Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-24
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 7.5)
Many people believe that clean water should be provided free to every household because it is a fundamental human right. Although I agree that everyone needs access to safe drinking water, I completely disagree that it should be entirely free for all homes.
On the one hand, water is essential for basic human survival, health, and hygiene. If governments charge high prices for water, low-income families might struggle to afford it, which could lead to health problems and poor living conditions. Therefore, ensuring affordable access to clean water helps reduce poverty and improves public health, making society more equal.
On the other hand, providing unlimited free water to every house would lead to severe problems. Firstly, when people do not have to pay for a service, they often do not value it. This would cause widespread waste, such as leaving taps running or using vast amounts of water for non-essential purposes like watering lawns and washing cars. Secondly, collecting, filtering, and distributing clean water requires expensive infrastructure and maintenance. If the government provides it completely free, there would be less money available to fix leaking pipes or upgrade water treatment plants, leading to poor water quality over time.
In conclusion, while clean water is indeed a basic necessity, making it free for every home is impractical. A better solution would be for governments to offer a basic amount of water for free or at a subsidized cost to poor households, while charging regular rates to those who consume excessive amounts.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
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 arguments are well-developed, particularly the distinction between basic needs and excessive consumption. You provide logical reasons for your stance, such as the risk of water wastage and the financial burden on infrastructure maintenance. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your position by proposing a nuanced alternative, which demonstrates a high level of critical thinking. The ideas are relevant and well-supported, meeting the requirements for a high band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the opposing views is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The use of sequencing words such as 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' helps the reader follow your argument easily. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The flow of information is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'fundamental human right', 'severe problems', 'non-essential purposes', and 'subsidized cost' show a level of precision and flexibility. The vocabulary is used naturally and accurately throughout the text. While the range is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could elevate the response further. However, the current usage is precise and contributes to a clear, professional tone throughout the essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with conditional clauses ('If governments charge...', 'If the government provides...') and concessive clauses ('Although I agree...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and syntax is strong. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of accuracy, consistent with the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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