This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of water being a basic human right from the recently released IELTS Cambridge 20 book of past essays.

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IELTS Cambridge 20: Clean Water is a Basic Human Right

Access to clean water is a basic human right. Therefore every home should have a water supply that is provided free of charge.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often argued that since access to clean water is a fundamental human right, it should be given to every household free of charge. I agree that clean water is essential and should be universally accessible, despite the potential expense of such a proposal.

One the one hand, providing unlimited free water to every home engenders serious logistical and financial challenges. Water treatment, maintenance of pipelines, and distribution all require funding, skilled labor, and dedicated infrastructure. If water were completely free, there would be little incentive for consumers to use it responsibly, leading to wastage and overconsumption. Consider the example of California during its 2011–2017 drought: despite public campaigns, many affluent neighborhoods continued to overwater their lawns and fill large swimming pools, as water prices were heavily subsidized. This overuse strained reservoirs and forced emergency water restrictions. As a response, nations like Singapore have implemented a tiered pricing system where basic water needs are affordable, but excessive use is charged at higher rates.

On the other hand, the argument that clean water is a human right is supported by strong moral and humanitarian reasoning. Water is vital not only for drinking, but for cooking, hygiene, and sanitation. Without it, communities are vulnerable to diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, all of which are preventable with access to clean water. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, where millions still lack safe water access, avoidable waterborne illnesses cause more deaths each year than armed conflicts. In this context, expecting individuals to pay for water they cannot afford fosters an unjust system where survival equates to income. Governments, therefore, have a duty to ensure that no citizens are denied this basic resource, especially in less affluent or rural areas.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that every individual deserves access to clean water as a basic human right, despite the practical challenges posed. A fair solution would safeguard free access to water for the general public regardless of the financial ramifications.

Analysis

1. It is often argued that since access to clean water is a fundamental human right, it should be given to every household free of charge. 2. I agree that clean water is essential and should be universally accessible, despite the potential expense of such a proposal.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. One the one hand, providing unlimited free water to every home engenders serious logistical and financial challenges. 2. Water treatment, maintenance of pipelines, and distribution all require funding, skilled labor, and dedicated infrastructure. 3. If water were completely free, there would be little incentive for consumers to use it responsibly, leading to wastage and overconsumption. 4. Consider the example of California during its 2011–2017 drought: despite public campaigns, many affluent neighborhoods continued to overwater their lawns and fill large swimming pools, as water prices were heavily subsidized. 5. This overuse strained reservoirs and forced emergency water restrictions. 6. As a response, nations like Singapore have implemented a tiered pricing system where basic water needs are affordable, but excessive use is charged at higher rates.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. The examples should be very specific.
6. Better to have more detail.

1. On the other hand, the argument that clean water is a human right is supported by strong moral and humanitarian reasoning. 2. Water is vital not only for drinking, but for cooking, hygiene, and sanitation. 3. Without it, communities are vulnerable to diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, all of which are preventable with access to clean water. 4. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, where millions still lack safe water access, avoidable waterborne illnesses cause more deaths each year than armed conflicts. 5. In this context, expecting individuals to pay for water they cannot afford fosters an unjust system where survival equates to income. 6. Governments, therefore, have a duty to ensure that no citizens are denied this basic resource, especially in less affluent or rural areas.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Keep adding more detail.
6. This essay is a bit long – aim for about 275 words.

1. In conclusion, I strongly agree that every individual deserves access to clean water as a basic human right, despite the practical challenges posed. 2. A fair solution would safeguard free access to water for the general public regardless of the financial ramifications.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

It is often argued that since access to clean water is a fundamental human right, it should be given to every household free of charge. I agree that clean water is essential and should be universally accessible, despite the potential expense of such a proposal.

One the one hand, providing unlimited free water to every home engenders serious logistical and financial challenges. Water treatment, maintenance of pipelines, and distribution all require funding, skilled labor, and dedicated infrastructure. If water were completely free, there would be little incentive for consumers to use it responsibly, leading to wastage and overconsumption. Consider the example of California during its 2011–2017 drought: despite public campaigns, many affluent neighborhoods continued to overwater their lawns and fill large swimming pools, as water prices were heavily subsidized. This overuse strained reservoirs and forced emergency water restrictions. As a response, nations like Singapore have implemented a tiered pricing system where basic water needs are affordable, but excessive use is charged at higher rates.

