Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-08

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)

One of the basic human right a person can receive is an access to clean water, in which a water supply should be given to every household for free, without any charge. Given this statement, I believe that this must be implemented in every country.

I strongly agree that we must receive a free of charge water supply everyday because water is basically free. But, to have a clean water, it must be processed and should ran into a machine. These technologies are not free, and are made to clean out the water. For example, the water supply in our subdivision is connected to an electricity. With that, when there is a power outrage, the water supply is also down. Meaning, if it is connected to a power outlet, we must pay electricity fees. This is one reason why we pay for a clean water supply.

Meanwhile, the technologies used to clean and process the water from the rain or other resources, are bought and paid the the government or private sectors. With that, when our water supply is connected through the government-paid machines, water must be free of charge, because we are paying them with our taxes. On the other hand, private sectors are the ones that needs to be paid because they are a private companies.

To conclude, yes, supply of water is a basic human rights and must be given out free to the people, which I strongly agree. This will only be exempted if the water line is connected to a private sector.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you agree that water should be free, while making an exception for privately supplied water. You address the question and give relevant reasons, including the costs of treatment and the role of taxes. The example of your subdivision’s supply also helps connect the issue to experience. However, the argument is not fully developed: the claim that water is “basically free” is not reconciled with the costs you describe, and the distinction between government and private provision is asserted rather than explored. Explain more precisely what “free” means—for example, whether households would still pay indirectly through taxes—and support the private-sector exception with a reason. This would make the response more complete and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction states your view, two body paragraphs present reasons, and a conclusion restates your position. Linking expressions such as “For example,” “Meanwhile,” and “On the other hand” help signal relationships between ideas. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. “With that” is repeated, and “Meaning” introduces a fragment rather than a fully connected explanation. The shift from saying water should be free because it is a basic right to saying private suppliers may charge is also abrupt. Use more precise transitions and make the relationship between public funding, taxes, and private provision explicit. This would strengthen progression and clarify how each paragraph supports your overall position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “water supply,” “processed,” “technologies,” “resources,” and “private sectors.” Some phrases show an attempt to discuss the issue specifically, such as “electricity fees” and “government-paid machines.” However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which makes parts of the argument less clear. For instance, “power outrage” does not express a loss of electricity, and “clean out the water” is not the natural phrase for treating water. Repetition of “free of charge” and “water supply” also limits variety. Build a more precise set of collocations for water treatment, public funding, and household charges.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a conditional structure in “when there is a power outrage, the water supply is also down” and a contrast introduced by “On the other hand.” The main meaning is generally understandable, but some errors in agreement, articles, verb forms, and sentence construction remain. Examples include “One of the basic human right,” “a clean water,” “should ran,” and “private sectors are the ones that needs to be paid.” “Meaning, if it is connected to a power outlet…” is also a fragment. Review plural agreement and verb forms, and make sure explanatory sentences have a complete subject and verb. More accurate control of these patterns would make your reasoning easier to follow.

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

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