Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-19
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 7.0)
Access to Clean Water
Access to clean water is essential for every person because it is necessary for drinking, cooking and maintaining good health. I strongly agree that every home should have a basic water supply provided free of charge. However, people may still be required to pay for excessive use.
Firstly, clean water is a basic necessity rather than a luxury. People cannot live a healthy life without safe water. If families have to pay a high amount for basic water, poor households may reduce their water consumption, which could affect their health and hygiene. For example, families with limited income may struggle to afford enough water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Providing a basic amount of clean water for free would help ensure that everyone can meet these essential needs.
Secondly, free access to clean water can improve public health. Unsafe water can contain harmful substances and microorganisms that may cause illness. If governments provide safe water to all households, the risk of water-related diseases can be reduced. This would also benefit society because healthier people are less likely to need medical treatment.
However, completely free and unlimited water could lead to waste. People may use more water than they actually need if there is no cost involved. Therefore, governments could provide a reasonable amount of water free of charge and charge households for excessive consumption. This approach would protect basic human needs while also encouraging people to use water responsibly.
In conclusion, I believe that every home should receive a basic supply of clean water free of charge because water is essential for life and health. At the same time, charging for excessive use could help prevent unnecessary waste.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between basic needs and excessive consumption, which adds depth to your argument. You provide relevant reasons, such as the impact on public health and the economic burden on poor households. The conclusion effectively summarises your stance. To reach a higher band, you could provide a more specific real-world example, such as a country that has implemented a tiered water pricing system, to further strengthen the support for your ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, starting with the necessity of water, moving to public health benefits, and finally addressing the counter-argument regarding waste. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'However', and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The flow between sentences is smooth, and referencing is clear throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'basic necessity', 'excessive consumption', and 'water-related diseases' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is appropriate and clear, it is generally functional rather than sophisticated. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more precise or academic collocations, such as 'socio-economic disparity' or 'sustainable resource management'. Your spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choice consistently conveys your meaning without ambiguity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay displays a good control of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as conditional structures ('If families have to pay... poor households may reduce...') and modal verbs to express necessity and possibility. The punctuation is generally correct, and there are very few grammatical errors. The sentences are well-constructed and easy to follow. To improve further, you could experiment with more varied complex structures, such as passive voice constructions or inversion, to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical flexibility.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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