Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-26

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)

Access to clean water is undoubtedly a fundamental human necessity, and some people argue that every household should therefore receive a free water supply. I strongly agree that everyone should have access to a basic amount of clean water without charge, although I do not believe that unlimited consumption should be free.

First and foremost, providing free access to clean water would help protect public health and reduce social inequality. Water is essential for drinking, cooking and maintaining basic hygiene, so people should not be deprived of it simply because they cannot afford to pay. In many developing countries, low-income families are forced to reduce their water consumption or rely on unsafe sources when prices are high. This can contribute to the spread of diseases and place an additional burden on already disadvantaged communities. Governments therefore have a moral responsibility to ensure that every citizen can obtain a sufficient quantity of safe water.

However, making all water completely free could create serious practical problems. Water-treatment facilities, pipelines, maintenance and purification systems are expensive to operate, and these costs must ultimately be covered by someone. If households could consume unlimited quantities without paying, there would also be little incentive to avoid waste. For example, people might leave taps running or use excessive amounts of water for gardening and cleaning. A better approach would be to provide each household with a basic quantity of water free of charge and charge progressively higher rates for consumption beyond that level. Such a system would protect essential access while encouraging responsible use.

In conclusion, I agree that clean water should be available free of charge to every household because it is indispensable to human health and dignity. Nevertheless, free provision should be limited to essential consumption, while excessive use should be charged for in order to prevent waste and ensure that water services remain financially sustainable.

AI examiner evaluation

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, arguing for a nuanced approach where basic water needs are met for free while excessive use is charged. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between essential and non-essential water usage. You provide relevant examples, such as the impact on low-income families and the potential for waste if water were entirely free. The argument is balanced and logically extended throughout the essay, 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, starting with the argument for free access, moving to the practical limitations, and concluding with a synthesis of your position. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. The referencing is clear, and the flow between sentences is natural, demonstrating a sophisticated command of paragraphing and logical structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary. Phrases like 'fundamental human necessity', 'disadvantaged communities', and 'financially sustainable' show a high level of lexical control. The word choices are precise and appropriate for an academic context. There are no noticeable errors in collocation or spelling, and the language used is natural and sophisticated throughout the response, which is indicative of a high-level performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You effectively use complex sentences, such as conditional structures ('If households could consume...') and concessive clauses ('although I do not believe...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity. There are no significant grammatical slips, and the control over tense and agreement is consistent throughout the text.

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