Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)
Government Spending on Education and Defence
Some people believe that governments should spend more money on education than on defence, while others think that national security should remain the top priority. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I believe that education deserves a larger share of government spending, although adequate funding for defence is still necessary.
On the one hand, spending more money on education brings many long-term benefits to society. Firstly, it improves the quality of schools, universities, and learning facilities, allowing students to receive a better education. Secondly, a well-educated population contributes to economic growth because skilled workers, such as doctors, engineers, and teachers, are essential for a country’s development. For example, countries that invest heavily in education often have higher employment rates and stronger economies. Therefore, education is a valuable investment in the nation’s future.
On the other hand, defence is also important because every country needs to protect its citizens and maintain national security. A strong defence force can safeguard the country from external threats and provide assistance during natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. For instance, military personnel often help rescue people and deliver emergency supplies during disasters. Without adequate defence spending, a country’s safety and stability could be at risk.
In conclusion, although defence is necessary for protecting the nation, I believe that governments should spend more on education because it provides long-term social and economic benefits. At the same time, sufficient funding should continue to be allocated to defence to ensure national security.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 3.0
The response is completely off-topic. The prompt asks for a discussion on whether water should be provided free of charge as a basic human right. However, the essay discusses government spending on education versus defence. Because the student failed to address the specific prompt provided, the task achievement score is significantly impacted. While the essay is structured as an argument, it does not respond to the actual question asked, rendering the content irrelevant to the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is well-structured with clear paragraphing and logical progression. The use of cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' is effective and creates a smooth flow between ideas. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the transition between the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion is logical. Despite the content being irrelevant to the prompt, the internal organisation of the text is strong and demonstrates a good command of structural coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary used is appropriate for an academic essay. The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to express ideas clearly, using terms such as 'national security', 'external threats', 'economic growth', and 'allocated'. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While the vocabulary is not particularly sophisticated or 'uncommon', it is precise and fits the context of the arguments presented well.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional-like structures ('Without adequate defence spending, a country’s safety... could be at risk') and subordinate clauses ('although defence is necessary... I believe that...'). The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors in punctuation or syntax. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over complex structures is consistent throughout the text.
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