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
The accessibility and affordability of higher education have become crucial topics of discussion in recent years. Some people advocate for government-funded free university education for all students, regardless of their financial situation, and I strongly agree with this view. By making higher education universally accessible, we can foster social mobility, and promote economic growth.
One compelling reason to support the idea of free university education is that it provides equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their financial background. Education is a fundamental right, and it should not be limited by financial constraints. By removing the financial burden associated with university education, students from low-income families can pursue their academic aspirations without the fear of crippling student debt. For example, in countries where university education is free, such as Germany and Norway, students from all backgrounds have equal access to quality education, which has a positive impact on social cohesion and upward social mobility.
Another benefit of free university education is the positive impact it has on the economy. When education is accessible to all, it leads to a more educated and skilled workforce. This, in turn, drives economic growth and innovation. By investing in human capital through free education, governments can ensure a highly skilled workforce that can contribute to the development of industries and sectors critical to the country's economy. For instance, countries like Finland and Sweden have invested in free university education and have seen positive outcomes in terms of innovation, research, and economic competitiveness.
In conclusion, I strongly agree that the government should provide free university education to all students, regardless of their financial situation. By removing the financial barriers, we can ensure equal opportunities, promote economic growth, and foster a more equitable society.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove redundant wording Original: government-funded free university education Suggested revision: government-funded university education Why it matters: Government-funded already conveys that students do not pay tuition, so free is redundant here.
- 2. Clarify the actor Original: we can foster social mobility Suggested revision: this policy can foster social mobility Why it matters: Naming the policy gives the pronoun a clearer reference in this formal argument.
- 3. Use concise phrasing Original: the financial burden associated with university education Suggested revision: the financial burden of university education Why it matters: The shorter prepositional phrase expresses the same relationship more directly.
- 4. Express the outcome directly Original: without the fear of crippling student debt Suggested revision: without incurring crippling student debt Why it matters: Incurring debt states the financial consequence more precisely than fear of debt.
- 5. Reduce wordiness Original: positive impact it has on the economy Suggested revision: positive impact on the economy Why it matters: The relative clause is unnecessary because the following phrase already identifies the impact.
- 6. Avoid an absolute claim Original: ensure Suggested revision: develop Why it matters: Develop describes the contribution of education more precisely than the absolute verb ensure.
- 7. Remove overlapping terms Original: industries and sectors Suggested revision: sectors Why it matters: Industries and sectors overlap in meaning, so one term is sufficient.
- 8. Use formal exemplification Original: countries like Finland and Sweden Suggested revision: countries such as Finland and Sweden Why it matters: Such as introduces specific examples more precisely in formal writing.
- 9. Use a direct phrase Original: in terms of innovation, research, and economic competitiveness Suggested revision: in innovation, research, and economic competitiveness Why it matters: The shorter construction is clearer and avoids the vague phrase in terms of.
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: When education is accessible to all, it leads to a more educated and skilled workforce. Suggested revision: When education is accessible to all, the result is a more educated and skilled workforce. Why it matters: The rewrite removes the unclear pronoun it, whose antecedent is the abstract condition in the opening clause.
Suggested Rewrites
- government-funded free university education government-funded university education
- we can foster social mobility this policy can foster social mobility
- the financial burden associated with university education the financial burden of university education
- without the fear of crippling student debt without incurring crippling student debt
- positive impact it has on the economy positive impact on the economy
- ensure develop
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response's clearest strength is its direct, consistent position, supported by two logically developed arguments and relevant international examples. Its main limitation is that the support remains somewhat generalised and repeats familiar claims about access and economic growth rather than probing costs, feasibility, or possible qualifications. To improve further, add a more specific causal explanation or briefly address a credible counterargument before reaffirming the position.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is clear throughout, and both main reasons are relevant, well developed, and supported with examples.
Deepen the argument by examining a practical qualification, such as funding constraints or limits on universal provision.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay progresses logically through a focused introduction, two clearly sequenced body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion.
Strengthen the links within each body paragraph by making the causal steps from free access to the claimed outcomes more explicit.
Lexical Resource
A broad and precise academic vocabulary conveys the arguments effectively, with only minor repetition of key topic phrases.
Use more varied references to university funding and access while preserving the current precision and formality.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately, and the few minor punctuation issues do not impede communication.
Polish comma use in coordinated phrases to make already controlled sentences fully accurate.
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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.