Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-26

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)

There is a widespread view that hygienic and clean water supply is a basic human right. And every home should have supply of clean water without any cost. I firmly agree with this view because I believe that water is an essential part of our lives and not everyone can afford it.

The most compelling argument I have against this is that without water the human body cannot function properly. What is more, it is the most vital part of our body, every cell and every part of our body requires water for normal functioning. Also, according to research the human body is almost 70% water. For instance, if we stop drinking water for some time our body just completely dehydrates and we cannot function properly.

Another important contributing factor is that water is required for every household work from taking a bath to washing clothes and dishes we need water. A clear example of this is that if we do not have clean water we cannot clean ourselves basically we cannot wash ourselves or our clothes or home etc. So that's why water is a major source of life for every human being.

For the reasons outlined above, I am convinced that water is a basic human right and every home is entitled to have water without any additional charge. According to research almost millions of people die every year due to water borne diseases. So, Our Governments should make it necessary to give water to every household in the country free of charge.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student presents a clear and straightforward position agreeing with the prompt that clean water should be provided free of charge. The main ideas are related to health requirements and household needs, as seen in the statement: 'water is an essential part of our lives and not everyone can afford it.' However, the development of ideas tends to be repetitive and relies heavily on general assertions, such as 'the human body is almost 70% water' and 'we need water for every household work.' While the prompt is addressed, the extension of ideas lacks depth and relies on simplistic examples rather than fully elaborated arguments. This places the performance firmly in Band 6, where the task is addressed and relevant ideas are presented, but some points remain somewhat under-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to group related ideas, such as health arguments in the second paragraph and domestic uses in the third. However, cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'What is more,' 'Also,' and 'For instance.' Referencing is generally clear, though the progression between sentences can feel slightly disjointed due to simple transitions. Overall, the organizational structure is adequate for a Band 6 score, as logical sequencing is present, but cohesion is occasionally faulty or overly simplistic.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'hygienic,' 'essential,' 'dehydrates,' and 'entitled.' However, there are noticeable limitations and occasional awkward word choices, such as 'household work' instead of 'household chores' and 'water borne diseases' missing a hyphen. The vocabulary is generally functional and communicates the intended meaning without impeding the reader, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands. This performance aligns with Band 6, where the writer demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary and attempts less common items with some minor inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over basic structures and attempting more complex clauses, as seen in 'I firmly agree with this view because I believe that water is an essential part of our lives.' There are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues throughout the text, such as missing commas after introductory phrases ('For instance, if we stop drinking water...'), a run-on sentence structure in the third paragraph ('A clear example of this is that if we do not have clean water we cannot clean ourselves basically we cannot wash ourselves...'), and a capitalized 'Our' in the final paragraph. Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication. This corresponds to Band 6.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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