On the other hand, the argument that clean water is a human right is supported by strong moral and humanitarian reasoning. Water is vital not only for drinking, but for cooking, hygiene, and sanitation. Without it, communities are vulnerable to diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, all of which are preventable with access to clean water. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, where millions still lack safe water access, avoidable waterborne illnesses cause more deaths each year than armed conflicts. In this context, expecting individuals to pay for water they cannot afford fosters an unjust system where survival equates to income. Governments, therefore, have a duty to ensure that no citizens are denied this basic resource, especially in less affluent or rural areas.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that every individual deserves access to clean water as a basic human right, despite the practical challenges posed. A fair solution would safeguard free access to water for the general public regardless of the financial ramifications.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

• It is often argued that → Many people believe that
• access to clean water → the ability to obtain safe drinking water
• a fundamental human right → a basic right every person should have
• given to every household free of charge → provided to all homes at no cost
• universally accessible → available to everyone everywhere
• despite the potential expense of such a proposal → even though it could be very costly
• On the one hand → From one perspective
• engenders serious logistical and financial challenges → creates major planning and cost problems
• Water treatment → cleaning and purifying water
• maintenance of pipelines → keeping water pipes in good condition
• distribution → delivery to users
• funding → financial support
• skilled labor → trained workers
• dedicated infrastructure → special systems and facilities
• there would be little incentive for → people would have few reasons to
• responsibly → in a careful and thoughtful way
• wastage and overconsumption → using too much and not conserving
• Consider the example of → Take, for instance,
• Drought → a long period without enough rain
• public campaigns → government awareness efforts
• affluent neighborhoods continued to overwater their lawns → wealthy areas kept using too much water on their gardens
• fill large swimming pools → use water for big private pools
• heavily subsidized → mostly paid for by the government
• This overuse strained reservoirs → this extra use put pressure on water supplies
• forced emergency water restrictions → led to strict limits on water use
• implemented → put into action
• tiered pricing system → a pay scale with different levels
• Affordable → reasonably priced
• excessive use is charged at higher rates → high usage costs more
• On the other hand → From another point of view
• argument → viewpoint
• supported by strong moral and humanitarian reasoning → backed by ethical and compassionate thinking
• vital → extremely important
• hygiene → staying clean
• sanitation → safe systems for waste and cleanliness
• Without it → If it is not available
• vulnerable to diseases → at risk of getting sick
• cholera, dysentery → serious water-related illnesses
• typhoid → a dangerous infection from unsafe water
• preventable → able to be avoided
• lack safe water access → do not have clean water available
• avoidable waterborne illnesses → diseases from dirty water that could be stopped
• armed conflicts. In this context → wars. In this situation
• fosters an unjust system where survival equates to income → creates unfair conditions where only the rich can stay healthy
• have a duty to ensure → are responsible for making sure
• denied this basic resource → not allowed access to clean water
• less affluent → poorer
• despite the practical challenges posed → even with the real difficulties involved
• A fair solution would safeguard → A just plan would protect
• the general public → ordinary people
• regardless of the financial ramifications → even if it costs a lot of money

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ɪt ɪz ˈɒfᵊn ˈɑːɡjuːd ðæt
ˈæksɛs tuː kliːn ˈwɔːtə
ə ˌfʌndəˈmɛntᵊl ˈhjuːmən raɪt
ˈɡɪvᵊn tuː ˈɛvri ˈhaʊshəʊld friː ɒv ʧɑːʤ
ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsᵊli əkˈsɛsəbᵊl
dɪˈspaɪt ðə pəˈtɛnʃᵊl ɪkˈspɛns ɒv sʌʧ ə prəˈpəʊzᵊl
wʌn ðə wʌn hænd
ɪnˈʤɛndəz ˈsɪəriəs ləˈʤɪstɪkᵊl ænd faɪˈnænʃᵊl ˈʧælɪnʤɪz
ˈwɔːtə ˈtriːtmənt
ˈmeɪntᵊnəns ɒv ˈpaɪplaɪnz
ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃᵊn
ˈfʌndɪŋ
skɪld ˈleɪbə
ˈdɛdɪkeɪtɪd ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə
ðeə wʊd biː ˈlɪtᵊl ɪnˈsɛntɪv fɔː
rɪˈspɒnsəbᵊli
ˈweɪstɪʤ ænd ˌəʊvəkənˈsʌmpʃᵊn
kənˈsɪdə ði ɪɡˈzɑːmpᵊl ɒv
draʊt
ˈpʌblɪk kæmˈpeɪnz
ˈæfluənt ˈneɪbəhʊdz kənˈtɪnjuːd tuː ˌəʊvəˈwɔːtə ðeə lɔːnz
fɪl lɑːʤ ˈswɪmɪŋ puːlz
ˈhɛvᵊli ˈsʌbsɪdaɪzd
ðɪs ˌəʊvəˈjuːz streɪnd ˈrɛzəvwɑːz
fɔːst ɪˈmɜːʤᵊnsi ˈwɔːtə rɪˈstrɪkʃᵊnz
ˈɪmplɪmɛntɪd
tɪəd ˈpraɪsɪŋ ˈsɪstəm
əˈfɔːdəbᵊl
ɪkˈsɛsɪv juːz ɪz ʧɑːʤd æt ˈhaɪə reɪts
ɒn ði ˈʌðə hænd
ˈɑːɡjəmənt
səˈpɔːtɪd baɪ strɒŋ ˈmɒrᵊl ænd hjuːˌmænɪˈteəriən ˈriːzᵊnɪŋ
ˈvaɪtᵊl
ˈhaɪʤiːn
ˌsænɪˈteɪʃᵊn
wɪˈðaʊt ɪt
ˈvʌlnᵊrəbᵊl tuː dɪˈziːzɪz
ˈkɒlərə, ˈdɪsᵊntᵊri
ˈtaɪfɔɪd
prɪˈvɛntəbᵊl
læk seɪf ˈwɔːtər ˈæksɛs
əˈvɔɪdəbᵊl ˈwɔːtəbɔːn ˈɪlnəsɪz
ɑːmd ˈkɒnflɪkts. ɪn ðɪs ˈkɒntɛkst
ˈfɒstəz ən ʌnˈʤʌst ˈsɪstəm weə səˈvaɪvᵊl ɪˈkweɪts tuː ˈɪnkʌm
hæv ə ˈdjuːti tuː ɪnˈʃɔː
dɪˈnaɪd ðɪs ˈbeɪsɪk rɪˈzɔːs
lɛs ˈæfluənt
dɪˈspaɪt ðə ˈpræktɪkᵊl ˈʧælɪnʤɪz pəʊzd
ə feə səˈluːʃᵊn wʊd ˈseɪfɡɑːd
ðə ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊl ˈpʌblɪk
rɪˈɡɑːdləs ɒv ðə faɪˈnænʃᵊl ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃᵊnz

