Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

As a basic human right, every resident should have access to potable water at no cost, and it has become a crucial topic of discussion in recent years. Although safe drinking water is needed by all human beings regardless of their economic status, I disagree that it should be free for everyone, including those who are financially capable, because the water supply system requires substantial expenditure on equipment as well as labor and electricity.

First and foremost, clean water supply is essential everywhere, especially in those areas which are densely populated. There are diverse ways for water supply, which include different mechanisms and equipment. Most of them require a huge amount of cost for electricity and manpower to execute those plans. For example, in a densely populated urban area, potable water can be supplied from a central area to every residential building, and then the multi-storied buildings can distribute the water among all floors by an electric machine. This full process requires electricity and labor that is not less expensive. If the government pays this cost, it has to increase the overall taxation that may affect people of all economic classes.

In addition, the affluent classes of people already are benefiting from all amenities of this society such as better food, clothes, education, treatments, and other needs for humans in this society. On the other hand, underprivileged people are continuously struggling to survive. In this case, making clean drinking water free of charges is crucial for the low-income classes. In contrast, as wealthy families can bear this cost, making potable water free of charge is unnecessary for them.

In conclusion, it is more logical to me that safe drinking water should be available without any cost for only certain targeted people from underprivileged backgrounds, and charges should be applied to people from well-off backgrounds. Otherwise, the whole system can lead to a burden on poor people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that disagrees with universal free water supply while proposing a targeted subsidy model. The ideas are relevant and logically developed. The argument regarding the economic burden of infrastructure maintenance is well-supported with examples like electricity and labor costs. The distinction between affluent and underprivileged groups is clearly articulated, providing a balanced perspective. The response maintains a consistent position throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main argument. To reach a higher band, the student could further explore the potential social consequences of a tiered pricing system or provide more specific real-world examples of how such systems function in other countries.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'In contrast' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The referencing is generally clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. While the flow is logical, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the structure is sound and supports the development of the argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task, allowing for clear communication of ideas. The student uses relevant terms such as 'potable water', 'expenditure', 'densely populated', and 'affluent classes'. There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation or word choice, such as 'electric machine' (which would be better as 'pumping system' or 'infrastructure') and 'not less expensive' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). However, the range is adequate to convey the intended meaning precisely. To improve, the student should focus on using more academic collocations and avoiding slightly repetitive phrasing when discussing costs.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and the meaning is never obscured by errors. Examples of complex structures include the use of conditional clauses ('If the government pays this cost...') and concessive clauses ('Although safe drinking water is needed...'). There are occasional minor errors, such as 'the affluent classes of people already are benefiting' (word order) and 'free of charges' (should be 'free of charge'). Despite these, the majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is generally used correctly. The level of accuracy is consistent with a solid band 7.

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

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