Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-01
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 7.0)
Access to clean water is one of the basic needs of human beings. Some people believe that every home should have a water supply free of cost because clean water is a basic human right. I partly agree with this statement because every person should have access to clean water, but providing unlimited water completely free of charge can create some problems.
Firstly, clean water is essential for a healthy life. People need water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and other daily activities. If water is very expensive, poor families may not be able to use enough clean water for their basic needs. This can increase the risk of diseases and create serious health problems. For example, in some developing areas, people have to depend on unsafe water sources because they cannot afford proper water supplies. Therefore, governments should make sure that clean water is available to every household at an affordable price or free for people who cannot pay for it.
On the other hand, I do not completely agree that all water should be free for every home. Water treatment, transportation and maintenance of water supply systems require a large amount of money. If the government provides unlimited water without any charges, people may waste it unnecessarily. For instance, some people may leave taps running or use excessive water for washing cars and watering gardens if they do not have to pay for it. This can lead to water shortages, especially in countries where water resources are limited.
In my opinion, governments should provide a basic amount of clean water free of charge to every household, particularly for drinking and other essential purposes. However, people should pay for water that they use beyond this basic limit. This system can protect the right to clean water while also encouraging people to use water responsibly.
In conclusion, I agree that clean water is a basic human right and everyone should have access to it. However, I believe that only essential water supplies should be free, while excessive usage should be charged.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction, acknowledging the importance of clean water as a right while balancing it against the practical necessity of preventing waste. Your arguments are well-developed, with the first body paragraph focusing on the humanitarian aspect and the second on the economic and environmental consequences of unlimited free supply. The conclusion effectively synthesizes these points, offering a balanced solution. The ideas are relevant and supported by logical reasoning and examples, such as the mention of water wastage through car washing or garden maintenance. The response is well-structured and maintains a clear focus throughout.
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 humanitarian argument and the economic argument is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Firstly', 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is natural, making the essay easy to follow from start to finish.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'basic human right', 'unlimited water', 'water treatment', and 'water shortages' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated or less common collocations to reach the highest band. For instance, instead of 'create some problems', you could use 'pose significant challenges'. There are no spelling errors, and the word choice is consistently precise throughout the essay, effectively conveying your intended meaning without ambiguity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The essay displays a good command of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional structure 'If the government provides unlimited water... people may waste it'. Punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which indicates a high level of control. To move to a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using more passive voice constructions or inverted conditionals, to demonstrate greater flexibility in your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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