Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-18

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)

It is often argued that the access of pure water is a fundamental neccessity of every human . it is always considered as a individual right and provide to households as no cost. While i agree that access to safe water is essential ofr public health, i believe that the supply of free water is economical and could lead to irresponsiblee consumption.

On the one hand, the reason is providing free of charge water protect public health. Water is not a luxury, it is a requirement for life. To explain, if government charges high rates for water, the low income families might be forced to use contaminatedd water which leads some major diseases like cholera and typhoid. according to the recent research by a famous newspaper, in a small village people used contaminated water to drink and cook food. after sometimes, the individuals suffered with major health problems and caused death.

On the other hand,the process of delivering clean water involves significant infrastructure costs. Treating raw water to make it drinkable and maintaining a vast network of pipes requires constant funding and labor. If the government provides this service entirely for free, it may lack the budget to upgrade aging systems or expand supply to rural areas. Furthermore, when a resource is free, there is often a lack of incentive to conserve it. This can lead to irresponsible consumption and the depletion of natural water reservoirs, which is a major environmental concern.

In conclusion, while i acknowleged that every human has a right to clean water, I believe that a balanced approach is necessary. A more practical solution would be a subsidized system where a basic amount of water is provided for free to meet daily needs, while usage beyond that limit is charged. This ensures that the poor are protected while encouraging everyone to value and conserve this precious resource.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position throughout. The writer acknowledges both sides of the argument—the public health benefits of free water versus the economic and environmental concerns of providing it entirely without charge. Ideas are generally well-developed, particularly in the body paragraphs where points about infrastructure costs, water conservation, and health risks are explored. However, the supporting evidence in the first body paragraph relies on a vague reference to a 'famous newspaper' rather than a more specific example from general knowledge or experience. Despite this minor weakness in support, the overall task requirements are met effectively, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear overall progression and logical organisation. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving logically from the introduction to two well-structured body paragraphs and a balanced conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, paragraphing and referencing are occasionally impacted by minor mechanical issues, such as missing capitalisation at the beginning of sentences (e.g., 'it is always considered') and slightly rigid transitions. Paragraphing is used sufficiently, and the overarching structure ensures that the flow of ideas remains coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Less common lexical items are attempted, such as 'infrastructure costs', 'sustainable', 'depletion', and 'subsidized system'. However, there are several spelling errors throughout the text, including 'neccessity', 'ofr', 'economical' (used where 'uneconomical' or 'costly' was intended), 'contaminatedd', and 'acknowleged'. Additionally, there are occasional awkward word choices, such as 'provide to households as no cost' instead of 'provided to households at no cost'. While these lexical errors and typos are noticeable, they do not impede communication, placing the response firmly in the Band 6 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating conditional and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'if government charges high rates for water, the low income families might be forced...'). There are, however, several grammatical errors and punctuation lapses, such as missing articles ('the access of pure water'), capitalization errors at sentence openings, and minor agreement or preposition issues ('suffered with major health problems'). Despite these errors, the complex structures attempted show flexibility, and the mistakes rarely impede communication. The control of grammar is sufficient to satisfy the criteria for a Band 6.0 performance.

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

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