Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-27

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 6.5)

Given that clean water is essential to human life, it is often argued that every household should be guaranteed access to a free water supply. I partially agree with this statement. I will provide my opinion on both sides.

On the one hand, Providing free access to clean water can protect people's health and ensure that everyone can meet their basic needs. In addition,

Water is essential for drinking, cooking, and maintaining hygiene. However, low-income families may struggle to pay for an adequate supply of clean water. If governments provide a basic amount of water free of cost, disadvantaged people can maintain better living standards and avoid water-related diseases. For example, in poorer communities where household incomes are low, free access to safe drinking water could help families spend their limited income on other necessities such as food, education, and healthcare. Therefore, providing a basic amount of clean water free of charge can help ensure that all people, regardless of their financial situation, have access to this essential resource.

On the other hand, providing unlimited water completely free of charge could place a significant financial burden on governments and encourage unnecessary consumption. Additionally, Water treatment, transportation, and the maintenance of pipelines require considerable investment. If consumers do not have to pay anything, they may also be less careful about how much water they use. As a result, governments might have to increase taxes or reduce spending on other public services. For instance, households might leave taps running or use excessive amounts of water for gardening if there is no financial incentive to conserve it. To sum up, making water completely free for everyone could increase government expenditure and encourage people to waste this valuable resource.

In conclusion, I believe that every household should be guaranteed access to a basic amount of clean water free of charge, while excessive consumption should be paid for.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position and exploring both sides of the argument before concluding. The position is well maintained throughout the response. In the body paragraphs, relevant ideas are presented, such as protecting health for low-income families and preventing excessive consumption or financial burden on governments. These ideas are extended and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as mentioning poorer communities and gardening. While some points could be explored with even greater depth, the response fully satisfies the requirements for Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently sequenced, beginning with an introduction that outlines the writer's stance, followed by balanced body paragraphs and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'As a result', although there is a minor mechanical punctuation issue at the start of the second body paragraph where a sentence is broken mid-line with a capital letter. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct aspects of the argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision to discuss a social and economic topic. Less common items such as 'disadvantaged people', 'financial incentive', 'excessive consumption', and 'government expenditure' are successfully employed. There are occasional slight awkwardnesses or minor word-choice slips, but overall the lexical resource is adequate to convey precise meanings and supports clear communication throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and dependent clauses like 'If governments provide a basic amount of water free of cost...' and 'If consumers do not have to pay anything...'. There is good control of grammar and punctuation overall, with frequent error-free sentences. Minor slips occur, such as the accidental capitalisation after 'In addition,' but these do not impede communication. The control demonstrated aligns well with a Band 7 performance.

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