Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-09
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 4.0)
Yes, I agree that access to clean water is a basic human right and every home should have a water supply that is provided free of charge because water is the most valuable source of hydration and we need it to live if it’s in the water that we drink or the one that we use to shower and stay clean or the one we use to wash our clothes, it is a basic necessity and each home in every country should be equipped with a water supply free of charge by the government
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the required 250-word minimum, consisting of only 94 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While the student states a clear position, the ideas are severely underdeveloped and lack the necessary supporting arguments or examples required for an academic essay. The response reads more like a single introductory sentence rather than a full essay, failing to explore the complexities of the prompt. To improve, the student must expand on their arguments with specific examples and logical reasoning to meet the length and depth requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The response consists of a single, long, run-on sentence. There is no paragraphing, which is a fundamental requirement for Task 2. The lack of punctuation makes the progression of ideas difficult to follow. While the student attempts to link ideas using 'because' and 'or', the overall structure is chaotic and lacks the logical organization expected at this level. To improve, the student should break their writing into clear paragraphs (introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion) and use a variety of cohesive devices to connect sentences and ideas effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.5
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple terms like 'water', 'home', and 'clean'. There is no attempt to use less common or academic vocabulary appropriate for an IELTS essay. The phrasing is simplistic, and the lack of punctuation makes the lexical choices appear even more limited. To reach a higher band, the student needs to incorporate a wider range of topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'infrastructure', 'public utility', 'socio-economic', or 'essential resource', and demonstrate better control over word choice and collocation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The response is essentially one long, unpunctuated sentence. This demonstrates a lack of control over basic sentence structure and punctuation. There are no complex structures present, and the grammatical errors (such as the misuse of 'if it’s in the water' instead of 'whether it is') impede the flow of the text. The absence of full stops or commas makes the writing difficult to parse. To improve, the student must focus on sentence construction, using a mix of simple and complex sentences, and ensuring correct punctuation throughout.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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