Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-14

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 5.5)

Few individuals believe every household should have free water access as purified water is considered a general human right. I agree with the statement because masses should not pay for basic needs and can spend the money on something more important. I will discuss my relevant points in upcoming paragraph.

People should not generally waste money on something so basic like water in everyday life. As human beings, we have the right to use water at any time of the day without caring about the cost that comes with it because we use it for almost everything on a daily basis such as, preparing meals, cleaning, drinking, showering and so on. Basic needs come with just being born and so it should be free. For example, in Japan, every house has free access to water as their government really care about the standard of life and basic human needs. Hence, the country is peaceful and hipper.

Moreover, the monthly expenditure of water supply can easily be spent on something else which is crucial. Many poor to middle class families have to lead their lives within a tight budget which stop them from investing in skills, entertainment, education, future or sometimes better health. Therefore, if the water supply is free, they can spend the money on something else which has more value to them. For example, my cousin started guitar lesson recently after moving to an apartment where daily water supply was free so his parents used that money on his passion.

To sum up, i believe on this notion as water is a basis need for households, water supply should be free of cost in every country and community which they should be spend their money on other skills such as education and health facilities.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have clearly stated your position and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant, particularly the economic argument regarding household budgets. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the example regarding Japan is a generalization that lacks specific evidence or nuance, and the argument could be strengthened by acknowledging potential counter-arguments, such as the need for water conservation or the financial burden on governments. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting examples are more detailed and that you explore the implications of your argument more thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Moreover' and 'To sum up', to link your points. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final sentence where the pronoun usage makes the conclusion slightly confusing. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally into the next will help improve your score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey your meaning, but it is somewhat repetitive. Phrases like 'something so basic' and 'something else' are quite general. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'hipper' to describe a country, which is informal and not appropriate for an academic essay. To improve, try to incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to economics, public policy, or human rights. Avoiding informal phrasing will also help you achieve a more academic tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'Few individuals believe' (which should be 'A few'), 'basis need' (should be 'basic need'), and 'which they should be spend' (which is syntactically incorrect). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage in lists. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of relative clauses. Proofreading for these recurring minor errors will significantly enhance the accuracy of your writing.

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

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