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

I__________________t since a________________r is a______________________t, it should be g_____________________e. I agree that clean water is essential and should be u_______________________e, d____________________________l.

O_____________d, providing unlimited free water to every home e___________________________________________s. W_____________t, m____________________s, and d__________n all require f_______g, s_________r, and d_________________e. If water were completely free, t____________________________________r consumers to use it r___________y, leading to w_____________________________n. C__________________of California during its 2011–2017 d_______t: despite p_____________s, many a_____________________________________________s and f_________________s, as water prices were h______________d. T_________________________s and f_____________________s. As a response, nations like Singapore have i__________d a t___________m where basic water needs are a_________e, but e______________s.

O_____________d, the a________t that clean water is a human right is s_____________________________________________________g. Water is v_____l not only for drinking, but for cooking, h_______e, and s_________n. W_______t, communities are v____________________s such as c________a, d_________y, and t________d, all of which are p___________e with access to clean water. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, where millions still l________________________s, a_______________________s cause more deaths each year than a______________s. I________________t, expecting individuals to pay for water they cannot afford f______________________________________________________e. Governments, therefore, h__________________e that no citizens are d______________________________e, especially in l_____________t or rural areas.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that every individual deserves access to clean water as a basic human right, d_______________________________d. A___________________d free access to water for t_____________________________________________s.

Simplified Version

Some people believe that clean water is a basic human right. Because of this, they think every home should get water for free. I agree that everyone should have access to clean water, even if it is expensive for the government.

On one hand, giving free water to every home is not easy. It costs money to clean water, fix pipes, and deliver water to people’s homes. If water is free, people might waste it. They might use too much and not be careful. For example, during a drought in California from 2011 to 2017, many rich areas used a lot of water for their gardens and swimming pools. This happened even though there was not enough water. The government had to make new rules to stop this. Some countries, like Singapore, have a better system. They make basic water use cheap, but if people use too much, they have to pay more.

On the other hand, clean water is very important. People need it to drink, cook, and stay clean. Without clean water, people can get sick from diseases like cholera or typhoid. In some poor parts of Africa, many people still do not have clean water. Every year, many die from diseases that clean water could prevent. If people must pay for water and they don’t have money, they may suffer. This is not fair. Governments should help poor families and rural areas get the water they need.

In conclusion, I believe that clean water is a basic human right. Everyone should be able to use it, even if it costs the government a lot. A good system would give water for free to everyone who needs it.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

Running Dry: Kazakhstan’s Water Crisis, Explained With Data

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Rain

Question 1: Do you prefer rainy or sunny days?

Question 2: What do you do on rainy days?

Question 3: How does rain affect your life in your country?

Question 4: Is there any part of your country where it doesn’t rain much?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic:

The amount of drinkable water for people is decreasing.

Why is this?

What can be done?

IELTS Essay: Water Scarcity