Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-11
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)
It is often argued by some people that clean water access is a basic human right. Thats why every home should have a water supply that is provided free of charge. Although some might agree with this notion, I completely agree. Not only because of high cost required for maintainenance and people may waste water, but also because of small charge can encourage responsible use. This essay will explore how these factors justify my opinion. There are several compelling reasons to support this view. Firstly, government needs high budget for maintainenance. As free water needs new pipeline to transfer water every home. So it is quite expensive. Take an example of dirty water needs treatment to cleans it and any pipeline and plant are damaged required a lot of effort as well as money. Thus, it is difficult to provide free water to every home it gives a pressure on government. Secondly, apart from high cost, free water may be waste by people. As water is free people becomes irresponsible and use the water carelessness as well as waste it. Hence, no doubt access to clean water is a basic human right but free water may be lead to a wastage of water which can not bearable at any cost. Finally, small charge on clean water can encourage responsible use. For instance, survey conducted in Japan in 2023, revealed that 70% people believe that water can be save if it have a small charge. To sum up, I believe that water should not to be free. Not only because it required high cost for maintainenance and people may waste water, but also because of small charge can encourage responsible use.
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 and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention maintenance costs and the risk of water wastage, the arguments are repetitive and lack depth. For instance, the point about 'dirty water needs treatment' is a relevant observation, but it is not fully connected to the economic argument in a sophisticated way. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph introduces a distinct, well-explained point rather than restating the same ideas. The conclusion effectively summarizes your stance, but the overall development remains at a basic level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'To sum up' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical or grammatically awkward, such as 'Not only because of high cost... but also because of small charge'. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the use of 'it' in 'it gives a pressure on government', where the antecedent is ambiguous. Improving the variety and accuracy of your linking words will help the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'high cost', 'waste', and 'expensive'. There are also some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'water can be save' (should be 'saved') and 'not bearable at any cost' (should be 'unacceptable' or 'unsustainable'). While your meaning is generally clear, the lack of more sophisticated or academic vocabulary limits your score. Try to incorporate more precise terminology related to public policy and resource management.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Examples include 'Thats why' (missing apostrophe), 'government needs high budget for maintainenance' (missing article), and 'water should not to be free' (incorrect verb form). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the errors do not completely prevent understanding, they are frequent enough to suggest a lack of control over more complex grammatical forms. Focusing on proofreading for basic errors would significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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