Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)

It is often argued that clean water is a fundamental human right, and consequently, governments should supply piped water to all households at no cost. I completely agree with this proposition because state-funded water safeguards essential public health standards and alleviates severe financial burdens on low-income families. This essay will outline the main arguments supporting this stance.

The primary reason why universal free water provision is valid is that it guarantees baseline hygiene and prevents widespread disease outbreaks. This is because when citizens are guaranteed clean water without financial barriers, they can maintain necessary sanitation practices, which directly eliminates transmission routes for waterborne pathogens. As a result, public healthcare systems experience significantly reduced strain and lower operational costs associated with treating preventable infectious illnesses. For example, municipal projects in South America that introduced free basic water quotas observed a 30% reduction in dysentery and cholera admissions within two years.

Another compelling factor supporting this position is the alleviation of socio-economic inequality among disadvantaged populations. When access to essential utilities is decoupled from household income, it systematically leads to disposable income preservation for vulnerable families, enabling them to afford nutritious food, healthcare, and education. A clear illustration of this is seen in South Africa, where the Free Basic Water policy provides impoverished households with a mandatory monthly allowance of clean water, resulting in improved household savings and higher school attendance rates in rural districts. Thus, providing water free of charge acts as an effective anti-poverty mechanism that upholds basic human dignity.

In conclusion, I firmly maintain that municipal water supplies should be provided to every home free of expense. This is due to its critical role in safeguarding community health and its power to relieve financial pressure on marginalized households. Ultimately, societies should embrace this approach to foster a healthier, more equitable future for all citizens.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

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, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct, logical argument—public health and socio-economic equality. The use of specific examples, such as the municipal projects in South America and the Free Basic Water policy in South Africa, effectively supports your arguments and demonstrates a high level of task engagement. The response is well-structured and directly answers the question posed, meeting all requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay demonstrates a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'consequently', 'as a result', and 'thus', which help to guide the reader through your argument without being repetitive or mechanical. The paragraphing is skilful, with a clear introduction, two well-supported body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. The referencing is precise, and the overall structure is coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. The use of terms such as 'fundamental human right', 'alleviates', 'socio-economic inequality', 'decoupled', and 'anti-poverty mechanism' shows a high level of lexical control and precision. The vocabulary is used naturally and accurately, fitting the academic context of the task perfectly. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is both fluent and flexible, which is characteristic of the highest band descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The essay exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures, including conditional sentences, passive voice, and subordinate clauses, all used with high accuracy. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is handled correctly throughout. Your control over complex sentence forms is impressive, and there are no grammatical slips that impede communication. The writing is polished, demonstrating a high degree of flexibility and control over English grammar, which is consistent with the requirements for a top-tier band score.

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