Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

Clean water is essential for human survival and is widely regarded as a basic human necessity. Some people therefore argue that every household should receive a free water supply. I agree that everyone should have access to clean water, but I do not believe that providing unlimited water completely free of charge is the most practical solution.

The main reason for providing free or affordable water is that it is essential for people's health and well-being. Without a reliable supply of clean water, people are more likely to suffer from waterborne diseases and poor hygiene. This issue can be particularly serious for low-income families, who may struggle to pay for basic utilities. Governments should therefore ensure that every household has access to a sufficient amount of safe drinking water, regardless of its financial situation. This could be achieved through subsidies or a free basic allowance.

However, providing unlimited water free of charge could place a significant financial burden on governments and may encourage unnecessary consumption. Water treatment, storage and distribution require substantial investment, and these costs have to be covered in some way. If people do not have to pay anything for water, they may be less careful about how much they use. For example, households might leave taps running or use excessive amounts of water for gardening and cleaning. In areas that already experience water shortages, such waste could make the problem worse.

A more effective approach would be to provide a basic quantity of clean water free of charge and charge households for consumption above this limit. Under such a system, essential needs such as drinking, cooking and personal hygiene would be protected, while excessive use would be discouraged. Governments could also provide financial assistance to disadvantaged families and invest in water-saving infrastructure. This would make the system both fairer and more sustainable.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that every person should have access to clean water because it is essential for health and survival. However, I disagree with the idea of making an unlimited water supply completely free. Providing a basic amount at no cost, combined with reasonable charges for excessive consumption, would be a more practical and sustainable solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have fully addressed all parts of the task by presenting a clear position throughout the response. You agree that access to clean water is a fundamental right that requires government support, but you nuance your stance by disagreeing that an unlimited supply should be provided entirely free of charge. Your ideas are well developed and extended, particularly in your third paragraph where you discuss the financial burden on governments and the risk of excessive consumption, and in your fourth paragraph where you propose a tiered or mixed system. Examples such as leaving taps running and using water for gardening add specific context to your arguments. Your response meets all requirements for a Band 8 under Task Achievement as you cover all parts of the prompt with well-developed ideas and a clear, consistent stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Your essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: introduction of the thesis, arguments for free water/basic access, arguments against unlimited free water, a proposed practical solution, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'The main reason', 'However', and 'A more effective approach' are used naturally and effectively to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each new idea cleanly separated. Referencing is clear throughout. Although cohesion is managed very well, it stops just short of the seamless, unobtrusive flow required for a Band 9, placing your essay solidly in the Band 8 range.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical resource that allows you to discuss this topic with precision. You successfully incorporate less common vocabulary and appropriate collocations, such as 'waterborne diseases', 'financial burden', 'unnecessary consumption', 'water-saving infrastructure', and 'disadvantaged families'. Word choice is generally accurate and natural, with only occasional minor imperfections. Spelling and word formation are flawless throughout the text. While your vocabulary is strong and well-suited to an academic context, it occasionally relies on standard topic-specific terms rather than highly sophisticated or rare idiomatic phrases, which aligns your performance with a strong Band 7 or lower Band 8. You have a very solid command of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide range of structures, successfully combining simple and complex sentences. Your essay features accurate use of conditional and modal structures, such as 'If people do not have to pay anything for water, they may be less careful' and 'Governments should therefore ensure that every household has access...'. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation and control of grammar are consistently good throughout. There are only very occasional minor slips or awkward constructions, but these never impede communication. Your control over complex grammatical forms easily satisfies the criteria for Band 8.

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