Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-28
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)
Nowadays, water is crucial for everyone and basic human right , although it should be provided free of charge on supply. This essay will discuss agree points in upcoming paragraph.
To begin with , clean water is basic human right and necessary for daily life. People need water for drinking , washing clothes and bathing . In other words , if water is expensive, poor families may not be able to afford enough clean water. Thus government should provide free water supply to every household. For example , a survey was conducted by United Nation Organization showed that 98% people died due to shortage of water. Hence, water supply should be free for households for excessive use.
Moreover, providing free water can reduce inequality problem between rich and poor. Everyone had human right to have access to clean water for drinking , washing and bathing. If government should provide basic amount of clean water free of charge than poor families can easily meet their essential needs. For instance, a study showed that family with low income may not able to afford regular supply of water . Hence, free access to clean water can reduce inequality and provide fair opportunity to live healthy.
In conclusion, access to clean water is basic human right and everyone had right of free water supply to meet daily needs. Because some families cannot afford such amount on water supply and face health issue. Thus, government should charge reasonable price on water supply , so that everyone can afford it and cost of maintaining water supply will be covered also.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt, but the position is inconsistent. While you argue for free water in the body paragraphs, the conclusion contradicts this by suggesting the government should charge a 'reasonable price'. This lack of a clear, sustained position limits the score. Furthermore, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive, and the example regarding the United Nations is unsupported and lacks credibility. To improve, ensure your conclusion aligns with your main arguments and provide more nuanced, logical support for your claims rather than repeating the same points about inequality.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'In other words' is used incorrectly to introduce a consequence rather than a clarification. Additionally, the transition between the body paragraphs and the conclusion is abrupt. The logical flow is sometimes hindered by these issues, making the progression of ideas feel a bit disjointed. Using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'nevertheless') more naturally would improve the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic terms like 'basic human right', 'clean water', and 'daily life' repeatedly. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'excessive use' (which contradicts the argument for basic needs) and 'reduce inequality problem'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to social policy and economics, and ensure that your word choices are precise and contextually appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly regarding articles ('a basic human right' should be 'a basic human right'), subject-verb agreement ('everyone had' should be 'everyone has'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are simple or contain errors in tense and modal usage, such as 'If government should provide... than poor families can...'. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and punctuation prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on consistent verb tense and proper article usage will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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