Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-19
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 4.5)
To begin with, there are several reasons why this topic is important in our daily life. The main reason is that [TOPIC] can have a direct effect on people and society. Many people face this issue in their daily lives, and it can influence their lifestyle in different ways. For example, it may affect people’s work, education, health, family life, or relationships. In addition, young people and families can also be influenced by this situation. Another important point is that [TOPIC] can have both positive and negative effects. It mainly depends on how people use it and how they deal with the situation. Therefore, people should understand this issue and think carefully before making any decision.
Moreover, there are some possible ways to improve the situation. People should have proper knowledge about the issue and should make responsible decisions. They should also understand the advantages and disadvantages before taking any action. The government, schools, and families can play an important role by providing guidance, education, and support. For instance, simple rules, useful information, and better awareness can help people make better choices. In this way, many problems can be controlled and people can have a better life. It is also important that everyone should take responsibility and work together to solve this issue.
In conclusion, [TOPIC] is an important issue that should not be ignored. It can affect individuals, families, and society in different ways. If people, families, schools, and the government work together, the negative effects can be reduced and the overall situation can be improved.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 2.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 2.0
The student's response completely fails to address the specific prompt regarding clean water as a human right and whether it should be provided free of charge. Instead, the essay relies entirely on a generic, memorised template containing placeholder text like [TOPIC], discussing vague issues without mentioning water, rights, or government provision. According to the band descriptors, this falls well below Band 5 because the task is addressed only tangentially or not at all in relation to the actual prompt provided. While paragraphs are present, the content has no connection to the stimulus question, resulting in a score of 2.0 for Task Achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
Looking at the structural arrangement of the text, the student uses standard paragraph breaks and generic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion'. Ideas follow a logical sequence for a generic essay outline. However, because the core topic is missing and replaced by bracketed placeholders, the overall progression lacks any real semantic connection to a specific topic. Referencing is problematic due to the abstract nature of the phrases used. While cohesive devices are present and mechanical paragraphing is functional, the lack of topical substance prevents a higher score. It fits the lower end of Band 5 where organisation is apparent on the surface, but overall progression and logical development fail due to a lack of meaningful content.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used throughout the essay is extremely generic, repetitive, and heavily relies on template phrases such as 'affect people’s work, education, health', 'positive and negative effects', and 'proper knowledge about the issue'. There is no specific terminology related to the actual topic of water supply, human rights, or public utilities. The writer demonstrates a limited vocabulary range suitable for basic communication, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Minor awkwardness in phrasing appears, though words are generally spelled correctly. This corresponds to Band 5, showing a minimally adequate range with noticeable limitations in task-specific lexis.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The text demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'The main reason is that [TOPIC] can have a direct effect on people and society' and 'It mainly depends on how people use it and how they deal with the situation.' Grammatical accuracy is reasonably good for simple constructions, and punctuation is handled adequately. There are occasional errors, but they do not impede general understanding. The grammar shows control over basic structures and makes safe attempts at subordination and relative clauses. This performance aligns comfortably with Band 6, where a mix of structures is used with some errors that rarely impede communication.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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