Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-16
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 one of the fundamental resources of life. Access to clean water is a basic human right and thus I believe that every home should have a water supply that is provided free of charge.The following paragraphs will provide reasons to support this cause.
It is an undeniable fact that water is a basic necessity of all human beings. Every person, whether rich or poor, requires water to fulfil their needs such as drinking, cooking, washing clothes, utensils and bathing. In many countries people from poor backgrounds cannot afford clean water. Access to clean water is also essential to eliminate the problem of water-borne diseases. This leads to a healthier society.
Only a few countries in the world provide water free of cost to their citizens while most of them charge for it. People believe they should have access to clean water without having to pay for it. Government should provide this facility using the direct and indirect taxes that is collected by them. Others oppose this idea saying it might lead to wastage of water. Individuals might use more water than required as they do not have to pay for it.
In conclusion, every home should have a water supply that is provided free of charge to fulfil their basic needs. There should be a limit on the amount of water that is supplied to each house depending on the number of people living in that house. This will ensure that there are no cases of water wastage.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
Your position is clear: you agree that households should receive a free water supply, and you give relevant reasons, including affordability for poorer people and the health benefits of clean water. You also acknowledge the counterargument that free provision could encourage waste and offer a limit based on household size. However, these points are brief and would benefit from explanation or a specific example; the discussion of how taxes could fund provision is also not developed. The response does not meet the 250-word minimum: it contains 216 words, and 35 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. Add further explanation and examples while addressing the funding and conservation issues more fully.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The ideas generally follow a sensible order: basic need and health, public provision and the objection about waste, then a proposed limit. Linking expressions such as “In conclusion” and “This leads to” help show relationships. However, progression within the body paragraphs is limited, and the second paragraph shifts from the writer’s position to opposing views without clearly explaining how these views relate to the argument. Some connections feel mechanical, and the opening sentence “The following paragraphs will provide reasons” announces the structure rather than advancing the discussion. Develop each paragraph around a clear main point and use references and transitions to connect supporting details more naturally.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “water-borne diseases,” “direct and indirect taxes,” and “water wastage.” The wording is generally understandable, but the range is limited and several expressions are repetitive or imprecise. For example, “provide this facility” is vague when referring to a household water supply, while “fulfil their needs” is broad and could be more specific. “Free of cost” is understandable, but “free of charge” is the more natural collocation in this context. Aim for more precise wording and vary repeated terms such as “water” and “provide.” The vocabulary is adequate for the topic, though greater control of collocation and more specific phrasing would make the argument clearer and more fluent.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You use a mixture of simple sentences and some longer structures, including the conditional idea “Individuals might use more water than required as they do not have to pay for it.” Most sentences communicate their meaning, but errors in agreement, articles and punctuation remain noticeable. In “the direct and indirect taxes that is collected,” the plural subject requires “are collected.” “Government should provide” would normally need “The government,” and there is no space after the full stop in “charge.The following.” The sentence listing uses of water also needs clearer parallel structure. To improve, check subject–verb agreement and articles, and proofread punctuation. More accurate complex sentences would help you express the relationships between your reasons and counterargument.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.