Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-25

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)

It is often argued that access to clean water is a fundamental human right and, therefore, should be provided to every household at no cost. While I agree that water is essential for survival, I disagree that it should be entirely free of charge because of the costs of infrastructure and the risk of wasting this precious resource.

The main reason why water should not be free is the high cost of maintaining a safe supply system. Providing clean water to homes requires expensive technology for filtration, as well as a vast network of pipes that must be regularly repaired. If the government provided water for free, they might struggle to find the budget to keep these systems running safely. For example, in many developing nations where water infrastructure is poorly funded, citizens often suffer from waterborne diseases because the supply is not properly treated.

Furthermore, making water free could lead to significant waste. When people do not have to pay for a resource, they often use it carelessly. For instance, individuals might leave taps running or use excessive amounts of water for gardening and washing cars. By charging a fair price based on usage, authorities encourage people to be more mindful of their consumption. This is crucial in the modern world, where many regions are facing severe water shortages due to climate change.

In conclusion, although clean water is a basic necessity, I believe that charging for its supply is necessary. It ensures that the infrastructure remains functional and safe, and it discourages people from wasting a limited resource. A better approach might be for governments to provide a small amount of free water for basic needs while charging for higher usage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student presents a very clear and well-developed position throughout the response. The introduction directly addresses the prompt by acknowledging the premise that clean water is a fundamental right while clearly disagreeing that it should be provided entirely free of charge. Each body paragraph explores a distinct, well-supported argument: the first focuses on the economic and logistical realities of infrastructure maintenance, such as filtration and pipe networks, while the second explores the critical issue of resource conservation and waste prevention. Furthermore, the conclusion thoughtfully offers a nuanced compromise—suggesting a tiered system where basic needs are met with a small amount of free water, while excessive usage is charged. All parts of the task are fully addressed with relevant, extended ideas, meeting the criteria for a high band.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used skillfully, with each paragraph serving a distinct topical purpose: the introduction establishes the thesis, the body paragraphs present separate supporting arguments, and the conclusion synthesizes the stance. Cohesive devices are managed naturally and effectively without feeling mechanical or overused. For instance, transitional phrases like 'The main reason why', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' guide the reader smoothly through the writer's line of reasoning. Referencing and substitution are handled with precision, ensuring that ideas flow logically and cohesively throughout the entire essay.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student exhibits a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic discussion on social rights and resource management. Less common lexical items are used with good awareness of collocation and style, such as 'fundamental human right', 'waterborne diseases', 'infrastructure', and 'severe water shortages'. Word choices are precise, and collocations function naturally within the context. Although the vocabulary is well-suited and communicates ideas fluently, it stops just short of the highly sophisticated and idiomatic control required for a Band 8 or 9, occasionally relying on standard academic collocations rather than truly uncommon phrasing. However, there are no notable spelling or word-choice errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The writer demonstrates strong control over grammar and sentence structure, producing a high proportion of error-free sentences. There is a healthy mix of complex and compound sentence forms used flexibly to express conditional, causal, and concessive relationships, such as 'While I agree that water is essential for survival, I disagree that it should be entirely free...' and 'When people do not have to pay for a resource, they often use it carelessly.' Punctuation is accurate, and subordinate clauses are integrated smoothly. Errors are extremely rare and non-systematic, easily fitting the profile of Band 8 where the majority of sentences are completely error-free and control over grammar is sophisticated and reliable.

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