Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-12

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)

Water is a crucial necessity for humankind, and access to clean water is a basic human right. So every home can get a free water supply. I agree with this sentiment because water can't be easily found. The second reason is that the community should not spend money on necessities.

Although the Earth is covered by 70 percent water, there is still a lack of drinking water in most countries. This is because raw sea, river, or ocean water can't be drunk normally. This indicates the shortage of water in some countries. For example, my country, Ethiopia, has a lot of rivers; however, there are still some people who are experiencing severe water insufficiency throughout the year. As a result, it leads them to anxiety and depression.

On the other hand, people should not worry for basic necessities, including water supply. Parents nowadays are so busy that they barely spend time with their children. In this busyness, thinking about this basic thing makes parents exhausted and may lead them to burnout or some chronic diseases. For instance, people in my country have a lot of responsibilities and onerous jobs. After this exhaustion, they think about water and electricity usage charges, because my country charges fees for these. Therefore, it leads them to tension and anxiety.

In conclusion, since water is a dispensable thing in our daily life, it should be provided freely without requiring a charge. I also agree with this opinion because water is hardly available in some countries, and it leads parents to tension and anxiety.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You state a clear position in favour of free household water and give two relevant lines of reasoning: limited access to drinkable water and the burden of utility costs. The Ethiopia example helps illustrate scarcity. However, the response only partially develops the case: the link between water charges and parents’ exhaustion or health problems is asserted rather than convincingly explained, and the claim that communities should not spend money on necessities is not supported. The conclusion repeats the position but does not add a developed implication. The response is also one word below the required 250-word minimum; the nine words copied from the task prompt are not counted.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The essay has a recognisable introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the paragraphs broadly separate the two reasons. Examples and cause-and-effect phrases such as “For example” and “As a result” help readers follow parts of the argument. However, progression is not consistently clear: the opening says water “can’t be easily found,” while the first body paragraph shifts to the distinction between abundant water and drinkable water without clearly framing that distinction. The second paragraph moves from parents’ busy lives to water and electricity charges, but the connection is repetitive and not fully explained. “On the other hand” also suggests a contrast that is not actually presented. Make each paragraph’s main point explicit and use linking phrases to show the precise relationship between claims.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic vocabulary, including “basic human right,” “water insufficiency,” “responsibilities,” and “chronic diseases,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts at less common expressions, such as “onerous jobs,” though some choices are inaccurate or unnatural in context. “Dispensable thing” reverses your intended meaning, since dispensable means unnecessary; “essential resource” would fit. “Raw sea, river, or ocean water” is imprecise, and “water scarcity” is more natural than “water insufficiency.” Repetition of “tension and anxiety” and “basic” limits flexibility. Aim for precise collocations and avoid using elevated vocabulary unless you are confident of its meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and some complex forms, including the contrast clause “Although the Earth is covered by 70 percent water” and the example sentence with “however.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, but control is uneven, and several constructions are awkward or incomplete. For example, “So every home can get a free water supply” does not clearly express your argument that it should be provided free, while “As a result, it leads them to anxiety and depression” has an unclear reference for “it.” The sentence beginning “In this busyness” also has a confusing structure. Use clearer subjects and check that pronouns refer to a specific idea. More consistently controlled complex sentences would strengthen the response.

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

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