Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-28

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people feel 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?

Give reasons for your answer, and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

It is often argued that governments should fully fund tertiary education to ensure it is accessible to all citizens. While this policy aims to promote equal opportunities, I disagree that university education should be completely free, as it places a heavy burden on public finances and can reduce the overall quality of education.

First and foremost, making higher education entirely free creates severe economic strain. Universities require vast resources for research facilities, technology, and staff salaries. If the government covers all these costs, it must either raise income taxes significantly or divert money away from other essential public services, such as healthcare and public infrastructure. Consequently, the general public, including many who do not attend university, ends up bearing the financial burden.

Furthermore, a completely free system can lower student accountability and institutional quality. When students do not financially invest in their degrees, drop-out rates often increase because there are fewer immediate consequences for failing. Additionally, without tuition revenue, universities rely solely on government budgets, which frequently leads to overcrowded lecture halls, outdated resources, and a decline in international academic rankings.

In conclusion, while tertiary education must remain accessible, making it entirely free is unsustainable and counterproductive for national economies. I firmly believe a balanced, shared-cost system is a better approach because it distributes financial responsibility fairly. Governments should keep tuition fees affordable and provide targeted scholarships or low-interest loans for underprivileged students, thereby successfully ensuring that both long-term economic stability and high educational standards are maintained for future generations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have taken a clear position from the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the arguments regarding the economic strain on public finances and the potential decline in institutional quality. Each paragraph is focused on a specific aspect of the argument, providing logical support for your stance. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your main points and offers a nuanced alternative, which demonstrates a high level of critical thinking. The response is well-structured and directly answers the question asked, showing a strong ability to present a coherent and persuasive argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the supporting points follow in a natural sequence. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'First and foremost', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion', which help to guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, with each section serving a distinct purpose. The flow between sentences is smooth, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive transitions. The overall structure is coherent and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic essay. Phrases such as 'tertiary education', 'public finances', 'student accountability', and 'counterproductive' show a strong command of topic-specific language. The word choice is precise, and you avoid repetition. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations to reach the highest band. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your ideas with clarity and precision, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and conditional forms. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. You use a variety of sentence lengths and types, which keeps the writing engaging and professional. There are no significant grammatical errors that distract the reader or cause confusion. The use of modal verbs and subordinate clauses is handled with confidence. Overall, the grammatical accuracy is very high, and the structures used are appropriate for the formal tone of the task.

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