Should University Education Be Free?
A complete IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 question with a model answer of 292 words, plus a breakdown of the sentence structures, cohesive devices and vocabulary that answer uses. Write your own version first, then compare.
Written by Manish Sharma · CELTA and DELTA qualified · 8 years teaching IELTS
Score my answer to this questionThe question
You have 40 minutes. Write at least 250 words.
Some people believe that university education should be free for everyone, regardless of their financial situation. Others argue that students should pay for their own higher education. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
How to approach it
- 01Address BOTH views with roughly equal depth before giving your opinion
- 02Use hedging and nuance: 'arguably', 'there is a case for', 'it could be contended'
- 03Your opinion doesn't have to fully agree with one side — a balanced position is valid
- 04Use examples from different countries to demonstrate breadth of knowledge
- 05Ensure your conclusion clearly summarises your position and reasoning
Model answer
292 words in 5 paragraphs. Read it after you have written your own, not before: the point of a model answer is to show you what you missed, and you cannot miss anything you have not attempted.
The question of whether university education should be entirely free is one of the most debated issues in public policy. While there are persuasive arguments on both sides, I believe a nuanced middle-ground approach is more practical than either extreme.
Proponents of free university education argue that it promotes equal opportunity and social mobility. When tuition fees are high, students from disadvantaged backgrounds may be deterred from pursuing higher education, regardless of their academic ability. Countries such as Germany and Norway, which offer free or heavily subsidised university education, have achieved relatively high levels of social mobility compared to nations with expensive systems. Furthermore, a more educated population generates broader economic benefits — higher tax revenues, lower unemployment, and greater innovation — which arguably justify public funding.
Conversely, opponents contend that making university education entirely free places an unsustainable burden on taxpayers, many of whom never attended university themselves. They argue that graduates typically earn significantly more over their lifetimes than non-graduates, so it is reasonable for them to contribute to the cost of their education. There is also the concern that removing all fees could lead to overcrowding, reduced quality of teaching, and a devaluation of degrees if admission standards are lowered to accommodate larger numbers.
In my view, the optimal solution lies between these positions. Governments should ensure that financial circumstances never prevent a capable student from attending university, through means-tested grants, subsidised tuition, and income-contingent loan repayment schemes. However, expecting graduates to contribute a modest proportion of their future earnings towards the cost of their education is both fair and fiscally responsible.
In conclusion, while the principle of free education is admirable, a targeted funding model that removes barriers for the disadvantaged while maintaining system quality represents the most balanced approach.
What this answer actually does
Measured from the text above, and compared against the other 69 answers of the same type in this library. These are counts, not band scores: they describe what the writing does, which is the part you can copy.
1 more than the median answer for this task type
10 words at the shortest, 31 at the longest
3 more than the median answer for this task type
carry a subordinate or relative clause
Sentence rhythm
Sentences average 22.5 words and vary by 5.6 words either side of that, running from 10 words to 31. Variation is the point. Grammatical Range and Accuracy rewards a mix of simple and complex sentences, and an answer where every sentence is the same length reads as flat no matter how correct it is. 10 of the 13 sentences here carry a subordinate or relative clause.
The cohesive devices it uses
9 in total, spread across 5 different functions. Range matters more than count: an answer that opens every paragraph with a sequencer signals its structure but never signals a relationship between ideas, and Coherence and Cohesion is marked on both.
conversely, however, while
furthermore
such as
in conclusion
arguably
Vocabulary and repetition
Ignoring grammar words, 81 per cent of the content words in this answer are distinct, and 69 per cent appear exactly once. Lexical Resource is where repetition costs the most marks, and the usual cause is not a small vocabulary but reaching for the same noun every time the topic is named.
The longest run of words copied straight from the question is 4 words. Examiners discount wording lifted from the question, so a short run here is the right outcome: the answer restates the topic in its own words rather than borrowing the question's.
What you are marked on
All four criteria carry equal weight, and your Writing band is their average rounded to the nearest half band.
Task Response
Discuss both views thoroughly and present a clear personal position
Coherence & Cohesion
Well-structured essay with effective paragraphing and transitions
Lexical Resource
Sophisticated academic vocabulary with precise meaning
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Wide range of complex structures used with consistent accuracy
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