Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-29

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 most vital natural resource on earth, covering roughly 71% of the planet's surface and acting as the lifeblood for all the organisms.

Some people believe that access to clean water is basic human right so it should be free of charge for everyone. I Partly agree with this view because everyone should have access to drink soft clean water, although charging for excessive use can help to prevent waste.

To begin with, access to clean water is essential because its necessary for human survival and good health.

People need clean water for drinking, cooking and maintain personal hygiene.

For example, people who drink contaminated water may suffer from serious illness. Therefore, Government should ensure that everyone can access safe drinking water for survival.

On the other Hand, providing unlimited water free of charge may encourage people to waste this valuable resource. When people do not pay for excessive water use, they may use more water than they actually need. For example, some people may waste clean water by washing their cars or watering gardens unnecessarily. Moreover, charging a reasonable amount for extra consumption can help governments maintain water supply systems. Therefore, basic drinking water should be free, but excessive use can be charged.

In conclusion, Government can ensure that Clean drinking waters should be free for everyone to avoid serious illness, but people should pay against excessive use of water and use it according to needs and requirements.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you partly agree, supporting free access to essential drinking water while accepting charges for excessive use. Both sides are relevant, and the examples of contaminated water and unnecessary car washing or garden watering help illustrate your reasoning. However, the discussion is brief and some points are asserted rather than fully explained; for instance, you mention that charges can help maintain supply systems but do not explain how this supports reliable access. The conclusion restates your view but could more directly summarise the distinction between a free basic allowance and paid extra consumption. The response is also 7 words below the required minimum. Develop each main point with a fuller explanation or a specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression from the health case for clean water to the risk of waste is easy to follow, and signposts such as “To begin with,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” make the organisation apparent. However, these transitions are somewhat formulaic, and some links between claims could be clearer. For example, the sentence about maintaining water systems is followed by a conclusion about charging for extra use without explaining the connection. The opening paragraph also moves quickly from the global importance of water to the policy question. Use referencing and linking more naturally, and build clearer cause-and-effect connections within paragraphs.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “contaminated water,” “personal hygiene,” “excessive use,” and “water supply systems.” These choices communicate the main ideas and show some range beyond basic terms. However, several word-choice and collocation problems make the expression less natural, such as “drink soft clean water,” “lifeblood for all the organisms,” and “pay against excessive use.” There is also repetition of “clean water” and “free” that could be reduced through accurate alternatives such as “safe drinking water,” “essential supply,” or “provided at no cost.” Aim to use topic vocabulary precisely and check common word partnerships; this would make your argument sound more fluent and controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple sentences and more complex structures, including a reason clause (“because its necessary for human survival”) and a concession with “although.” Most of the meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors occur across the response. Examples include the missing article in “is basic human right,” the incorrect form in “for drinking, cooking and maintain personal hygiene,” and the agreement error in “one of the most vital natural resource.” The final sentence is also awkwardly constructed, making the relationship between free provision and avoiding illness less clear. Review articles, plural agreement, verb forms after coordinated verbs, and sentence construction. More accurate control of these patterns would strengthen the range you are already attempting.

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