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)

It is argued that clean water is a fundamental human right and should therefore be supplied to all households free of cost. While I agree that basic access to safe drinking water is essential for human survival, I disagree with the idea that unlimited domestic water supply should be completely free, as this could lead to widespread waste and infrastructure decay.

On the one hand, providing free water ensures equality and protects public health. Water is essential for drinking, cooking, and hygiene; without it, individuals face severe health risks such as waterborne diseases. For low-income families, paying utility bills can be a heavy financial burden. If governments offer a basic allowance of free water to every home, it guarantees that no one is deprived of this essential resource due to poverty. For example, several local municipalities provide a daily minimum threshold of free water per household to safeguard vulnerable populations, which significantly improves overall public health standards.

On the other hand, supplying unlimited free water to every home is financially unsustainable and environmentally risky. When a resource is entirely free, consumers often lose the incentive to conserve it. People might waste vast amounts of water on non-essential activities like washing cars or filling swimming pools, leading to severe water shortages. Furthermore, maintaining filtration plants, repairing pipelines, and managing supply networks require substantial funding. If citizens do not pay water tariffs, governments may lack the revenue needed to maintain quality standards, ultimately resulting in poor water quality for everyone.

In conclusion, although access to clean water is indeed a basic human right, providing it entirely free of charge can cause excessive waste and financial strain on public utilities. A balanced approach—where a basic amount is provided for free or at a subsidized rate, while higher consumption is charged—is a far more sustainable solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by taking a well-developed, nuanced position on whether domestic water supply should be completely free. In the introduction, the writer acknowledges that basic access is a fundamental right, while clearly disagreeing with the notion of an entirely free, unlimited supply. The body paragraphs present fully developed and extended arguments. For instance, the first body paragraph explores the social and health benefits of providing a basic allowance for low-income families, supported by the example of local municipalities providing a daily minimum threshold. The second body paragraph logically contrasts this with the environmental and financial risks of unlimited free consumption, citing issues like waste and infrastructure decay. The conclusion successfully synthesises the arguments and proposes a balanced, sustainable solution. The prompt is comprehensively covered throughout with no omissions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear, logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently structured, moving smoothly from the introduction to the supporting arguments, and finally to a balanced conclusion. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central theme: the first body paragraph discusses the benefits of free basic access, while the second explores the drawbacks of unlimited supply. Cohesive devices are managed very well, using appropriate signposting language such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader through the writer's line of reasoning. Referencing and substitution are handled naturally, ensuring that the relationships between ideas are clear and unambiguous at all times.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The writer demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical range that is well-suited to an academic essay. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used skillfully throughout the response, such as 'fundamental human right', 'waterborne diseases', 'financial burden', 'infrastructure decay', and 'sustainable solution'. Word choice and collocation are generally accurate and natural, contributing to the professional tone of the writing. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies or common word combinations, but these never impede communication. Spelling and word formation are entirely accurate across the text, reflecting a strong command of academic English vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, successfully integrating both simple and complex sentences with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and complex constructions—such as conditional or concessive clauses like 'While I agree that basic access... I disagree with the idea that...' and 'If governments offer a basic allowance... it guarantees that...'—are handled with strong control. Punctuation is used accurately to structure complex arguments. There are very occasional minor slips or awkward phrasing, but these are non-systematic and do not interfere with the clarity of the message. The grammatical control strongly aligns with a Band 8 level.

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