their basic needs such as cooking, drinking and to maintain the hygiene, which helps prevent the spread of diseases. For example, low-income families can’t afford the adequate cost of water supply, which may increase the risk of waterborne illnesses and other diseases. Therefore, providing required safe water free of charge to disadvantaged people can help to fulfil their basic necessity.

On the other hand, I do not completely agree with this given statement that supply of safe water should be provided free. The main reason is that it increases the budgetary pressure on government. The water treatment, transportation and supply process requires considerable funds, which can only be covered through public funds. Moreover, it also encourages people to waste water. For instance, people might use excessive water for activities such as washing cars and watering gardens, if they are not charged for the usage, which can result in the depletion of water resources especially in areas where people are experiencing drought condition. As a result, government should charge for excessive consumption, which will reduce the careless water consumption and maintain the budget.

In conclusion, although I agree with the statement to some extent because access to freshwater is basic human requirement, I believe that government should charge for excessive consumption of clean water to promote conservation and sustainability developments and free of cost for survival essentials.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a partially agreeable position. The ideas are well-developed, with a logical distinction between basic survival needs and excessive consumption. The arguments regarding financial strain on the government and the potential for water wastage are relevant and well-supported. The conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points, maintaining a consistent position throughout. The response is balanced and demonstrates a clear understanding of the task requirements, providing sufficient detail to support the arguments presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two sides of the argument. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Moreover', and 'As a result' are used appropriately to guide the reader. While some transitions are standard, they function well to maintain the flow of the argument. The relationship between sentences is clear, and the overall structure is coherent, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the writer's line of reasoning.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. The writer uses terms like 'fundamental human right', 'budgetary pressure', 'depletion of water resources', and 'sustainability developments' effectively. There are occasional minor inaccuracies, such as 'the adequate cost' instead of 'the cost' or 'the basic necessity' instead of 'basic necessities'. However, these do not impede communication. The range of vocabulary is adequate to convey complex ideas clearly, and the writer demonstrates a good grasp of topic-specific terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'some people argued' (should be 'argue') and 'place the financial strain' (should be 'place a financial strain'). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage, such as 'the supply of safe water' (should be 'a supply' or just 'the supply'). Despite these occasional errors, the majority of sentences are error-free, and the meaning is never obscured. The control of punctuation and sentence structure is generally good.

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