Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

It is often argued that access to clean water is a fundamental human right and, therefore, every household should receive a free water supply. I completely agree with this view because clean water is essential for human survival and providing it free of charge can reduce financial pressure on low-income families.

On the one hand, clean water is necessary for maintaining good health and preventing diseases. Every individual needs safe water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. If people have to pay high prices for water, some low-income families may struggle to obtain sufficient supplies, which could negatively affect their health. For example, providing free clean water to households can help prevent water-related illnesses and improve living standards. Thus, ensuring access to water without charge can protect public health.

On the other hand, providing free water can also help reduce the financial burden on disadvantaged households. Many families already face difficulties paying for essential needs, such as food, electricity and housing. Removing water bills would allow them to use their limited income for other necessities, particularly when they have children or elderly family members to support. However, governments must still maintain water treatment facilities and pipelines, which requires considerable funding. Therefore, public authorities could provide a free basic amount of water while charging reasonable fees for excessive consumption.

To sum up, I strongly believe that every household should have access to clean water free of charge because it is essential for health and helps reduce financial hardship. Nevertheless, governments should ensure that sufficient funding is available to maintain water supplies and encourage responsible use.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student presents a clear position throughout the essay, agreeing that access to clean water should be free of charge, and effectively supports this stance. In the introduction, the writer states, 'I completely agree with this view because clean water is essential for human survival and providing it free of charge can reduce financial pressure on low-income families.' This position is maintained and developed across the body paragraphs. The first body paragraph explores public health implications, such as preventing water-related illnesses, while the second discusses economic benefits for disadvantaged households. The writer also demonstrates good critical thinking by acknowledging a counter-argument and suggesting a nuanced solution: 'Therefore, public authorities could provide a free basic amount of water while charging reasonable fees for excessive consumption.' All parts of the prompt are fully addressed, and ideas are well-developed with relevant examples and explanations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced and the essay demonstrates a clear progression throughout. The response is divided into logical paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs presenting distinct arguments, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are managed well without being overly mechanical. For instance, the student uses transitional phrases such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' to signal the shift between competing arguments, and 'To sum up' to introduce the conclusion. Referencing is clear throughout the text, as seen when 'this view' and 'such water' effectively link back to preceding clauses. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the reader can easily follow the progression of the writer's argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Less common lexical items are used with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'fundamental human right', 'low-income families', 'financial burden', and 'excessive consumption'. Word choices are precise enough to convey the intended meaning without ambiguity. While the vocabulary is not overly sophisticated or rare enough to merit a higher band, it is entirely adequate and supports clear communication. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede understanding, and phrases like 'water-related illnesses' and 'public authorities' show a good command of topic-specific language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional and causal dependent clauses. Examples include 'If people have to pay high prices for water, some low-income families may struggle to obtain sufficient supplies...' and '...because clean water is essential for human survival and providing it free of charge can reduce financial pressure on low-income families.' The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. The writer shows good control of grammar across different tense forms and modals. Although rare minor slips might occur, the grammatical control is strong, allowing the complex arguments to be delivered smoothly and accurately.

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