Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-30

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 everyone, and I strongly believe that every household should have access to a safe water supply. However, I do not completely agree that it should always be provided free of charge.

First of all, clean water is necessary for a healthy life. People need it for drinking, cooking, washing and maintaining basic hygiene. If water is too expensive, poor families may be forced to reduce their water use or depend on unsafe sources. This can lead to serious health problems, especially in developing countries. For example, families with low incomes may not be able to afford bottled water and therefore have to use contaminated water from rivers or wells. Providing a basic amount of clean water for free could help prevent such problems.

On the other hand, making all water completely free could create other difficulties. Supplying clean water requires a large amount of money for treatment plants, pipes, maintenance and workers. If people do not pay anything, governments would have to cover all of these costs through taxes. In addition, when something is completely free, some people may waste it. A small charge for water above a basic amount could encourage people to use it more carefully while still protecting the needs of poorer households.

In my opinion, everyone should have a guaranteed amount of clean water without having to pay for it. At the same time, households that use more than this basic amount should pay a reasonable price. Governments could also provide free or cheaper water to low-income families.

In conclusion, clean water should be available to every person, but I do not think that unlimited water should be completely free. A system that provides a basic free supply while charging for additional usage would be fairer and more practical.

AI examiner evaluation

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, balancing the necessity of water as a human right with the practical economic realities of infrastructure maintenance. You provide a logical compromise—a tiered pricing system—which demonstrates a sophisticated approach to the task. The ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of treatment plants and the potential for waste if water were entirely free. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your position, ensuring the response is well-rounded and focused.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the necessity of water to the economic challenges of free supply, and finally to your proposed solution. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all,' 'On the other hand,' and 'At the same time' are used effectively to guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the text. Referencing is clear, and the flow between sentences is smooth, making the essay easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'basic human right,' 'contaminated water,' 'infrastructure maintenance,' and 'tiered pricing' (implied by your argument) show a good grasp of the subject matter. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for the context, it is functional rather than highly sophisticated. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise collocations or less common academic vocabulary. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good command of grammatical structures. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'If water is too expensive, poor families may be forced to reduce their water use or depend on unsafe sources.' Punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The sentence structures are varied, and the control over complex forms is consistent. The writing is clear and error-free for the most part, which allows the reader to focus entirely on your arguments without distraction.

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