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)

Water is a universal thing which is mandatory required for all of the population. It is firmly believe that the clean water must be given to every household with no charge, however in my perspective, it should not be provided without charges, even if it is a basic human right.

One of the main reasons of providing the clean water is that health is more important then anything else. Like water is of everyday use, which we use everyday from different sources and if it is not clean then it will be harmful for those who are so sensitive, but it is not like it should be free of cost. For instance, bacteria's of different types are in water, if it's not clean then after consuming they will grow in our body and perform detrimental effects, which can be dangerous for individuals. Moreover, providing fresh water is necessary for foreigners also because they can't drink polluted water.

On the other hand, if there are some advantages, then it doesn't mean that the water should be provided free of charge to those who live in cities, because who are living in urban areas use the clean water without any tension regularly, and in this way the inhabitants who are living in rural cities or small areas don't get enough water for daily household chores. For example, while brushing the teeth, some of us don't even try to turn off the tap, which is such a waste of water. So, at this moment, government allows the rule for providing the clean water to those sites who can handle the use of water properly and don't waste it and distributes the water to those areas which are getting water twice a month after 15 days, which made the residents to survive hardly.

To conclude, even if it is not free of charge, but giving the fresh water which is essential for all human kind is crucial. Every humankind use it wisely for those sites who can't be able to pay the bills.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position against free water. However, the development of ideas is inconsistent. While you mention health and water wastage, the arguments are somewhat disjointed. For instance, the point about 'foreigners' is unclear and lacks relevance to the core argument of water pricing. The conclusion is also slightly confusing, as it seems to contradict the earlier stance by suggesting that water should be provided to those who cannot pay, without clearly linking this back to the 'free of charge' debate. To improve, ensure each paragraph focuses on a single, well-supported argument that directly reinforces your thesis statement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow between sentences is often strained. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'On the other hand', but they are sometimes used mechanically or inappropriately. For example, the transition into the second paragraph is abrupt. Additionally, referencing is occasionally unclear; in the third paragraph, the phrase 'at this moment, government allows the rule' is vague and does not clearly connect to the previous point about water wastage. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each sentence follows logically from the previous one will significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are frequent errors in word choice and collocation that occasionally impede clarity. Phrases like 'mandatory required' (redundant), 'bacteria's' (incorrect pluralization), and 'survive hardly' (incorrect adverb usage) detract from the professional tone required for an academic essay. You rely on basic vocabulary and struggle with more precise terminology. To reach a higher band, focus on using collocations correctly and expanding your range of academic vocabulary. Avoid informal phrasing and ensure that your word choices are precise and contextually appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'every humankind use'), incorrect article usage, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'It is firmly believe that'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma splices. While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors occur frequently enough to cause some difficulty for the reader. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence patterns and proofreading for common errors like verb tense consistency and pluralization before attempting more complex structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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