Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-31

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 and safe water is a basic human necessity, and some people believe that every household should receive a water supply free of charge. I agree that everyone should have access to an affordable supply of water, particularly those from low-income families. However, I do not think that unlimited water should be provided completely free of cost.

Firstly, providing free water to every household could help reduce social inequality and protect public health. Poor families may struggle to pay their water bills, which could force them to reduce their water consumption even when it is needed for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. By providing a basic amount of free water, governments could ensure that everyone has access to this essential resource. This would be particularly beneficial for disadvantaged communities, where people may already face difficulties in meeting their basic needs.

On the other hand, providing unlimited water for free could encourage people to waste this valuable resource. If households do not have to pay for the water they use, they may be less careful about their consumption. This could become a serious problem in areas affected by water shortages. In addition, governments have to spend a considerable amount of money on water treatment, pipelines and maintenance. Therefore, a better approach would be to provide a free basic supply and charge people for excessive usage. This could encourage responsible consumption while still ensuring that everyone can access enough water for their essential needs.

In conclusion, I believe that clean water should be available to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. However, providing an unlimited supply completely free of charge could lead to unnecessary water wastage and place a heavy financial burden on governments. A free basic allowance, combined with charges for excessive consumption, would be a more practical and sustainable solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt by presenting a clear position and supporting it with balanced arguments. You acknowledge the importance of water as a human right while providing a nuanced counter-argument regarding the potential for waste and the financial burden on governments. Your proposal for a tiered system (free basic allowance vs. charges for excess) is a well-developed idea that demonstrates critical thinking. The response is consistent throughout, and your conclusion effectively synthesizes your main points. To reach a band 9, you could further expand on the 'how' of implementation, perhaps mentioning how governments might distinguish between essential and excessive use.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Your essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, and you use transition signals effectively to guide the reader (e.g., 'Firstly', 'On the other hand', 'In addition', 'Therefore'). Cohesion is managed well, and the relationship between your arguments is clear. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a logical flow from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the final conclusion. The use of referencing is accurate, and the text reads smoothly without any mechanical or repetitive phrasing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'social inequality', 'disadvantaged communities', 'responsible consumption', and 'financial burden' are used accurately and appropriately in context. You avoid repetition and show a good command of collocation. While the vocabulary is natural and effective, it stays within the realm of standard academic English. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your writing displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If households do not have to pay...') and subordinate clauses ('...particularly those from low-income families'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The sentence structures are varied, and you maintain a formal, academic tone throughout. The accuracy is high, and the few minor slips that might occur are not systematic, which is consistent with a high-level performance.

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