Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-16

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 water is essential for human survival, and some people believe that every household should receive a free water supply. I strongly agree that people should have access to a basic amount of clean water without charge, although I believe that excessive use should be paid for.

The main reason for providing free water is that it is necessary for a healthy life. People need water for drinking, cooking and maintaining personal hygiene. If water were expensive, poor families might not be able to afford enough for their daily needs. This could lead to serious health problems and the spread of diseases. For example, low-income families in some developing areas may have to spend a large part of their income on basic necessities, so providing a free minimum water supply could significantly improve their quality of life.

Another important reason is that governments have a responsibility to protect public health. Clean water is not a luxury like expensive entertainment or unnecessary goods. It is a basic requirement for every person. By providing a limited amount of water free of charge, governments can make sure that nobody is denied access to this essential resource. However, people who use large amounts of water for activities such as filling swimming pools or regularly washing large vehicles should pay for their additional consumption. This could also encourage people to avoid wasting water.

In conclusion, I agree that every home should receive a basic supply of clean water free of charge because it is essential for health and human survival. Nevertheless, charging for excessive consumption would be a fair way to prevent waste and manage this valuable resource.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.5
Overall7.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have taken a clear position from the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between basic human needs and excessive consumption, which adds depth to your argument. You have provided relevant reasons and examples, such as the mention of low-income families and the specific examples of swimming pools and vehicle washing. The response is balanced and logically structured, demonstrating a strong understanding of the task requirements. To reach a higher band, you could further elaborate on the economic implications for governments, but as it stands, the response is comprehensive and well-supported.

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 necessity of water and the caveat regarding excessive use is handled smoothly. Cohesive devices such as 'The main reason', 'Another important reason', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each section serving a distinct purpose in the overall argument. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'essential for human survival', 'basic necessities', and 'excessive consumption' are used accurately and appropriately in context. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is generally standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items, such as 'indispensable', 'profligate usage', or 'socio-economic disparities'. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('If water were expensive...') and concessive clauses ('although I believe that...'). The grammar is consistently accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your arguments. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is strong. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence, which is consistent with the requirements for a high band score.

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

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