Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-14

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)

Availability of clean water to every human being is a basic right, therefore it is often argued that every household must be provided with water supply without any charge. While i agree that every citizen is eligible for it, i am not in full favour of the view and believe that free resources prompt exploitation and unfair utilization, resulting in a crisis or shortage of the facility.

To begin with, responsbility of providing basic utilities to every citizen lies on the Government authorities which is the custodian of tax payers' money. Individuals who are regular tax payers and responsbile citizens, must be compensated through supply of water facility without any hassle, given that they must supply it with specific to each household's needs. This will save extra water from wastage, a scarce resource already.

However, provision and availability of resources specifically clean water with out any cost depreciate the value of such facility, enabling consumers to utilize it in an abundant quantity without realising the wastage and using it even if there is'nt any significant need for it. For instance, People, residing in cities, having privelege of clean water in their homes, often keep the taps open while burshing teeth. Consequently, unecessary use and wastage of clean water deprive people from slum areas where water is not easily accessible.

Moreover, when free clean water is accessible to everyone, the resource can become scarce hence straining the country to be pushed into water crisis

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You take a position that is relevant to the question: you support access to water as a basic right but oppose making it entirely free, arguing that this could encourage waste and shortages. The example of people leaving taps running while brushing their teeth helps illustrate your concern. However, the response does not fully develop the case for charging households, and the opening claim about compensating taxpayers is not clearly connected to whether water should be free for everyone. The final point about a national water crisis is also left incomplete. The response is 7 words below the required minimum, so it needs a little more development as well as a complete conclusion. Explain how a fair pricing system could protect access for low-income households while discouraging waste.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction to a supporting point, a contrasting paragraph and a final concern. Linking phrases such as “To begin with,” “However,” and “Moreover” help signal the direction of the argument. However, the overall progression is not fully clear: the first body paragraph discusses taxpayers and household needs, but its connection to the position against free water is difficult to follow. The final paragraph introduces scarcity but ends without completing the idea or summarising your view. Some connections between claims also need to be made explicit, particularly how charging for water would reduce waste while preserving access. Use a clearer sequence of reasons and finish with a concise conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “basic right,” “scarce resource,” “wastage,” and “water crisis,” and these choices make your subject clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “custodian of tax payers’ money.” However, several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, including “water facility,” “with out any cost,” and “depreciate the value of such facility.” Spelling errors such as “responsbility,” “privelege,” and “unecessary” are noticeable and reduce the control of the vocabulary. Aim for precise, natural collocations rather than formal-sounding phrases: for example, say “water supply” or “water services,” and describe how free provision may “encourage excessive consumption.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a concession in “While I agree…” and a cause-and-effect sentence beginning “Consequently.” Meaning is generally understandable, but errors occur often enough to make some sentences awkward or unclear. For example, “every household must be provided with water supply” needs an article, and “responsibility … lies … which is the custodian” has an unclear grammatical connection and agreement. The sentence beginning “Individuals who are regular tax payers” is also incomplete as written, while “when free clean water is accessible … the resource can become scarce hence straining the country to be pushed” is difficult to follow. Practise complete sentence structures, clear subject–verb links, and punctuation between independent clauses.

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