Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

Access to clean water is undoubtedly a fundamental human necessity, and governments have a responsibility to ensure that all citizens can obtain it. However, I disagree with the view that every household should receive an unlimited water supply free of charge. In my opinion, people should be guaranteed access to a sufficient amount of safe water, while excessive consumption should be charged for.

There are strong reasons why clean water should be available to everyone. Water is essential for drinking, cooking and maintaining basic hygiene, so people should not be deprived of it simply because they have a low income. In poorer communities, governments can provide subsidies or free basic allowances to ensure that vulnerable families have enough water for their essential needs. This approach would protect public health while also recognising access to clean water as a basic human right.

Nevertheless, providing unlimited water completely free of charge could create several problems. Firstly, people may be less careful about their consumption if they do not have to pay anything. This could lead to unnecessary waste, particularly in areas where water resources are limited. Secondly, maintaining water treatment plants, pipelines and sewage systems is extremely expensive. If households paid nothing, governments would have to cover all of these costs through taxation or reduced spending in other important areas such as healthcare and education. A system in which basic consumption is free or heavily subsidised, but higher usage is charged, would therefore be more sustainable.

In conclusion, I agree that everyone should have guaranteed access to clean and safe water, but I do not believe that all household water should be provided free of charge. Governments should ensure that people can afford their essential needs while using reasonable charges to discourage waste and finance the water infrastructure required to provide this vital resource.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses the prompt by taking a clear position and maintaining it throughout. You acknowledge the human right to water while providing a nuanced argument for why 'free' should be limited to basic needs rather than unlimited consumption. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between essential usage and wastage, and the economic argument regarding infrastructure maintenance. Each paragraph contributes logically to the overall argument, and the conclusion effectively synthesises your position. The response is balanced, thoughtful, and directly answers the question posed in the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the transition between the acknowledgement of the human right to water and the counter-argument regarding waste is handled smoothly using 'Nevertheless'. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The flow of information is natural, and referencing is precise throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases such as 'fundamental human necessity', 'excessive consumption', 'vulnerable families', and 'water infrastructure' show a strong command of topic-specific language. The word choices are precise and contribute to the formal tone of the essay. There are no spelling errors, and the collocation is natural throughout. While the vocabulary is consistently accurate and fits the context well, it remains within a standard academic range rather than displaying highly sophisticated or idiomatic flair, which is consistent with a high-level band 7 or 8 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses ('if they do not have to pay anything') and relative clauses ('where water resources are limited'), with high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly to manage sentence flow. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips that might occur are non-systematic. The control over verb tenses and modal verbs is consistent, ensuring that the argument is expressed clearly and professionally throughout the entire piece.

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