Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-17
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 because it is a basic human right. I agree that everyone should have access to safe drinking water, but I do not completely agree that unlimited water should be provided free of charge.
Firstly, clean water is necessary for maintaining good health and living a normal life. People need water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and personal hygiene. In poor communities, however, many families cannot afford a reliable supply of safe water. As a result, they may depend on polluted rivers, ponds or other unsafe sources, which can cause serious diseases. Therefore, governments should ensure that every household has access to a basic amount of clean and safe water, regardless of their financial situation. This can help reduce health problems and improve the overall quality of life.
On the other hand, providing unlimited water completely free of charge could create several problems. Water treatment, transportation and maintenance of supply systems require a large amount of money. If people do not have to pay anything, they may also waste water unnecessarily. For example, some households might leave taps running or use excessive amounts of water for gardening and other non-essential activities. This could put additional pressure on water resources, particularly in areas where clean water is already limited. A better approach would be to provide a certain amount of water free of charge and charge consumers for excessive usage.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that access to clean water should be guaranteed to everyone. However, rather than making all water free, governments should provide a basic supply at no cost and introduce reasonable charges for additional consumption. This would protect people's basic rights while also encouraging responsible use of water.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction, acknowledging the importance of water as a right while qualifying your stance by arguing against unlimited free supply. The ideas are well-developed, with the first body paragraph focusing on the humanitarian necessity of water and the second addressing the practical and economic implications of free provision. The conclusion effectively synthesizes these points, offering a balanced solution. The argument is consistent throughout, and the supporting points are relevant and logically extended, meeting the criteria for a high band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the humanitarian argument and the economic counter-argument is smooth, facilitated by the phrase 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct stages of the argument. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is always clear, demonstrating a high level of coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'financial situation', 'non-essential activities', and 'excessive consumption' show a good command of topic-specific language. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for the context, it is functional rather than highly sophisticated. To reach the highest bands, you could incorporate more nuanced collocations or idiomatic expressions. However, the current range is flexible enough to convey your meaning clearly and effectively without any noticeable errors in word choice.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If people do not have to pay...') and subordinate clauses ('...rather than making all water free, governments should...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to manage sentence flow. There are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text. This reflects a strong command of English grammar.
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