University education should be free to everyone, regardless of income. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Response
Over recent years, more and more people have been attending university and arguments have persisted as to whether students should pay for this privilege not. Although there are convincing arguments on both sides, I strongly believe that it should be free.
One argument put forward in favour of charging students is that education is becoming more expensive to fund as universities grow in size. Consequently, making students pay may maintain standards and ensure the quality of the teaching. In addition, it is argued that most students benefit from university in terms of higher paid jobs, so it is fair that they pay for at least some of the cost, especially given that the majority of students attending university are from the middle classes. Last but not least, in many countries, there is a shortage of people to do manual jobs such as plumbing and carpentry, so making university more expensive may encourage people to take up these jobs.
However, there are a number of arguments in favour of making university education free for all. Firstly, it will encourage more people to attend and this will benefit society. This is because it will lead to a more productive and educated workforce. Research has generally shown that those countries that have a better educated population via university have higher levels of innovation and productivity. In addition, there is the issue of equality of opportunity. If all students are required to pay, those on a low income may be dissuaded from attending, thus making it unfair. The reason for this is that they will likely not be able to secure financial support from their family so they will be concerned about the debts they will incur in the future.
In conclusion, I am of opinion that all education should remain equally available to all regardless of income. This is not only fair, but will also ensure that countries can prosper and develop into the future with a well-educated workforce.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural phrasing Original: arguments have persisted Suggested revision: debate has continued Why it matters: 'Debate has continued' is a more idiomatic way to describe an ongoing disagreement.
- 2. Restore alternative Original: privilege not Suggested revision: privilege or not Why it matters: The correlative phrase 'whether ... or not' requires 'or'.
- 3. Remove redundancy Original: maintain standards and ensure the quality of the teaching Suggested revision: maintain teaching standards Why it matters: The revision expresses both ideas more concisely without repeating the meaning of quality and standards.
- 4. Use concise signpost Original: Last but not least Suggested revision: Finally Why it matters: 'Finally' provides a more concise academic transition to the last reason.
- 5. Use precise noun phrase Original: people to do manual jobs Suggested revision: workers in manual trades Why it matters: This wording identifies the occupational group more precisely and matches the examples of plumbing and carpentry.
- 6. Clarify the means Original: via university Suggested revision: through university education Why it matters: The revision states the educational route more explicitly and naturally.
- 7. Clarify vague reference Original: thus making it unfair Suggested revision: thus creating unequal access Why it matters: The revision specifies exactly what would be unfair.
- 8. Fix number and punctuation Original: from their family so they Suggested revision: from their families, so they Why it matters: The plural possessive reference is clearer, and the comma separates the resulting independent clause.
- 9. Add definite article Original: I am of opinion Suggested revision: I am of the opinion Why it matters: The fixed expression is 'be of the opinion'.
- 10. Correct time expression Original: into Suggested revision: in Why it matters: 'In the future' is the correct expression for future development.
Suggested Rewrites
- arguments have persisted debate has continued
- privilege not privilege or not
- maintain standards and ensure the quality of the teaching maintain teaching standards
- Last but not least Finally
- people to do manual jobs workers in manual trades
- via university through university education
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a clear position, explores credible arguments on both sides, and develops its case for free access with relevant explanations about productivity and equality. Organisation and vocabulary are strong, though a few formulaic transitions and small grammatical omissions slightly reduce polish. The highest-priority refinement is to proofread articles and missing coordinating words while keeping the argument as direct and well supported as it is.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response directly answers the question with a consistent position and develops relevant arguments for both funding approaches in convincing detail.
Refine the opposing case by linking each point even more explicitly to whether universal free access is justified.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is sequenced clearly in well-focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices supporting an easy and logical progression throughout.
Reduce reliance on formulaic signposting so that transitions arise more naturally from the argument itself.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is wide, precise, and flexible across funding, employment, equality, and national development, with only isolated awkward wording.
Polish occasional phrasing such as via university and use consistently natural academic collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is handled accurately, and the few omissions do not impede meaning or reduce overall fluency.
Proofread for small missing words and articles, particularly in the introduction and concluding opinion statement.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
University education should be free to everyone, regardless of income. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.