Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-06

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)

This is a basic human right to get access to clean water. Therefore water should be supplied to every home and provided free of cost. I totally disagree to this statement due to the shortage of pure and clean water in majority of countries.

Firstly, the clean water is not only necessary for humans. It is also important for other living beings like animals and plants. Animals need fresh water to drink inorder to stay healthy and provide us with nutritious foods and drinks. If they stay healthy, so as we. Other than that, some plants need fresh water to grow. If they are compromised on their growth process, we have to suffer from its side effects. For instance, if we donot focus on plants growth and supply unclean water to it, we have to face alot of diseases like fungal infections, skin allergies and diarrhea etc.

Secondly, most countries in the region, like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and The UAE, don't have clean water due to its harsh climate. However, they have to manage it by using heavy machinery and utilizing their financial budget on to it. If they provide it free of charge, it won't only effect their economy but also makes a huge shortage of it because people stop caring about it. They will use this water in their normal routine like for washing cars and cleaning the streets.

In conclusion, I just want to make clear that whether the access to clean water is a basic human right, but it won't be misused and the only way to stop is to charge upon it. It is important for both the human beings and other living organisms. It also boost the economy of the country and help them to improve its resources.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you disagree with free household water, and you give reasons involving scarcity, production costs and possible waste. The examples of water-scarce Gulf countries and using water to wash cars are relevant. However, the response only partly develops the central issue of whether access as a right requires the supply itself to be free. The discussion of animals and plants shifts attention away from household provision, and claims such as charging water “boost[s] the economy” are not explained. Clarify the distinction between guaranteeing essential water and charging for excessive use, then support that position with a specific example. The response meets the required length; nine words copied from the task prompt were excluded from the count.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs signalled by “Firstly” and “Secondly,” and a conclusion. This helps the reader identify your main position and supporting points. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the first body paragraph moves from human needs to animals, plants and disease without showing how these points support your argument about free household supply. Some linking is mechanical, and “If they stay healthy, so as we” does not clearly connect the ideas. The conclusion also introduces claims about economic benefits that have not been established earlier. Group related points more tightly and use clear references and transitions to show how each reason supports your position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate your main ideas, including “shortage,” “harsh climate,” “financial budget” and “misused.” There are also attempts to express cause and consequence, such as “due to” and “side effects.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, which limits precision: “disagree to this statement,” “effect their economy,” and “charge upon it” do not express the intended meanings naturally. Spelling and spacing errors such as “donot,” “alot” and “inorder” are also noticeable. Build a more accurate range of phrases for water supply, pricing and conservation, and check spelling and collocations during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including conditional forms such as “If they provide it free of charge…” and “If they stay healthy…”. This shows some range, but complex structures are often faulty, and errors recur across the response. For example, “If they stay healthy, so as we” has an incomplete comparison, while “it won't only effect their economy but also makes a huge shortage” has an inconsistent verb pattern. There are also agreement and article problems in “It also boost the economy” and “in majority of countries.” Aim to make each sentence’s subject and verb agree, keep parallel structures consistent, and check that clauses are complete and clearly connected.

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

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