Some people say that the government should pay the costs of running universities so that a university education will be free for anyone who wants it. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Sample Response
Some people express their view that the government should cover the course fees for all university students. I disagree with this opinion because I believe that while access to education is important, the responsibility of funding higher education should not be carried out only by the government.
One reason why I disagree with the idea is the potential strain it could place on public finances. Providing free education at the tertiary level is a significant financial commitment, and the government may struggle to allocate sufficient funds to ensure quality education across all disciplines. This could result in budgetary constraints and limited resources, ultimately affecting the quality of education provided. For example, if the government were to fully fund university education, it might lead to reduced funding for other crucial sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, or social welfare programmes.
Another important consideration is the principle of personal responsibility and accountability. By making individuals contribute financially to their education, they become more invested in their learning and future prospects. This encourages a sense of ownership and commitment, fostering a greater motivation to succeed academically. For instance, students who take on part-time jobs or seek scholarships to contribute towards their education are often more driven and dedicated to achieving their academic goals.
In conclusion, while the idea of the government covering course fees for all university students may seem appealing, I believe that it is not a practical solution. By allowing students to pay for their tertiary education, the state can ensure a more equitable and sustainable higher education system.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise reporting verb Original: express their view that Suggested revision: argue that Why it matters: Argue that conveys the reported opinion more directly and concisely.
- 2. Use precise term Original: cover the course fees Suggested revision: cover tuition fees Why it matters: Tuition fees is the more precise term for university course charges.
- 3. Improve funding collocation Original: carried out only by the government Suggested revision: borne solely by the government Why it matters: Financial responsibility is naturally borne rather than carried out.
- 4. Make opening concise Original: One reason why I disagree with the idea is Suggested revision: One reason for my disagreement is Why it matters: The revision removes unnecessary words while preserving the paragraph's function.
- 5. Sharpen resource description Original: budgetary constraints and limited resources Suggested revision: budgetary constraints and resource shortages Why it matters: Resource shortages states the practical consequence more precisely than the broad phrase limited resources.
- 6. Match plural concepts Original: principle Suggested revision: principles Why it matters: The two coordinated concepts are more clearly introduced by the plural noun principles.
- 7. Clarify investment object Original: learning Suggested revision: education Why it matters: People invest in their education more naturally than in their learning.
- 8. Remove unnecessary article Original: fostering a greater motivation Suggested revision: fostering greater motivation Why it matters: Motivation is used uncountably here, so the article is unnecessary.
- 9. Use precise fee term Original: course Suggested revision: tuition Why it matters: Tuition fees is more specific and consistent with the university context.
- 10. Specify access claim Original: access to education is important Suggested revision: broad access to education is important Why it matters: Broad access states the intended public-access principle more precisely.
- 11. Use concise phrasing Original: Providing free education at the tertiary level Suggested revision: Providing tuition-free tertiary education Why it matters: The revision expresses the same concept more concisely and precisely.
- 12. Improve quality phrase Original: ensure quality education across all disciplines Suggested revision: maintain high-quality education across all disciplines Why it matters: Maintain high-quality education is a more natural collocation in this funding context.
Suggested Rewrites
- express their view that argue that
- cover the course fees cover tuition fees
- carried out only by the government borne solely by the government
- One reason why I disagree with the idea is One reason for my disagreement is
- budgetary constraints and limited resources budgetary constraints and resource shortages
- principle principles
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response maintains a clear position throughout and develops two focused arguments with relevant, well-integrated examples. Its main limitation is that the personal-responsibility argument and the final claim about equity are asserted a little more strongly than they are justified. The highest priority is to add a brief qualification or explanation showing how shared funding could preserve access while avoiding excessive pressure on public finances.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is direct and consistently supported through well-developed arguments about public finances and personal responsibility.
Qualify the claim about student contributions by explaining how funding could remain accessible for people with limited means.
Coherence and Cohesion
Paragraphing is purposeful, progression is smooth, and examples are integrated naturally into each line of argument.
Create an even tighter conclusion by explicitly connecting shared funding to both sustainability and educational access.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied, precise, and appropriately academic, with only a slightly awkward expression in the opening position statement.
Refine occasional collocations, such as the phrasing used to describe who bears responsibility for funding.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used with consistently accurate control and clear punctuation.
Polish the awkward passive construction in the introduction and preserve the same accuracy in more nuanced qualifications.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people say that the government should pay the costs of running universities so that a university education will be free for anyone who wants it. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.