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 essential for human life, and some people believe that every household should receive a free water supply. I agree that clean water is a basic human right; however, I do not completely agree that unlimited water should be provided free of charge to every household.
On the one hand, providing free access to clean water can protect people's health and improve their quality of life. Water is necessary for drinking, cooking and maintaining personal hygiene. If people cannot afford clean water, they may be forced to use unsafe sources, which can cause serious diseases. For example, poor families in some developing areas may depend on polluted rivers or other unsafe sources when they cannot afford a reliable water supply. Therefore, governments should ensure that every household has access to enough clean water for basic needs.
On the other hand, providing unlimited water completely free of charge could create several problems. Water treatment, transportation and maintenance of water systems require a large amount of money. If all water were free, people might also waste it because they would not have to pay for their consumption. For instance, some households might leave taps running or use excessive amounts of water for gardening and other unnecessary activities. A better solution would be to provide a certain amount of water for free or at a very low cost and charge people for excessive consumption.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that everyone should have access to clean water because it is essential for human health and survival. However, I do not think that unlimited water should be free. Governments should provide sufficient water for basic needs while charging reasonable fees for excessive use.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
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 consistently throughout the essay. The arguments are well-developed, with a logical balance between the benefits of free access for basic needs and the practical drawbacks of providing unlimited free water. You provide relevant examples, such as the mention of poor families in developing areas and the potential for water wastage, which effectively support your claims. The conclusion provides a clear summary that reinforces your nuanced stance. The response is well-structured and directly answers the question posed.
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 two sides of the argument is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The use of referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The flow of ideas is natural, and the relationship between sentences is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'maintaining personal hygiene', 'unsafe sources', and 'excessive consumption' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for the task, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations that would push the score into the 8.0 or 9.0 range. However, there are no errors in word choice that impede communication, and the language used is consistently natural and relevant to the context of the prompt.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If people cannot afford...', 'If all water were free...') and compound-complex sentences. The grammar is highly accurate, with very few, if any, errors. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout. This level of accuracy and structural variety is indicative of a strong performance in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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