Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Access to clean water is undoubtedly essential for human survival, and many people believe that every household should receive a free water supply. I agree with this idea because clean water is a basic need, and everyone should be able to use it.

First of all, water is needed for many daily activities such as drinking, cooking, washing and cleaning. Poor families may not always be able to pay for clean water, especially in developing countries. If the government provides water for free, it can help these families live a healthier life. For example, in some areas of Pakistan, people have to buy drinking water because the water from their taps is not clean. Free access to safe water could make their lives much easier.

Another reason is that clean water can prevent many diseases. If people use dirty or polluted water, they can suffer from different health problems. Providing clean water to every home can reduce these problems and improve public health. I believe the government should spend money on water systems because preventing diseases is better than spending more money on treating them.

However, I also think that people should not waste water just because it is free. The government could provide a certain amount of water for free and charge people if they use more than the basic amount. This would make sure that everyone gets enough water while also reducing unnecessary waste.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that every home should have access to free clean water because it is essential for life and good health. However, people should also be encouraged to use water carefully and avoid wasting it.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.0
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.5
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout. The ideas are relevant, particularly the focus on public health and the practical suggestion of a tiered pricing system to prevent waste. The argument is well-developed, with clear examples such as the mention of water quality issues in Pakistan. To reach a higher band, the student could further explore the economic implications of 'free' water, such as how governments might fund such a massive infrastructure project, which would add more depth to the analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as health benefits or the prevention of waste. Cohesive devices like 'First of all', 'Another reason', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is appropriate. The response is easy to follow, and the relationship between the ideas is clearly established throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for clear communication. The student uses appropriate topic-specific terms such as 'public health', 'infrastructure', and 'unnecessary waste'. While the range is adequate, it is somewhat limited and relies on fairly common expressions. To improve, the student should incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary, such as using 'universal access' instead of 'free water supply' or 'mitigate' instead of 'reduce'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, the use of conditional sentences ('If the government provides...', 'If people use...') is handled correctly. The punctuation is also used effectively. To achieve a higher band, the student could experiment with more varied complex structures, such as passive voice constructions or inverted sentences, to show greater control over grammatical range.

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

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