Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-16

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 7.5)

Access to clean water is widely recognized as a fundamental human right because it is essential for survival, health, and basic dignity. Without safe water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation, communities face severe health crises, including the spread of preventable diseases like cholera. Proponents of free water argue that charging for this life-sustaining resource creates systemic inequality, disproportionately harming low-income families who may be forced to consume contaminated water. From this perspective, ensuring a free supply to every home is a moral obligation that protects public health and promotes social justice.

However, providing an unlimited water supply entirely free of charge is economically and environmentally unsustainable. Cleaning raw water, building treatment plants, and maintaining thousands of miles of underground pipes require massive, ongoing financial investments. If governments bear these costs entirely without collecting usage fees, water infrastructure can quickly decay, leading to widespread shortages and contamination. Furthermore, when a vital resource carries no financial cost, it inevitably leads to negligence, waste, and the rapid depletion of local ecosystems.

To balance human rights with economic reality, many experts advocate for a tiered framework rather than a completely free model. Under this approach, governments provide a baseline quota of free water to every household to cover essential daily needs like drinking and basic hygiene. Any consumption beyond this standard amount is billed at a progressive rate, which discourages luxury waste, encourages environmental conservation, and generates the necessary revenue to repair and upgrade the water system. A balanced approach ensures universal survival while protecting our shared future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by taking a clear and well-supported position on whether water should be provided free of charge. The writer acknowledges the arguments for free water access based on human rights and public health, such as 'ensuring a free supply to every home is a moral obligation.' Simultaneously, the response examines the counter-arguments regarding environmental sustainability and infrastructure costs. The progression of ideas naturally culminates in a nuanced conclusion that proposes a 'tiered framework' rather than an all-or-nothing approach. Ideas are thoroughly developed with relevant explanations and real-world considerations, meeting all criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Cohesion and coherence are skillfully managed throughout the response. The text is divided into four logically structured paragraphs that follow a clear line of argument: introduction, opposing view, economic reality, and synthesized conclusion. Cohesive devices are used naturally and unobtrusively, such as 'Proponents of free water argue,' 'From this perspective,' 'Furthermore,' and 'Under this approach.' Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct thematic points, ensuring that the reader can follow the development of ideas with absolute ease.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, flexible, and natural lexical resource suitable for an academic response. Sophisticated and precise terms are utilized throughout the text, including 'fundamental human right,' 'systemic inequality,' 'environmentally unsustainable,' and 'progressive rate.' Uncommon lexical items are handled with a high degree of control and appropriate collocation, as seen in phrases like 'vital resource carries no financial cost' and 'rapid depletion of local ecosystems.' Spelling and word choice are entirely accurate, contributing to a fluid reading experience.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high level of accuracy. The writer incorporates varied clause types effortlessly, such as conditional and participial constructions in 'Without safe water for drinking... communities face severe health crises' and 'Cleaning raw water... require massive, ongoing financial investments.' The majority of sentences are error-free, and complex structures are handled with precision. Punctuation is flawless, and control over tense and agreement is consistently maintained from the introduction to the concluding sentence.

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