Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-25

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

It is often argued that access to clean water is a fundamental human right and, therefore, should be provided to every household at no cost. While I agree that water is essential for survival, I disagree that it should be entirely free of charge because of the costs of infrastructure and the risk of wasting this precious resource.

The main reason why water should not be free is the high cost of maintaining a safe supply system. Providing clean water to homes requires expensive technology for filtration, as well as a vast network of pipes that must be regularly repaired. If the government provided water for free, they might struggle to find the budget to keep these systems running safely. For example, in many developing nations where water infrastructure is poorly funded, citizens often suffer from waterborne diseases because the supply is not properly treated.

Furthermore, making water free could lead to significant waste. When people do not have to pay for a resource, they often use it carelessly. For instance, individuals might leave taps running or use excessive amounts of water for gardening and washing cars. By charging a fair price based on usage, authorities encourage people to be more mindful of their consumption. This is crucial in the modern world, where many regions are facing severe water shortages due to climate change.

In conclusion, although clean water is a basic necessity, I believe that charging for its supply is necessary. It ensures that the infrastructure remains functional and safe, and it discourages people from wasting a limited resource. A better approach might be for governments to provide a small amount of free water for basic needs while charging for higher usage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The student presents a clear position throughout the response and addresses all parts of the task. However, there is a notable content discrepancy: the prompt asks about building tall apartment blocks to provide homes in large cities, but the student's entire essay discusses whether clean water should be provided free of charge. This indicates a misunderstanding of the prompt's topic. Despite this strong off-topic element regarding the core subject matter, the ideas related to the water argument are well developed, supported with examples, and logically structured. Because the prompt asks about tall apartment blocks for housing and the response discusses water utility pricing, Task Achievement is significantly impacted due to addressing the wrong prompt topic. Band 4.0 is awarded as the response addresses a different task entirely, making it tangential to the actual prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

Despite the topic misunderstanding, the text is well-organized and logically sequenced. Each paragraph has a clear central topic. For example, the second paragraph focuses on infrastructure costs, while the third discusses the risk of waste. The essay uses appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader smoothly through the argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a balanced conclusion. Referencing is clear throughout. Although the content answers a different prompt, the internal cohesion and logical progression of the writing are strong, justifying a higher band for structural organization.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for clear communication, utilizing appropriate topic-specific terms related to utilities and economics such as 'infrastructure', 'filtration', 'waterborne diseases', and 'consumption'. Less common lexical items are used with some awareness of style and collocation, as seen in phrases like 'precious resource' and 'severe water shortages'. There are occasional awkward expressions or minor word-choice errors, but spelling and word formation are accurate throughout. The vocabulary is adequate to convey complex ideas clearly and naturally, without any strain on the reader, matching the requirements for Band 6.5 or 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a good variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional clauses ('If the government provided water for free, they might struggle...') and relative clauses ('...where water infrastructure is poorly funded...'). There is a high frequency of error-free sentences, and the punctuation and grammar are controlled well. Errors are very rare, demonstrating good syntactic flexibility and overall accuracy. The control over complex grammar is solid, enabling the writer to express nuanced ideas effectively. This level of grammatical range and accuracy sits comfortably within the Band 7 range.

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

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