This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of water, specifically fresh water, from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Water

Some people think that the government should strictly control the supply of fresh water, as it is a limited resource, while others it should not be regulated.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Many believe that it is crucial for governments to oversee public supplies of fresh water. In my opinion, this is an advisable strategy though there are natural risks that must be taken into consideration.

The most significant drawbacks to this proposal are the possibilities of government malfeasance and incompetence. Governments are notoriously bureaucratic organizations that often waste time and money while not greatly furthering the interests of the general public. A pertinent example of this would be the lengthy litigation battles concerning the cleanup of polluted reservoirs in many democratic nations. By the time any progress is made, the harm for some residents may already be irreversible. There is the chance that the government is corrupt. It is common for both elected and unelected officials to be vulnerable to bribery that results in prioritizing corporate and private interests above average citizens.

Nonetheless, government control of fresh water supplies is the best guarantee of public safety. Today, in many arid nations, such as those near Sub-Saharan Africa, finding fresh water is a massive challenge. Conflicts over limited water resources often contribute to political instability. In an ideal world, a just government could ensure water is equally and fairly distributed. Moreover, there are potential safety concerns. Water can easily be contaminated by industrial factors including rainwater pollution, landfill seepage, and new procedures like fracking. If governments regulate water with disinterested autonomy, they will be able to protect the general public from the excesses of corporate recklessness.

In conclusion, despite the potential that governments will poorly manage water supplies, they are still the best protectors of public health and safety. This is why the supervision of water authorities is also key.

Analysis

1. Many believe that it is crucial for governments to oversee public supplies of fresh water. 2. In my opinion, this is an advisable strategy though there are natural risks that must be taken into consideration.

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

1. The most significant drawbacks to this proposal are the possibilities of government malfeasance and incompetence. 2. Governments are notoriously bureaucratic organizations that often waste time and money while not greatly furthering the interests of the general public. 3. A pertinent example of this would be the lengthy litigation battles concerning the cleanup of polluted reservoirs in many democratic nations. 4. By the time any progress is made, the harm for some residents may already be irreversible. 5. There is the chance that the government is corrupt. 6. It is common for both elected and unelected officials to be vulnerable to bribery that results in prioritizing corporate and private interests above average citizens.

Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
Explain your main idea.
Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
Keep developing it fully.
Include some short sentences.
Finish development.

1. Nonetheless, government control of fresh water supplies is the best guarantee of public safety. 2. Today, in many arid nations, such as those near Sub-Saharan Africa, finding fresh water is a massive challenge. 3. Conflicts over limited water resources often contribute to political instability. 4. In an ideal world, a just government could ensure water is equally and fairly distributed. 5. Moreover, there are potential safety concerns. 6. Water can easily be contaminated by industrial factors including rainwater pollution, landfill seepage, and new procedures like fracking. 7. If governments regulate water with disinterested autonomy, they will be able to protect the general public from the excesses of corporate recklessness.

Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
Explain your new main idea.
Include specific details and examples.
Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
Develop the example fully.
This paragraph can be longer than the other one.
Be sure each idea has support.

1. In conclusion, despite the potential that governments will poorly manage water supplies, they are still the best protectors of public health and safety. 2. This is why the supervision of water authorities is also key.

Summarise your main ideas.
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.

Many believe that it is crucial for governments to oversee public supplies of fresh water. In my opinion, this is an advisable strategy though there are natural risks that must be taken into consideration.

The most significant drawbacks to this proposal are the possibilities of government malfeasance and incompetence. Governments are notoriously bureaucratic organizations that often waste time and money while not greatly furthering the interests of the general public. A pertinent example of this would be the lengthy litigation battles concerning the cleanup of polluted reservoirs in many democratic nations. By the time any progress is made, the harm for some residents may already be irreversible. There is the chance that the government is corrupt. It is common for both elected and unelected officials to be vulnerable to bribery that results in prioritizing corporate and private interests above average citizens.

Nonetheless, government control of fresh water supplies is the best guarantee of public safety. Today, in many arid nations, such as those near Sub-Saharan Africa, finding fresh water is a massive challenge. Conflicts over limited water resources often contribute to political instability. In an ideal world, a just government could ensure water is equally and fairly distributed. Moreover, there are potential safety concerns. Water can easily be contaminated by industrial factors including rainwater pollution, landfill seepage, and new procedures like fracking. If governments regulate water with disinterested autonomy, they will be able to protect the general public from the excesses of corporate recklessness.

In conclusion, despite the potential that governments will poorly manage water supplies, they are still the best protectors of public health and safety. This is why the supervision of water authorities is also key.

