Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-23
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 5.5)
It is often argued that every household should be provided with a free water supply. I agree with this view because access to clean water is essential for human health and low-income families may struggle to afford it.
One major reason I agree with this view is that clean water is essential for human health. This is because people need safe water for drinking, cooking and maintaining personal hygiene. For example, households without access to clean water may be exposed to waterborne diseases. As a result, providing a basic supply of safe water could improve public health.
Another reason is that free access to water could support low-income families. This is because poor households may have difficulty paying for essential utilities while also meeting other basic needs. For example, families with limited incomes may have to choose between paying water bills and buying food or medicine. As a result, providing a basic amount of water free of charge could reduce financial pressure on disadvantaged households.
In conclusion, I agree that every household should have access to a basic supply of clean water free of charge because this is essential for public health and can support disadvantaged families.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt by clearly stating a position and providing two supporting arguments regarding public health and financial support for low-income families. However, the response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the depth of the discussion. While the ideas are relevant, they are not fully developed or extended, and the lack of length prevents a more comprehensive exploration of the complexities of the issue. Consequently, the response is only partially developed, which is a characteristic of a lower band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'One major reason', 'Another reason', and 'As a result' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. However, because the text is quite short, the overall structure feels somewhat simplistic. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the logical flow is maintained throughout the short response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. You use some topic-specific terms such as 'waterborne diseases', 'essential utilities', and 'disadvantaged households'. However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. There is little evidence of less common or more sophisticated lexical items that would demonstrate a higher level of proficiency. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more varied synonyms and precise academic collocations to express your ideas with greater nuance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The grammar is generally accurate, and the sentences are easy to understand. You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'This is because people need safe water for drinking, cooking and maintaining personal hygiene.' There are very few grammatical errors, and punctuation is used correctly. However, the range of structures is somewhat restricted. To achieve a higher band, you should attempt to use a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, while maintaining the current level of accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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