Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-02
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)
Intro: Access to clean water is essential for human survival and many people believe that every household should receive a free water supply.i agree with the statement that clean water should be provided but not free of charge.
First of all water is basically needed for almost everything like drinking, cooking and maintaining personal hygiene. Therefore governments have a responsibility to ensure that every citizen has access to a safe and reliable water supply. Poor families may struggle to pay their water bills and cutting off their supply could create serious health problems. For example in some developing countries that are low-income as well cannot afford clean drinking water and are forced to use unsafe sources which can lead to diseases.
However providing unlimited water free of charge could encourage unnecessary consumption. Water is a limited natural resource and people will waste it if they do not have to pay anything. For example households might leave taps running use excessive amounts of water for washing cars or water their gardens unnecessarily. Charging a reasonable amount can encourage people to use water responsibly while also helping governments cover the costs of treatment, maintenance and distribution.
In conclusion i agree with the statement that everyone should get clean water supply but not free of cost.a basic charge can be set so that everyone can afford clean water and government doesn’t have any problem in this way people will only consume th
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position, but it is incomplete. The essay ends abruptly mid-sentence in the conclusion, which prevents a full development of the final argument. Additionally, the response is under the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. While the ideas regarding the necessity of water versus the risk of waste are relevant and well-structured, the failure to complete the essay and the lack of sufficient length mean that the task is only partially addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the arguments for government responsibility and the arguments against free supply. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Therefore', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, the abrupt ending significantly disrupts the flow of the final paragraph, making the overall progression feel incomplete. Despite this, the internal structure of the completed sections is clear and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'essential for human survival', 'unnecessary consumption', and 'maintenance and distribution' used correctly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary, but the range is somewhat limited. The writing lacks more sophisticated or academic collocations that would elevate the score. Furthermore, the incomplete nature of the text limits the opportunity to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate in the sections provided.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as the lack of capitalization in 'i agree' and 'a basic charge', and minor punctuation issues. While the sentences are generally understandable, the range of complex structures is limited. The incomplete final sentence makes it difficult to assess the full grammatical control, but the existing sentences show a reasonable level of accuracy, with errors rarely impeding communication. More variety in sentence starters and complex clauses would improve the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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