Answers

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

crucial really important

oversee watch over, control

public supplies what is available to all

fresh water not salt water

advisable strategy good idea

though nonetheless

natural risks organic threats

taken into consideration thought about

most significant drawbacks biggest problems

proposal idea

possibilities chances

malfeasance bad behavior

incompetence not good at what they do

notoriously bureaucratic organizations lots of red tape, inefficient

while although

greatly furthering the interests of the general public helping people a lot

pertinent example relevant instance

lengthy litigation battles long legal fights

concerning relatint to

cleanup fixing

polluted reservoirs dirty sources of water

democratic nations countries that have democracy

progress making changes

harm hurting

residents people living there

irreversible can’t be fixed

corrupt dishonest

elected voted into office

unelected officials people not voted into office

vulnerable weak

bribery money given in exchange for favors

results in the outcome is

prioritizing making important

corporate related to business

private interests for individuals, companies

above average citizens more important than most people

nonetheless regardless

control power over

best guarantee greatest safeguard

public safety health of most people

arid nations dry places

Sub-Saharan Africa countries near a dessert in Africa

massive challenge big obstacle

conflicts fights

limited water resources not enough water

contributes to adds to

political instability problems in government, unstable

in an ideal world in the perfect world

just right, fair

ensure make sure of

equally the same treatment

fairly distributed equal

potential safety concerns possible problems related to how safe people are

contaminated infiltrated, polluted

industrial factors related to industry

rainwater pollution acid rain

landfill seepage sewage from trash buried in the ground

procedures methods

fracking a way of extracting oil

regulate control

disinterested autonomy not biased power

protect keep safe

general public citizens

excesses recklessness

corporate recklessness companies doing crazy things

despite regardless of

potential possible

poorly manage hard to handle

best protectors people who can keep the most safe

public health safety of most people

supervision watching over

water authorities people in charge of water

key crucial

Pronunciation

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

ˈkruːʃəl
ˌəʊvəˈsiː
ˈpʌblɪk səˈplaɪz
frɛʃ ˈwɔːtə
ədˈvaɪzəbl ˈstrætɪʤi
ðəʊ
ˈnæʧrəl rɪsks
ˈteɪkən ˈɪntuː kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən
məʊst sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˈdrɔːbæks
prəˈpəʊzəl
ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪtiz
mælˈfiːzəns
ɪnˈkɒmpɪtəns
nəʊˈtɔːrɪəsli ˌbjʊərəʊˈkrætɪk ˌɔːgənaɪˈzeɪʃənz
waɪl
ˈgreɪtli ˈfɜːðərɪŋ ði ˈɪntrɪsts ɒv ðə ˈʤɛnərəl ˈpʌblɪk
ˈpɜːtɪnənt ɪgˈzɑːmpl
ˈlɛŋθi ˌlɪtɪˈgeɪʃən ˈbætlz
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ
ˈkliːnʌp
pəˈluːtɪd ˈrɛzəvwɑːz
ˌdɛməˈkrætɪk ˈneɪʃənz
ˈprəʊgrəs
hɑːm
ˈrɛzɪdənts
ˌɪrɪˈvɜːsəbl
kəˈrʌpt
ɪˈlɛktɪd
ˌʌnɪˈlɛktɪd əˈfɪʃəlz
ˈvʌlnərəbl
ˈbraɪbəri
rɪˈzʌlts ɪn
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzɪŋ
ˈkɔːpərɪt
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈɪntrɪsts
əˈbʌv ˈævərɪʤ ˈsɪtɪznz
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
kənˈtrəʊl
bɛst ˌgærənˈtiː
ˈpʌblɪk ˈseɪfti
ˈærɪd ˈneɪʃənz
sʌb-səˈhɑːrən ˈæfrɪkə
ˈmæsɪv ˈʧælɪnʤ
ˈkɒnflɪkts
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˈwɔːtə rɪˈsɔːsɪz
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)ts tuː
pəˈlɪtɪkəl ˌɪnstəˈbɪlɪti
ɪn ən aɪˈdɪəl wɜːld
ʤʌst
ɪnˈʃʊə
ˈiːkwəli
ˈfeəli dɪsˈtrɪbju(ː)tɪd
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈseɪfti kənˈsɜːnz
kənˈtæmɪneɪtɪd
ɪnˈdʌstrɪəl ˈfæktəz
ˈreɪnˌwɔːtə pəˈluːʃən
ˈlændfɪl ˈsiːpɪʤ
prəˈsiːʤəz
frækiŋ
ˈrɛgjʊleɪt
dɪsˈɪntrɪstɪd ɔːˈtɒnəmi
prəˈtɛkt
ˈʤɛnərəl ˈpʌblɪk
ɪkˈsɛsɪz
ˈkɔːpərɪt ˈrɛklɪsnəs
dɪsˈpaɪt
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl
ˈpʊəli ˈmænɪʤ
bɛst prəˈtɛktəz
ˈpʌblɪk hɛlθ
ˌsjuːpəˈvɪʒən
ˈwɔːtər ɔːˈθɒrɪtiz
kiː

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:

Many believe that it is c_______l for governments to o________e p_______________s of f_____________r. In my opinion, this is an a________________y t__________h there are n___________s that must be t________________________n.

The m_______________________s to this p________l are the p_____________s of government m___________e and i____________e. Governments are n_____________________________s that often waste time and money w_____e not g_______________________________________________c. A p________________e of this would be the l________________________________g the c___________p of p_____________s in many d_________________s. By the time any p______________s is made, the h_____m for some r____________s may already be i______________e. There is the chance that the government is c______t. It is common for both e_______d and u___________________s to be v_____________e to b________y that r______________n p____________g c____________e and p________________s a_____________________s.

N_____________s, government c_________l of fresh water supplies is the b_______________e of p_________________y. Today, in many a______________s, such as those near S___________________a, finding fresh water is a m___________________e. C__________s over l________________________s often c_______________________y. I________________d, a j____t government could e______e water is e________y and f____________________d. Moreover, there are p______________________s. Water can easily be c_________________d by i______________________s including r__________________n, l_______________e, and new p___________s like f_________g. If governments r_________e water with d_______________________y, they will be able to p_________t the g_________________c from the e____________s of c_________________________s.

In conclusion, d__________e the p________l that governments will p________________e water supplies, they are still the b_______________s of p______________h and safety. This is why the s___________n of w________________s is also k__y.

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:

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jan/08/water-wars-early-warning-tool-uses-climate-data-to-predict-conflict-hotspots

Speaking Practice

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

Coffee

Do you prefer to drink coffee or tea?
How do you like to drink coffee?
Is coffee a popular drink in your country?
When was the last time you had some coffee?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

The amount of drinkable water for people is decreasing.

Why is this?

What can be done?

IELTS Essay: Water Scarcity