Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Access to clean water is undoubtedly essential for human survival and well-being. Some people argue that every household should receive a water supply free of charge because clean water is a basic human right. I largely agree with this view, although I believe that excessive consumption should not be completely free.

Firstly, providing every household with a basic amount of free water would help ensure public health and social equality. Clean water is necessary for drinking, cooking and maintaining personal hygiene. If people cannot afford an adequate water supply, they may be forced to use unsafe sources, which can lead to serious diseases. This issue is particularly important for low-income families, who may have to choose between paying for water and meeting other essential needs. Therefore, governments should guarantee a minimum quantity of safe water to every household.

However, making unlimited water completely free could encourage unnecessary consumption and place a significant financial burden on governments. Water treatment, purification and distribution require expensive infrastructure and regular maintenance. Moreover, in areas affected by drought or water shortages, free unlimited access could result in waste. For example, households might leave taps running or use excessive amounts of water for activities such as washing cars and watering gardens.

In my view, a balanced approach would be most appropriate. Governments should provide each household with a sufficient amount of clean water free of charge to cover basic needs. However, households that consume water beyond this reasonable limit could be required to pay according to their usage. This system would protect the basic right to clean water while also encouraging responsible consumption.

In conclusion, clean water should be freely available for essential household needs, but unlimited use should not necessarily be free. This approach could promote both social equality and sustainable water management.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student presents a well-developed position throughout the response, effectively addressing all parts of the task prompt. The writer agrees with the statement while introducing a nuanced condition regarding excessive consumption. Ideas are well supported and extended, as seen in the second paragraph where the link between unaffordable water, unsafe sources, and public health is clearly articulated. The counter-argument regarding the financial burden on governments and risks of waste is equally well developed in the third paragraph. A balanced conclusion ties the arguments together logically. The response meets all the requirements of Band 7 and exhibits many qualities of Band 8, such as well-developed ideas and a clear, highly cohesive position throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used very effectively, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct sub-topic: public health benefits, economic and waste concerns, and the proposed balanced solution. Cohesive devices are handled naturally without feeling overly mechanical, using linking phrases such as 'Firstly', 'However', 'Moreover', and 'In my view' to guide the reader seamlessly through the argument. Referencing is clear throughout, and the progression of thought never falters. This level of management fully satisfies the requirements for a Band 8 score in coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient and generally flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion on social policy and resources. Less common items such as 'essential for human survival', 'personal hygiene', 'unnecessary consumption', and 'sustainable water management' are employed with good awareness of style and collocation. Word choices are precise, and there are virtually no spelling or lexical errors that impede communication. While the range is somewhat standard for a strong academic response rather than exceptionally sophisticated, it comfortably meets the criteria for Band 7, showing good precision and control over topic-specific terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide variety of complex structures deployed accurately, such as conditional sentences ('If people cannot afford... they may be forced to use...') and participial phrases ('purification and distribution require...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled with a high degree of control. Minor slips are virtually absent, and the grammatical execution supports clear, sophisticated communication. The control demonstrated over complex syntactic forms places this response firmly at the Band 8 level for grammatical range and accuracy.

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