Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-09

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)

I second that. Every human being has a right to use and consume clean water. Impure water has a lot of downturns when it comes to health. As water is a vital part of our body, hence, drinking or using polluted water can be detrimental to our heath as it leads to deadly diseases which can be life threatning. There is an abundance of water in the world which is why, water should be free of cost, however, as citizens we always have to pay for using water even though it is a basic necessity. Due to the emergence of AI, water has become more costly as it requires gallons of water to cool down AI systems. Water is used for various activities from cooling nuclear powerplants, to industries etc. Our government charges a certain amount of money for providing water in households, in a way it's good that people feel more reluctant to waste water as it may increase the water charge, however, I contemplate that the charged amount will increasec with the course of time as every commodity is now not a necessity but has become a luxury product. There are countries which are economically under developed and geographically in a tight spot where there is scarcity of water, hence, if we do not waste much then those countries and people who are deprived of fresh water could have access to it and utilize it for farming, drinking etc. Even though water is a basic human right, not everybody has the privilege or access of fresh water, hence, it is importance to create a balance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is broadly clear: “I second that” signals agreement that water should be free, and you give relevant reasons involving health, affordability, waste, and unequal access. However, the response only partially develops the central proposal. It does not explain how a free household supply could be funded or distinguish a basic free allowance from charges for excessive use. The point that water charges may discourage waste is relevant, but it sits uneasily beside your support for free provision and is not resolved. References to AI cooling and nuclear power plants broaden the discussion but are not clearly connected to whether homes should receive water free of charge. Develop fewer points with specific explanation and examples, and make your position on charging explicit throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response contains a recognisable line of thought, moving from water’s importance to costs, conservation, and unequal access. Linking expressions such as “however,” “even though,” and “hence” show an effort to connect ideas. Nevertheless, the whole answer is presented as one long paragraph, so the reader cannot easily distinguish the main argument from supporting points or see a clear progression. Several transitions also connect ideas without explaining their relationship: the discussion shifts from household charges to AI water use, then to water scarcity in other countries. Some connectors, especially repeated uses of “hence,” feel mechanical. Use separate paragraphs for your position, supporting reasons, and conclusion, and make each paragraph develop one central point with clear links between claims and examples.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “basic necessity,” “scarcity,” “deprived of fresh water,” and “access,” which helps communicate the issue. There are also attempts at less common or formal expressions, such as “detrimental” and “economically under developed.” However, some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “downturns” does not mean harmful effects, “reluctant to waste” is not the clearest description of how charges influence behaviour, and “tight spot” is informal for this essay. Spelling errors such as “threatning” and “increas[e]c” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise collocations and a consistent academic register; for example, describe health “risks” and water “conservation” directly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including conditional and subordinate clauses, as in “if we do not waste much then those countries … could have access to it.” The main meaning is generally understandable, but some sentence structures and punctuation are not controlled consistently. For example, “As water is a vital part of our body, hence…” combines two linking constructions where one is needed, and the long sentence beginning “Our government charges…” contains several clauses joined without clear punctuation. There are also errors in agreement and sentence construction, such as “it is importance to create a balance.” Break long sentences into clearer units, check subject–verb and noun–adjective forms, and use one appropriate connector for each relationship.

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