Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-17

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 widely acknowledged that clean water is indispensable for human survival, leading many to argue that municipal water supplies should be provided to all households completely free of charge. Although I agree that state authorities must guarantee affordable access to safe water, I largely disagree with making residential water entirely cost-free for every household due to the risks of resource waste and fiscal strain on public infrastructure.

The primary argument against providing unlimited free water is that it inevitably encourages overconsumption and wasteful habits. When a vital resource carries no monetary cost, consumers lack economic incentives to use it prudently. Given that treating and piping clean water requires significant resources, unmetered and free distribution often leads to negligent behaviors, such as leaving taps running, ignoring leaks, or overusing water for non-essential purposes like washing vehicles and filling swimming pools. To illustrate, municipal studies globally show that regions offering unmetered or entirely free utilities suffer from drastically higher per capita consumption and rapid depletion of local aquifers. Consequently, making water free for everyone could jeopardize long-term environmental sustainability.

Furthermore, processing and delivering potable water to millions of households demands continuous capital expenditure. Purification plants, pipe maintenance, and sewage treatment require billions of dollars in upkeep. If governments were to absorb the full financial burden of providing free water to all citizens—including wealthy demographics—public funds would be heavily drained. As a result, governments might be forced to divert money away from other essential public sectors, such as healthcare, education, and public transportation.

However, a balanced approach can still honor water as a human right without causing economic or environmental harm. Instead of making water universally free, governments should adopt a tiered pricing model. Under this system, a basic daily quota necessary for hygiene and cooking is provided free or heavily subsidized, especially for low-income households. Subsequently, any consumption beyond this essential threshold is charged at standard rates. This strategy guarantees fundamental human rights while discouraging excessive waste and generating revenue to maintain infrastructure.

In conclusion, while clean water is undoubtedly an essential necessity, making home water supplies totally free for everyone is an unsustainable policy. Overall, a fairer solution is to guarantee a basic free allowance for human needs while charging for excess consumption to promote conservation and fund system maintenance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by taking a nuanced position and exploring both sides of the issue. The candidate presents a clear stance in the introduction that state authorities should guarantee affordable access, but disagrees with making residential water entirely free. Main ideas are well-developed throughout the body paragraphs, supported by logical consequences such as environmental overconsumption and fiscal strain on public infrastructure. The counterargument in the fourth paragraph is exceptionally well-handled, proposing a tiered pricing model that balances human rights with resource conservation. The position is maintained logically and consistently from the opening statement to the final conclusion. Overall, the content demonstrates a high level of analytical depth and fully satisfies the requirements of Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay displays a clear logical progression and a robust overall structure from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used skillfully, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct, well-signposted theme. Cohesive devices such as 'Although I agree', 'Consequently', 'Furthermore', and 'Instead of making water universally free' are employed flexibly and appropriately to guide the reader seamlessly through the argument. Referencing and substitution are handled with precision, ensuring that connections between sentences are natural and unobtrusive. The progression of ideas moves smoothly from abstract principles to practical economic consequences and finally to a balanced policy solution.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The candidate demonstrates a wide, flexible, and natural lexical range that is highly appropriate for an academic response. Sophisticated and uncommon terms such as 'indispensable', 'prudently', 'unmetered', 'depletion', 'capital expenditure', and 'tiered pricing model' are used accurately and with a strong sense of collocation and style. Word choices are precise, as seen in phrases like 'fiscal strain on public infrastructure' and 'absorbing the full financial burden'. There are virtually no spelling or lexical errors, and the vocabulary choices greatly enhance the clarity and sophistication of the argument, comfortably meeting the standards of Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response features a wide range of complex structures used with a high degree of flexibility and control. The majority of sentences are error-free, showcasing sophisticated syntactic arrangements such as participial phrases ('Given that treating and piping clean water requires significant resources...') and conditional or concessive clauses. Control of punctuation, tense consistency, and agreement is exemplary throughout the 380 words. While minor slips are characteristic of lower bands, this writing maintains a high level of grammatical precision alongside structural variety, earning a solid Band 8 rating.

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