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)
Clean water is very essential for everyone, and it is basic human need. Every home should get clean water free of charge, but it should be used in proper manner. From my perspective, I strongly agree that supply of clean water should be there in every home. So, this essay will discuss and provide relevant examples to understand the topic.
To begin with, clean water is fundamental right of each and every person to maintain good health. Moreover, clean water has several benefits to our health. Clean water consists of many minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and many more that gives overall health benefits and maintain fluid electrolyte balance. It is also beneficial for bone health and supports nerve function. Clean water is necessary for household works like drinking, cooking, bathing and so no.
Furthermore, if poor quality water is consumed, it can cause severe diseases like diarrhea, typhoid and many water borne disease. In addition, in rural areas people do not get clean water easy thus government should take certain measures for access of clean water. Clean water is necessary for personal hygiene and sanitation. Free of charge water is beneficial for poor families.
Conversely, if clean water is free of charge, then everyone will misuse and waste clean water. Nevertheless, Government should take strict action against waste of water. Also, fine should be taken for misuse and also encourages save water awareness program thus people do not use water unnecessarily.
To conclude, clean water should give free of charge, but every person should save water and use appropriately.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position and providing reasons for both sides of the argument. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention health benefits and the need for government intervention, the points are presented in a list-like fashion rather than being fully extended with detailed analysis or specific real-world examples. The counter-argument regarding water wastage is acknowledged, but the discussion remains brief. To reach a higher band, focus on expanding your supporting points with more depth and logical progression, ensuring that each paragraph contributes significantly to your overall argument.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'To conclude' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression within paragraphs could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the health benefits of water and the issue of rural access is somewhat abrupt. Improving the variety of your linking words and ensuring a more sophisticated connection between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on common terms like 'clean water', 'good health', and 'important'. While you attempt some topic-specific vocabulary such as 'fluid electrolyte balance' and 'sanitation', there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'fine should be taken' and 'use in proper manner'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items. Avoid repeating the same phrases throughout the essay and focus on using vocabulary that demonstrates a more sophisticated grasp of the topic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the government', 'a basic human right') and pluralization ('water borne disease' should be 'water-borne diseases'). Some sentences are slightly ungrammatical, such as 'clean water should give free of charge', which should be passive voice ('should be provided free of charge'). To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately. Proofreading for these recurring minor errors will help raise your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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