Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-23
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 5.5)
Every home should be provided with a water supply that is free of charge since it is a basic human right to at least have access to clean water. Water is a basic human necessity which people need especially for drinking and their everyday tasks, despite it people are still deprived of it such that we neither get clean water nor free supply at our home.
Humans require clean water for drinking purpose but instead of getting it supplied to our home, we often have to buy mineral water. This factor has also made water an expensive resource making it un-accessible to poor people and relying on tap water often spread diseases.For example, in 2024 several people had got infectious disease due to drinking of impure water.
This basic right which should have been provided for free is charged by our government as a monthly bill. Even if people are paying, still they are not getting pure water healthy enough to be used for drinking. Goverment should work on atleast providing it for free to poor people by re-considering tax policies and make clean water accessible to every one. In Pakistan, funds were collected from public in hopes that dams will be created so that clean water will be supplied to everyone and especially to poor people for free making it a great initiative.
In conclusion, water being a basic necessity should be supplied to our home for free of charge so that people dont have to pay hefty amount each month only for the mineral water, when they are paying water bill of their country.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing whether clean water should be provided free of charge, presenting a clear personal position in favour of this view. The ideas are generally relevant, arguing that water is a basic necessity and that current billing systems fail to deliver pure water, leading to health issues and financial strain on the poor. However, the development is somewhat limited and relies on sweeping generalisations rather than fully extended arguments. For instance, the mention of Pakistan's dam initiative is a relevant real-world example, but its connection to free water supply is not fully elaborated. The response meets the requirements of the task by covering the main prompt, earning a band score of 6.0 according to the descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a recognizable introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Ideas are generally grouped logically, focusing on health risks, government taxation, and potential solutions. However, paragraphing and cohesive devices are sometimes faulty or mechanical. For example, transitions between sentences can feel abrupt, such as the sudden shift in the second paragraph with 'This factor has also made water an expensive resource...'. Referencing is also occasionally unclear, particularly with pronoun usage like 'despite it people are still deprived of it'. While the progression of ideas is discernible, the lack of sophisticated cohesive devices places this performance firmly at a band 6.0 level.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying the writer's meaning regarding public utilities and human rights. The student attempts some less common vocabulary items and phrases, such as 'basic human necessity', 'infectious disease', and 're-considering tax policies'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation inaccuracies throughout the text, such as 'drinking purpose' instead of 'drinking purposes', 'had got infectious disease' instead of 'contracted infectious diseases', and 'un-accessible' instead of 'inaccessible'. Spelling and word formation errors, such as 'Goverment' and 'dont', also occur, though they do not seriously impede communication. This demonstrates the characteristics of a band 6.0 lexical range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over grammar. Examples of complex structures include 'Every home should be provided with a water supply that is free of charge since...' and 'Even if people are paying, still they are not getting pure water...'. However, there are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, and article usage that persist throughout the text. Notable errors include subject-verb agreement issues and tense slips, such as 'several people had got' and 'make clean water accessible' following 'Goverment should work on atleast providing'. Despite these recurring mechanical and grammatical errors, they rarely impede overall communication, placing the response at a band 5.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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