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
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The candidate successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by presenting a clear position ('I partially agree with this statement') and exploring both sides of the argument. The ideas are well developed and supported with relevant examples, such as how free water helps low-income families allocate funds toward food and education, and how unlimited free water might lead to excessive consumption and financial strain on governments. The response maintains a clear progression throughout, meeting all requirements of the task effectively, earning a solid band score.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with distinct introduction, body, and concluding sections. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Additionally', and 'Therefore' are employed to guide the reader smoothly through the arguments, though referencing and transitions remain fairly standard. The overall arrangement is fully coherent and easy to follow from start to finish.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision. Words and phrases like 'disadvantaged people', 'financial burden', 'unnecessary consumption', and 'financial incentive' show a good grasp of topic-specific lekisl. There are occasional slight awkwardness in phrasing, such as capitalising 'Providing' mid-sentence, but the lexical resource is generally adequate for precise communication and successful task delivery.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The essay contains a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional sentences ('If governments provide a basic amount...', 'If consumers do not have to pay anything...') and dependent clauses. Grammatical control is generally strong with frequent error-free sentences. Minor punctuation or capitalisation errors do occur, such as the accidental capitalisation of 'Providing' at the start of the second paragraph, but these do not impede communication in any way.
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