Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-02
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)
Some people regard water as a basic human right and suggest providing water free of cost to every household, as it is everyone's basic need. This essay will discuss this view and my opinion regarding it.
It is thought that water should be free for all. I believe that although it is true that it is essential need of human being but is should not be free. There is a human psyche that we don't value the things which are freely accessible. If water is supplied freely, there will be much water loss in every household. People will not pay attention to its use. For example, if water become free, most of the people will not bother wasting it. So, it should be cheap but not completely free. Another reason is its scarcity. The water reserves are scarce in many regions. Because of its free supply, people will not value it and will not consider it waste. For example, in some parks, there is a fountain that is free. People splash water outside it because it is free.If someone puts a charge on it, no one will waste it.
In conclusion, water should be cheap and easily accessible, but it should not be totally free, as it will cause waste.
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
You give a clear position: water should be affordable and accessible, but not entirely free. The points about waste and scarcity are relevant, and you include examples involving household use and park fountains. However, the discussion is brief and the examples are asserted rather than explained in detail; for instance, you could show how charging for excessive use might conserve limited supplies while protecting a basic household allowance. The response also does not meet the required minimum length, so the argument has limited room to address the issue fully. Develop the reasons with more specific explanation and consider acknowledging the counterargument that people should not be denied essential water because they cannot pay.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph presenting reasons, and a conclusion that restates your position. The ideas about waste and scarcity are grouped together, and examples help illustrate them. However, the body paragraph moves quickly between claims, and the relationship between scarcity and charging is not fully explained. Linking phrases such as “Another reason” and “For example” provide basic signposting, but some connections feel repetitive or abrupt. The opening says the essay will discuss the view and your opinion, yet the argument does not clearly distinguish the opposing view from your own. Use separate paragraphs for the main reasons and connect each example explicitly to its point.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “basic human right,” “household,” “water reserves,” “scarcity,” and “accessible.” This gives the response enough topic-specific language to communicate your position. However, the range is limited and some expressions are unnatural or imprecise, such as “free of cost,” “human psyche,” and “will not consider it waste.” Repetition of “free” and “water” also makes the argument less varied. Aim for more precise collocations and alternatives, such as “provided at no charge,” “conserve water,” and “limited water supplies.” These changes would make your ideas clearer and more natural without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a concession with “although” and a conditional example beginning “if water become free.” The overall meaning is generally understandable, but errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “it is true that it is essential need of human being but is should not be free” has missing articles and an incorrect pronoun, while “if water become free” needs subject–verb agreement. The sentence beginning “Because of its free supply” is also awkwardly connected to the preceding idea. Review article use and verb agreement, and punctuate sentence boundaries carefully; for instance, add a space after the full stop in “free.If.”
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