Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

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 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. 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, provides strong support for your claims. The response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt, demonstrating a high level of task engagement and clear, logical progression of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the supporting points flow naturally. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'consequently', 'this is because', 'as a result', and 'another compelling factor'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The transition between ideas is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, making the argument easy to follow and convincing.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'alleviates severe financial burdens', 'decoupled from household income', 'disposable income preservation', and 'anti-poverty mechanism' show a high level of lexical control and precision. The vocabulary is used naturally and accurately, fitting the academic tone of the essay perfectly. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the range of vocabulary allows for a nuanced discussion of the topic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures with a high degree of accuracy. You effectively use conditional structures, relative clauses, and passive voice constructions. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity. The control over complex sentence forms is consistent, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a strong command of English syntax and morphology.

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